Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Welcome to GamerDad: Gaming with Children. My name is Andrew S. Bub - the GamerDad - and I've been writing about videogames, movies, and children for over 15 years now. After working as a magazine journalist, I switched gears to write about how media violence affects children, educating parents about them, and working closely with magazines, newspapers, major retailers and even politicians. GamerDad is an internationally recognized expert in this field. Games, movies and media are fun, kids and families love them, they aren't going away. So join me in cutting through the hype and lets have a real conversation about the things that matter: Video Games, Violent Media, and their supposed effect on children and families.
Thunder Kid 2: Null Mission (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Add Comment
Posted on July 11th, 2022 by
I think this has got to be a world record! I had only reviewed the first Thunder Kid game about four months ago. And we’re already getting a sequel. Granted, I know these may have been PC games first and the releases spread out a little more. But still, I’m reviewing these games on console, so it still feels a little quick! Anyway, Thunder Kid 2 is a 3-D low poly run and gun action game that kind of reminds me of PSOne games like Mega Man Legends. The defeated robots from the first game have banned together again to rebel, and it’s up to Thunder Kid to stop them once again. The game is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on July 8th, 2022 by
When the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came out in the late 80s, I was a little too old by then to get into it fully. I didn’t get any of the toys, and I only watched the cartoon casually, and in secret, or else I wouldn’t look cool in front of the other guys. Of course I still probably wasn’t cool so it wouldn’t have mattered. Glad those days are over. But there was one aspect of TMNT that I could really get into and not have to hide it. And that was the video games, especially the four player arcade ones. EVERYONE was playing them, and aside from Pac-Man, I probably put more quarters into the TMNT arcade game than anything else. Years later when my little brothers were born, they got into the TMNT games, too. In fact, my brother Ben owns one of those TMNT Arcade1up cabinets. And my brother Jeff and I still joke about how when he was little and would whine to our mom every time I accidentally got the pizza in Turtles in Time. That story is also how we named our podcast. So with all those great memories of the TMNT games with me, I was super excited to have the opportunity to review TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. Over the years, many have tried to emulate the feel of the classic arcade games and failed. But does Shredder’s Revenge do it right? SPOILER ALERT: HECK YEAH IT DOES!!! It’s available on most current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Okinawa Rush (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC)
Posted on July 6th, 2022 by
Okinawa Rush is a 2-D martial arts action game that looks like it jumped right off the Super Nintendo. Or more specifically, it reminds me of NEO GEO games, too. It’s available on most current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Spacewing War (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on July 4th, 2022 by
Spacewing War is a typical retro styled 2-D shooter that takes inspiration from a surprising source. It’s all black and white, so it looks like a Game Boy game. But more specifically, it takes inspiration from Kirby’s Dream Land! A lot of the graphics are the same, it’s pretty easy and short (but still fun), and you even unlock similar extra features when you beat it! The game is available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Pocky and Rocky Reshrined (Switch, PS4)
Posted on July 1st, 2022 by
One of the Super Nintendo’s many hidden gems was Pocky and Rocky. It was a two player co—operative 2-D shooter with a unique theme. The game had a Japanese myths and folklore motif. Player one was Pocky, a Japanese shrine maiden who threw cards, and player two was Rocky, a leaf throwing tanuki. It’s actually a sequel to a Japan only arcade game from Taito called Kiki Kaikai, and has spawned a couple of sequels and many cameos over the years. And now they’re back in a whole new game! Pocky and Rocky Reshrined is available on Switch and PS4, but reviewed on Switch here.
Welcome to the Pocky and Rocky Shrine!
Posted on June 29th, 2022 by
You may not know about the Pocky and Rocky game series, but they’ve had four titles under their belt with a new one that just came out! They’re 2-D shooters, but they don’t auto-scroll (think Ikari Warriors or Commando), but it’s the theme that makes them stand out. The games have a Japanese myths and legends motif. They’re really fun games, but also really hard! Or maybe I just suck at them, I dunno. Anyway, since the new game just came out, I thought I’d be your tour guide in this shrine featuring all the games in the series! So let’s begin!
Freshly Frosted (Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on June 27th, 2022 by
There’s a story in this game about helping a woman sort out her mind by working in a donut factory, but there really doesn’t need to be a story here other than, “You’re making donuts.” Your job on each single screen level is to make a conveyor belt path so the donuts can get from the oven to all the topping stations, and then to the delivery counter. Freshly Frosted is a puzzle game available on all current game consoles and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.
KAO the Kangaroo (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, X/S, PC)
Posted on June 24th, 2022 by
Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, 3-D platformers were all the rage. Many of them had popular mascots like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and more. It was kind of like how in the early 90s, 2-D mascot platformers were the big thing, thanks to Sonic. But for every popular character, there are many forgotten 3-D heroes, like Billy Hatcher or Super Magnetic NEO. Another forgotten 3-D mascot was KAO the Kangaroo. First appearing on the Dreamcast, he actually got five games before never being heard from again. Until now. KAO the Kangaroo is back with a new game that’s more of a reboot than a remake, and it’s just like the 3-D platformers you remember, for better or worse. It’s available on all current game systems and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Pretty Girls Speed (PS4, PS5, Switch, PC)
Posted on June 22nd, 2022 by
When I was in high school, a bunch of us would always carry around a deck of cards and we’d play games together during lunch breaks and such to pass the time. This was in the early to mid 90s before everyone had cell phones so we had to entertain ourselves somehow. One popular game that a lot of us liked to play back then was Speed, where you had to place adjacent card numbers (higher or lower) on two piles as quick as you can and whoever got rid of their deck first, won. I was horrible at that game, though, so I didn’t like it much. And now you can play Speed against a slew of anime ladies in Pretty Girls Speed. It’s available on PlayStation consoles, Switch, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Wonder Boy Collection (PS4, Switch)
Posted on June 20th, 2022 by
Back in the 80s and early 90s, Wonder Boy was a 2-D platforming series by SEGA and Westone. It was a bit more popular in Japan than in the US, but the Wonder Boy series also has ties with Hudson’s Adventure Island games, which were a bit more popular in the States. For the longest time Wonder Boy laid dormant, but in the past few years, we’ve gotten some remakes and updates of some of the games, like Dragon’s Trap and Monster World IV. Not only that, we also got a full on sequel in Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom a few years ago. And now here’s a collection of some of the Wonder Boy games for PS4 and Switch (reviewed on PS4 here). Let’s take a look at the games on this collection!
