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Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Last night's Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase set the tone for Switch 2's 2026, for better or worse. I ramble about each announcement like usual here:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Watches - Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase (5 Feb 2026)

We're getting a relatively subdued start of the year for Nintendo this time, as instead of a mainline Nintendo Direct, we're kicking things off with a Partner Showcase. Still, I thought this would be....

themaskoflife.weebly.com

February 5, 2026 at 11:32 PM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Next up on my N64 playthroughs is none other than Pokémon Snap, the beloved spinoff all about taking pictures of Pokémon doing their thing in nature. This is one I've been itching to play, and I talk about my experience with it in a new blog entry:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - N64 Online: Pokemon Snap [Nintendo Switch]

This week's N64 game is another one I've been itching to play since the Switch Online emulator became a thing.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

February 5, 2026 at 10:10 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

After nearly four years, I finally got around to finishing the Black Panther: Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda storyline. Here are my thoughts on Part Four of this landmark comic run.
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Reads - Black Panther (2018-2021): The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda Part Four

It's taken nearly four years, but I'm finally getting around to finish this story arc.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

February 4, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

My blog entry for today is on Proverbs, which is a puzzle game that mixes picross with a bit of Minesweeper and has you recreate a pixel-art version of a real painting called Netherlandish Proverbs. More on that interesting tidbit and more here:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - Proverbs [Steam]

Playing some more of my sale purchases today.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

February 2, 2026 at 10:09 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

For this week, I read Real Account Vol. 1, a story that sees 10,000 users of a fictional social media platform trapped in a deadly game where their online presence (or lack thereof) can lead to their deaths in the real world. More on this premise here:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Reads - Real Account Vol. 1

And just like that, January is over! Don't worry, the weekly reads are only just beginning, and I already have stuff planned out for the next two months.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 31, 2026 at 10:20 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

I finally got around to playing one of Nintendo 64's most legendary titles: Banjo-Kazooie. I discuss more about the iconic 3D platformer by renowned developers Rare in this new blog entry:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - N64 Online: Banjo-Kazooie [Nintendo Switch]

I have a big game for this week, and it's one I've been itching to play for a long time.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 29, 2026 at 10:14 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Nintendo added Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters to the NSO GB emulator a few months back, which means I could finally finish the sequel to the NES cult classic that I didn't beat. More on all that in this blog entry:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - GB Online: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters [Nintendo Switch]

I'm finishing up November's Switch Online additions with a title I'm actually familiar with.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 28, 2026 at 10:04 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

I picked up Arkanoid: Eternal Battle on sale quite a while back, as I wanted to see how its battle royale take on the brick-break genre worked. I talk about that and the single-player modes (which includes a straight port of the original arcade game) here:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - Arkanoid: Eternal Battle [Nintendo Switch]

Took advantage of quite a hefty sale to snag this one.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 26, 2026 at 10:12 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

My read for this week is Kounodori: Dr. Stork Vol. 1. Given its premise tackles the matter of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood, publishing my thoughts on this book is a mistake, but I nonetheless found the perspective it provided valuable.
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Reads - Kounodori: Dr. Stork Vol. 1

I'm doing my best to start 2026 right with a diverse set of reads for January.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 24, 2026 at 10:05 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

I'm talking about Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards this week on the Nintendo 64 blog series, and in the following summary, I discuss the first "3D" title in the Kirby series.
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - N64 Online: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards [Nintendo Switch]

I'm well over halfway through my journey through the Switch Online N64 catalog.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 22, 2026 at 10:26 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

I take on the Game Boy games added to Switch Online last November starting with Bionic Commando, a lesser-known Capcom platformer where you play as a dude with a bionic arm (used primarily as a grappling hook). More on this title below:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - GB Online: Bionic Commando (1992) [Nintendo Switch]

November's batch of Switch Online retro games also had a couple of Game Boy titles, and it's time to check them out.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 21, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

For eight years, I waited for Metroid Prime 4 to come out, wondering at various points if it was doomed to be cancelled. Well, it finally came out late last year, and you bet your ass I played it as soon as I can. I finally talk about it here:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - Metroid Prime 4: Beyond [Nintendo Switch 2]

I honestly thought this day wouldn't come, but here we are. The wait is over.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 19, 2026 at 10:15 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

This week's read is Pumpkin Scissors Vol. 1, which chronicles the eponymous team's contributions to the war relief effort in their country. In this blog entry, I discuss why I really like this manga so far:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Reads - Pumpkin Scissors Vol. 1

We're halfway through January already, but the reads don't stop there.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 17, 2026 at 10:39 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Switch Online's separate N64 17+ app (where all the M-rated N64 games are collected) is part of my quest to play all NSO games, and the first game I'm checking out here is Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. Here's my summary on this FPS based on a classic comic:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - N64 Online: Turok: Dinosaur Hunter [Nintendo Switch]

My exploration of Switch Online's N64 library also includes the separate 17+ app where all the M-rated games can be found. As I write this, there are only four games on that specific emulator, but...

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 15, 2026 at 10:11 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

I continue my catch-up of November's Switch Online emulator updates with Ninja Gaiden II for the NES. How does this stack up against its notoriously difficult predecessor? I talk about that and more here:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - NES Online: Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos [Nintendo Switch]

There's one more NES game from the latest batch of Switch Online emulator additions for me to play. I'll take on the Game Boy games afterwards.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 14, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Dogpile was a last-minute contender for one of my favorite games of last year. It mixes the novel puzzle gameplay of Suika Game and roguelike deck-builder elements, all while featuring lots and lots of dogs! I get into more detail in this blog entry:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - Dogpile [Steam]

The front page of Steam's store strikes again!

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 12, 2026 at 10:10 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

On this special Sunday upload, I share what I was doing during the final days of 2025: exploring Japan again. You'll only see the pictures in this day-by-day chronicle of my experiences (which includes details I'll likely regret sharing) on the blog.
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck's Adventures - Holiday 2025 in Japan

I honestly didn't think this particular blog category would get another entry, let alone this soon. But yes, you read that title correctly; I spent the final days of 2025 in Japan, and I'm here to...

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 11, 2026 at 7:19 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

My years-long exploration of an unfamiliar medium brimming with all manner of stories continues as I read The Fable Vol. 1. This manga tells the story of a legendary hitman who knows nothing but his job be forced to live as a regular citizen for a year:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Reads - The Fable Vol. 1

I don't remember exactly when I transitioned this blog series to reading and talking about manga on a near-weekly basis, but I would wager that it's at least been two years now. That I have still...

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 10, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Star Fox 64 is one of the most iconic games in Nintendo's pantheon, and the sci-fi rail shooter is my next N64 NSO playthrough. Here's my blog entry on this legendary and influential title:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - N64 Online: Star Fox 64 [Nintendo Switch]

This week, I'm tackling one of the N64's heavy hitters.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 8, 2026 at 10:08 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Nintendo finally made the original Battletoads on NES available on Switch Online, and it just had to be the first thing I played from that update. Here are my thoughts on one of the most notoriously difficult games in the NES (and Rare's) library.
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - NES Online: Battletoads (1991) [Nintendo Switch]

It's been about a year, but Nintendo's added two new games to their Switch Online NES emulator. One of the games is a pretty big one, and I just had to get to it before I played anything else in the.....

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 7, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Marvel Cosmic Invasion was a last-minute addition to my favorite games of 2025, as it brings back classic beat-'em-up action with an eclectic roster of Marvel characters doing battle in an adaptation of a storyline yet to be seen in movies. I discuss more:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - Marvel Cosmic Invasion [PC]

I got to play another day one release thanks to Game Pass, and it's one game I've actually been really looking forward to.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 5, 2026 at 10:08 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

For my first manga read of 2026, I'm reading Devils' Line Vol. 1. It's set in a world where vampiric "devils" live amongst humans and stars a half-devil who works with the police to apprehend devils who get violent and his relationship with a human girl.
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Reads - Devils' Line Vol. 1

The manga reads shall continue through 2026. Here's my first one of the new year.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 3, 2026 at 10:04 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

While we're entering a new year, my quest to play as many old games as I can continues. I'm kicking off 2026 with an entry on Ridge Racer 64, a no-frills arcade racer on N64. Here are my thoughts on the first of this illustrious racing series I've played:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...

Derryck Plays - N64 Online: Ridge Racer 64 [Nintendo Switch]

I'm crossing off another franchise from my yet-to-play list with this week's game.

themaskoflife.weebly.com

January 1, 2026 at 10:06 AM

Derryck/RS

@16n1k4.bsky.social

Squeezing in one more Game Boy game before the year ends with Survival Kids, a relatively obscure Konami game that feels like a 2D Zelda but has elements of modern survival games. More on this interesting title in my summary:
themaskoflife.weebly.com/blog/derryck...