Brian Rhodes
banner
brainroads.bsky.social
Brian Rhodes
@brainroads.bsky.social
Cartoonist/writer/web-dev in Missouri. Deeply uncool. Blogging about video games at badenoughdudes.com, other writings and cartooning found at bigskink.com
Nintendo decided your Thanksgiving plans weren't important.
NES and GameBoy Classics added to NSO:

NES:
-Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
-BATTLETOADS

Game Boy:
-Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters
-BIONIC COMMANDO

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wZZ...
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
Though I've started on a write-up for Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, I must mention that my Castlevania: Lament of Innocence review has seen only 50 visits.
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com/2025/11/play...
If I had an editor, they'd stake me for crafting a follow-up review after this bomb.
#retrogaming
November 25, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
Alright, done.
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com/2025/11/nes-...
Here's a review of Power Blade for the NES. This is one of the many games that I think everyone is required to play at least once.
#retrogaming #taito #natsume
NES Look - Power Blade
pepsimanvsjoe.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
November 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Hey Bluesky pals! It's been a while! I'm playing video games for 24 hours tomorrow in support of @extralife4kids.bsky.social. Exclusively retro games this year (with a couple of HD remakes thrown in), check it out and thanks for your support!

www.extra-life.org/participants...
Extra Life | Change Kids' Health, Change the Future
I'm raising funds with #EXTRALIFE for kids treated at my Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! I need your help to reach my fundraising goal. Please donate today to change kids' health.
www.extra-life.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
My primary duty as a father is to finish all of the half-eaten pieces of fruit left around our house daily.
September 19, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
this is, hands down, the best video I've seen on men's influencer content and it's not close either
September 14, 2025 at 1:50 AM
AI, nope.
September 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I wrote a new blog! Yes, it's about Ultima Online again, but this time, I may have finally found direction and purpose for my aimless characters. This 28-year old MMO still has my attention, at least when I have some attention to spare!

www.badenoughdudes.com/2025/09/play...
Play By Play - Ultima Online
Back Once Again to...Make Progress for a Change?
www.badenoughdudes.com
September 2, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
Spider-Man on the Genesis has the best continue screen I've ever seen in a video game.
August 17, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
This is one of the most beautiful things I have witnessed, the craft here is impeccable.
August 13, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
This is still one of the best 90s gaming magazine ads ever.
July 27, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Ah, Optoman. My arch-nemesis.
one of the coolest NES bosses, Blue Optomon from The Guardian Legend - always a tricky battle and hard to predict his devastating seaweed blast thingy😵 #retrogaming #shmups
July 24, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I love this take. Are we really enjoying our games, or just checking them off a list? It can be tough to really slow down and enjoy something when life is busy, but taking my time with games often results in some of my best memories.
There’s a growing trend to rush through things to be part of “the conversation”, and it’s killing our connection to art.

Here’s my latest blog post: sightingames.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/p...
Playing Slowly: Treating Games as Art, Not Content
Social media is changing the love of art into competitive content, and we’re all losing.
sightingames.wordpress.com
July 15, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
I wrote this column and I'll just say that the original headline was much meaner. The piece itself, though, is still very angry and very mean, I assure you.
I’m Starting To Worry This Industry Has No Respect For The People Who Work In It
Once your stock options were fully vested, did you sell off all the shares in your humanity?
www.thegamer.com
July 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
I wrote a new blog post! Not my usual fare—this is not a discussion about a particular game, but more of a philosophical exploration. It's true, I probably won't play your favorite video game, but it's not because I don't want to.

www.badenoughdudes.com/2025/07/ill-...
I’ll Never Play Your Favorite Video Game, and That’s Okay
Chances are, you’ll never play mine, either, and that’s also okay.
www.badenoughdudes.com
July 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
(2/2) Even when it's messy (what's a blog launch without a good personal ramble?), even when it's unpolished, I want to champion your personal creativity... and participate in my own ways, too.

Introducing: Cozyscroll.

Why Blog?

cozyscroll.wordpress.com/2025/07/09/w...
Why Blog?
Yes, the march of A.I. changes the calculus enough to push me (back) into blogging, even if the blog itself is somewhat frivolous and unambitious. I simply think it is a worthy cause to champion th…
cozyscroll.wordpress.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:09 PM
My kids have started bringing me my phone when I don't have it with me. That sucks. I have to do better.
July 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Thousands of years of innovation and the fingernail is still the single best cleaning implement in existence.
July 6, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
1. Nintendo kept trying to make Pauline a playable character back in the day
2. The idea of Pauline being a singer goes back to Famicon era
3. She might pre-date both Donkey Kong and Mario.

www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/pauline...
Pauline: A History of Nintendo’s First Leading Lady — Thrilling Tales of Old Video Games
And how she waited more nearly forty years to become a playable character.
www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
I know we have a lot of problems but idk how you can watch a video like this and not feel a little patriotic
whose uncle is this
June 30, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
I told you we’d be back
June 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
A ha ha ha YESSSSSSSS
As the prophecy foretold…

By @davekellett.bsky.social

#disney #ai #lawyerup
June 12, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I'm back with one more blog post about Star Wars: Rebellion. Did I bring freedom to the galaxy? Was Han Solo able to calm an angry mob? And I lost HOW MANY planets to natural disasters?! Check it out, and thanks for reading!

www.badenoughdudes.com/2025/06/star...
Play by Play - Star Wars: Rebellion Strikes Back
I was but the learner; now I am the master.
www.badenoughdudes.com
June 12, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Brian Rhodes
At Alaska Comics Camp, a pal asked me to write up a guide to hand-lettering/hand-drawing word balloons. Here it is, in case it’s helpful!
June 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM