PJ Montgomery
@pjmontgomery.bsky.social
Cardiff based writer. Presenter on The Measure of a Fan, and the JLAcast, and plays Doctor Bill Forrest on the TTRPG live play show Safe Space. He/Him
317. Banjo-Tooie. Look, it’s not a patch on the original game. For me, this is the nadir of the Rare N64 collectathon back and forth style of platforming. But there is a solid game in there, with some fun characters and levels. Shame the backwards compatibility never happened. #365games
November 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
317. Banjo-Tooie. Look, it’s not a patch on the original game. For me, this is the nadir of the Rare N64 collectathon back and forth style of platforming. But there is a solid game in there, with some fun characters and levels. Shame the backwards compatibility never happened. #365games
316. Super Turrican. I think this is my second favourite Turrican, after Turrican 2. It starts in familiar territory, before moving into quite different levels to previous games. And it has the ice beam, which changes the gameplay approach. Plus another awesome Chris Huelsbeck soundtrack. #365games
November 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM
316. Super Turrican. I think this is my second favourite Turrican, after Turrican 2. It starts in familiar territory, before moving into quite different levels to previous games. And it has the ice beam, which changes the gameplay approach. Plus another awesome Chris Huelsbeck soundtrack. #365games
315. Drivin’ Force. This Amiga game was the first arcade racer I got really into. I played it a lot. You got to race different vehicles, including trucks, bikes, and, if you unlocked the bonus race, jet skis. I loved it back in the day. Would love to play it again (please @evercade.co.uk) #365games
November 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
315. Drivin’ Force. This Amiga game was the first arcade racer I got really into. I played it a lot. You got to race different vehicles, including trucks, bikes, and, if you unlocked the bonus race, jet skis. I loved it back in the day. Would love to play it again (please @evercade.co.uk) #365games
314. Wave Race 64. I played this a lot with my other N64 owning friends back in the day. It’s a really fun racing game, but the main thing is the water effects. There are better these days, naturally, but at the time they blew my mind. And that sunset level always made me want a Capri Sun. #365games
November 10, 2025 at 5:32 PM
314. Wave Race 64. I played this a lot with my other N64 owning friends back in the day. It’s a really fun racing game, but the main thing is the water effects. There are better these days, naturally, but at the time they blew my mind. And that sunset level always made me want a Capri Sun. #365games
This one should be a quick read.
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
This one should be a quick read.
313. Pokemon Snap. An on rails shooter, but instead of a gun, it’s a camera, and you just have to take the best photos of the various Pokemon. There’s a bit of depth to it, but it won’t last you too long. A fun time while you are playing it, though. #365games
November 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
313. Pokemon Snap. An on rails shooter, but instead of a gun, it’s a camera, and you just have to take the best photos of the various Pokemon. There’s a bit of depth to it, but it won’t last you too long. A fun time while you are playing it, though. #365games
312. Wario Ware Inc: Minigame Mania. Or Mega Microgames, depending on where you live in the world. Anyway, Wario Ware is great. Mini games that only last a few seconds, but get thrown at you relentlessly. The first one remains my favourite, as it’s the purest, but they’re all great. #365games
November 8, 2025 at 6:19 PM
312. Wario Ware Inc: Minigame Mania. Or Mega Microgames, depending on where you live in the world. Anyway, Wario Ware is great. Mini games that only last a few seconds, but get thrown at you relentlessly. The first one remains my favourite, as it’s the purest, but they’re all great. #365games
311. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. My introduction to Warcraft, and still my favourite game in the franchise (sorry WoW). It’s a great strategy game, where you can play as humans or orcs in their own campaigns. Some great comedy moments, and a real variety of units. I love it. #365games
November 7, 2025 at 5:42 PM
311. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. My introduction to Warcraft, and still my favourite game in the franchise (sorry WoW). It’s a great strategy game, where you can play as humans or orcs in their own campaigns. Some great comedy moments, and a real variety of units. I love it. #365games
310. F-Zero GX. Nintendo haven’t released a new F-Zero since GX, twenty odd years ago, because they say they don’t know where else to go with the franchise. And ya know, I get it. GX, a collaboration with Sega, is a crazy high bar. The main reason I want a Switch 2 is to play it again. #365games
November 6, 2025 at 6:59 PM
310. F-Zero GX. Nintendo haven’t released a new F-Zero since GX, twenty odd years ago, because they say they don’t know where else to go with the franchise. And ya know, I get it. GX, a collaboration with Sega, is a crazy high bar. The main reason I want a Switch 2 is to play it again. #365games
309. Resident Evil. The GameCube remake. It looks, sounds and plays better than the original, with way better voice acting. It also moves things around. So I spent ages expecting dogs to jump through a window, and they didn’t. Well played Capcom. #365games
November 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
309. Resident Evil. The GameCube remake. It looks, sounds and plays better than the original, with way better voice acting. It also moves things around. So I spent ages expecting dogs to jump through a window, and they didn’t. Well played Capcom. #365games
A heck of a lot of Zelda and Smash Bros. And YouTube is only in there because I used to use the Switch to watch Critical Role when I was working nights.
November 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A heck of a lot of Zelda and Smash Bros. And YouTube is only in there because I used to use the Switch to watch Critical Role when I was working nights.
And there’s Dracula, on the cover to Castlevania II, several years later, looking very Ravenloft. He even has the same gargoyles on his balcony. I couldn’t find out who the artist for Castlevania II was, but I love that they homaged an image of a vampire who himself was a homage to Dracula.
November 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
And there’s Dracula, on the cover to Castlevania II, several years later, looking very Ravenloft. He even has the same gargoyles on his balcony. I couldn’t find out who the artist for Castlevania II was, but I love that they homaged an image of a vampire who himself was a homage to Dracula.
Some research was needed. Castlevania II came out in 1988. Strahd first appeared in 1983, in the first Ravenloft module for D&D. That module featured the painting of Strahd in this post on its cover, by Clyde Caldwell. It’s one of my favourite vampire paintings ever.
November 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Some research was needed. Castlevania II came out in 1988. Strahd first appeared in 1983, in the first Ravenloft module for D&D. That module featured the painting of Strahd in this post on its cover, by Clyde Caldwell. It’s one of my favourite vampire paintings ever.
But I decided to read about the game on Wikipedia, and had a good look at the cover art. Oh, look, there’s Dracula in the corner.
Wait a minute. That’s not Dracula. That’s Count Strahd von Zarovich from Dungeons & Dragons! You know, before they gave him a worse design that wasn’t so Dracula-like.
Wait a minute. That’s not Dracula. That’s Count Strahd von Zarovich from Dungeons & Dragons! You know, before they gave him a worse design that wasn’t so Dracula-like.
November 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
But I decided to read about the game on Wikipedia, and had a good look at the cover art. Oh, look, there’s Dracula in the corner.
Wait a minute. That’s not Dracula. That’s Count Strahd von Zarovich from Dungeons & Dragons! You know, before they gave him a worse design that wasn’t so Dracula-like.
Wait a minute. That’s not Dracula. That’s Count Strahd von Zarovich from Dungeons & Dragons! You know, before they gave him a worse design that wasn’t so Dracula-like.
308. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. An RPG with Studio Ghibli visuals, a Joe Hisaishi soundtrack, and an incredibly moving story. If the gameplay, though solid, isn’t quite as good as the rest of the package, well, you still have a game worth playing. #365games
November 4, 2025 at 6:41 PM
308. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. An RPG with Studio Ghibli visuals, a Joe Hisaishi soundtrack, and an incredibly moving story. If the gameplay, though solid, isn’t quite as good as the rest of the package, well, you still have a game worth playing. #365games
307. Donkey Kong. I don’t need to say much, right? A classic arcade game that still holds up today. The high score chasers made famous by a superb documentary, King of Kong (watch it if you haven’t, even if you think you have no interest. The first appearance of Mario. A genuine classic #365games
November 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
307. Donkey Kong. I don’t need to say much, right? A classic arcade game that still holds up today. The high score chasers made famous by a superb documentary, King of Kong (watch it if you haven’t, even if you think you have no interest. The first appearance of Mario. A genuine classic #365games
306. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Probably not a top five Zelda for me, but in terms of whimsy, it’s right there at the top. Something about Link shrinking down to explore parts of Hyrule just makes this one of the more delightful, fairy tale Zelda games to play. It’s lovely. #365games
November 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
306. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Probably not a top five Zelda for me, but in terms of whimsy, it’s right there at the top. Something about Link shrinking down to explore parts of Hyrule just makes this one of the more delightful, fairy tale Zelda games to play. It’s lovely. #365games
Tonight I am going to start reading an absolute classic to the little man. Is he too young to understand it? Yes. But it’s that or I read The Bad Tempered Ladybird fifteen times until he passes out. And look, I like The Bad Tempered Ladybird, but only so much.
November 1, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Tonight I am going to start reading an absolute classic to the little man. Is he too young to understand it? Yes. But it’s that or I read The Bad Tempered Ladybird fifteen times until he passes out. And look, I like The Bad Tempered Ladybird, but only so much.
259. King of the Monsters. I don’t really like wrestling games. But make the wrestlers giant monsters, and the arenas city landscapes, in which you can pick up trains and lob them at your opponents? Heck, I’m in. I’m all the way in. #365games
November 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM
259. King of the Monsters. I don’t really like wrestling games. But make the wrestlers giant monsters, and the arenas city landscapes, in which you can pick up trains and lob them at your opponents? Heck, I’m in. I’m all the way in. #365games
258. Clock Tower. Just for Halloween. I only heard about this game recently, and played it for the first time this month via the Rewind version. And honestly, no horror game has ever made me as tense. It’s constant, with a wonderful, Argento inspired look and feel. Genuinely brilliant. #365games
October 31, 2025 at 6:40 PM
258. Clock Tower. Just for Halloween. I only heard about this game recently, and played it for the first time this month via the Rewind version. And honestly, no horror game has ever made me as tense. It’s constant, with a wonderful, Argento inspired look and feel. Genuinely brilliant. #365games
And that brings to an end #31DaysOfDracula. I’ve enjoyed revisiting 31 Draculas that, if not all my favourites, at least had an impact on me.
But which Dracula that I didn’t include would you like to mention? Can I gather an entirely different 31 Draculas for next Halloween…
But which Dracula that I didn’t include would you like to mention? Can I gather an entirely different 31 Draculas for next Halloween…
October 31, 2025 at 5:13 PM
And that brings to an end #31DaysOfDracula. I’ve enjoyed revisiting 31 Draculas that, if not all my favourites, at least had an impact on me.
But which Dracula that I didn’t include would you like to mention? Can I gather an entirely different 31 Draculas for next Halloween…
But which Dracula that I didn’t include would you like to mention? Can I gather an entirely different 31 Draculas for next Halloween…
Where does Lugosi rank as Dracula for you? What do you think Dracula would be today without him?
October 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Where does Lugosi rank as Dracula for you? What do you think Dracula would be today without him?
When you really think about it, it’s quite remarkable, that one film can have such an influence on a character for so long. I don’t think it would be unfair to suggest that Dracula wouldn’t still be as culturally significant a character as he is today if it weren’t for Lugosi. Hyperbole? Perhaps.
October 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
When you really think about it, it’s quite remarkable, that one film can have such an influence on a character for so long. I don’t think it would be unfair to suggest that Dracula wouldn’t still be as culturally significant a character as he is today if it weren’t for Lugosi. Hyperbole? Perhaps.
you can trace all the Draculas for the last 94 years back to Lugosi in some way or another.
Christopher Lee, my favourite Dracula, and arguably the most intimidating take on the Count, admitted himself that he made sure to include elements of Lugosi in his performances.
Christopher Lee, my favourite Dracula, and arguably the most intimidating take on the Count, admitted himself that he made sure to include elements of Lugosi in his performances.
October 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
you can trace all the Draculas for the last 94 years back to Lugosi in some way or another.
Christopher Lee, my favourite Dracula, and arguably the most intimidating take on the Count, admitted himself that he made sure to include elements of Lugosi in his performances.
Christopher Lee, my favourite Dracula, and arguably the most intimidating take on the Count, admitted himself that he made sure to include elements of Lugosi in his performances.