“Yeah, I threw the controller at least once.” -Your friends, probably The NES wasn’t known for fair boss fights. Limited (or non-existent!) continues, stiff controls, and unforgiving patterns: Reaching a boss was often harder than beating it. But some developers decided getting there wasn’t enough. Nope, they wanted one final challenge standing between you andContinue reading “Prepare to be Humbled: Ranking The 10 Most Brutal NES Boss Battles”
Author Archives: The Casual Nerd
Why River City Ransom Still Feels Modern Today
River City Ransom, a 1989 NES game, transcends traditional beat-’em-ups by combining RPG elements, like permanent character upgrades and exploration in a vibrant city. Unique for its flexible cooperative gameplay and innovative progression system, it remains relevant today, influencing modern gaming while offering an engaging experience rich in strategy and experimentation.
5 NES Games That Were Ahead of Their Time
When most people think of the Nintendo Entertainment System, they think of simple games. A plumber jumps on koopas. A hero swings a sword. A spaceship shoots aliens. And to be fair, the NES was limited by modern standards. Most games had little memory, and the hardware would struggle to display a modern smartphone notification.Continue reading “5 NES Games That Were Ahead of Their Time”
GradeMaster: A Simpler Grade Calculator for Busy Teachers
Updated July 2026 Learn more and try it here: GradeMaster.Get it now on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store Why I Built GradeMaster Last week I needed to write three separate scoring sheets to help calculate grades. I lost one of them halfway through (parent of small children problems) and spent the restContinue reading “GradeMaster: A Simpler Grade Calculator for Busy Teachers”
STFC Priority 1 Missions Guide: Are P1 Away Missions Worth It? (2026)
If you have been working through Away Missions in Star Trek Fleet Command, there is a good chance you have seen players talking about Priority 1 Missions, often shortened to P1 Missions. For newer players, they can seem mysterious at first. What are they? How do you unlock them? And most importantly, are they actuallyContinue reading “STFC Priority 1 Missions Guide: Are P1 Away Missions Worth It? (2026)”
STFC Away Missions Guide: Best Officers & Traits for Beginners
Updated May 2026 Away Missions are one of the most misunderstood progression systems in all of Star Trek Fleet Command, especially for newer players. Many beginning commanders ignore Trait XP or waste it randomly, when (if used intentionally and correctly) it can lead to ship blueprints, faction credits, speedups, reputation, officer shards, and rare materialsContinue reading “STFC Away Missions Guide: Best Officers & Traits for Beginners”
Best NES RPGs Ranked: 10 Classic Games Still Worth Playing
“There’s no virtue in being old, it just takes a long time.” Lazarus Long, in Robert A. Heinlein’s “Time Enough For Love” The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is often remembered for platform scrollers, action games, and iconic mascots. But for some, it defined what a console RPG should be. There was always an RPG inContinue reading “Best NES RPGs Ranked: 10 Classic Games Still Worth Playing”
The Return of Hondo Ohnaka Could Finally Be Near
“Oh, the stories I could tell! So many of them true.” Hondo Ohnaka, Weequay Pirate and Friend to Jedi (he thinks). Updated April 2026 Who Is Hondo Ohnaka? Why Star Wars Fans Want Him in Live Action Has a Star Wars side character created as much goodwill as Hondo Ohnaka? He’s funny, selfish but loyal,Continue reading “The Return of Hondo Ohnaka Could Finally Be Near”
Worcester Voters Get a Civics Power-Up
“This project is so much more than a couple of newsletter articles. We’ve created a website, WorcesterElection.com, where you can find all the data used in this article, plus information about each candidate’s history and policy positions. Greg Opperman and Gillian Ganesan, Worcester Sucks and I Love It I’m genuinely excited to share something that feels like aContinue reading “Worcester Voters Get a Civics Power-Up”
STFC Automated Defenses: How They Work & Are They Worth It? (2026)
“This new ability will be available in the store and from the Bajoran faction. This ability can be applied to G3 and G4 Faction Surveyors and requires a new currency, Orb Splinters. When the Automated Defenses ability is active, the survey will have drastically increased combat power while on a mining node.” Star Trek FleetContinue reading “STFC Automated Defenses: How They Work & Are They Worth It? (2026)”