The James Bond franchise is what happens when a suave British spy, a limitless budget for gadgets, and an overabundance of martinis collide in the most explosive way possible. Across six decades, Bond has saved the world more times than your average IT guy reboots a router—always looking impeccably tailored while doing it. Whether he’s outsmarting a genius villain with a fondness for monologuing or seducing someone with a name that sounds suspiciously inappropriate, Bond’s greatest weapon isn’t his Walther PPK—it’s his unwavering confidence in absurd situations. Laser pointed at his groin? No problem. Freefalling without a parachute? Piece of cake. Playing baccarat with world-ending stakes? Just another Tuesday.
Of course, no Bond adventure would be complete without the classic formula: a megalomaniac villain with an unnecessarily elaborate death trap, a car so loaded with gadgets it might as well be a Transformer, and MI6’s quartermaster Q shaking his head at how quickly Bond will wreck the latest multimillion-dollar invention. The franchise has evolved from Cold War espionage to CGI-laden mayhem, but one thing remains constant: Bond will always find time for a dry martini, a smirk, and a perfectly timed one-liner—preferably as an enemy base explodes behind him.
But will happen now that Amazon has creative control over the James Bond franchise?!
Some video games are infamous for their sudden, brutal difficulty spikes that can frustrate even experienced players. Here are 10 that stand out:
1. “The Lion King” (1994) – SNES/Genesis
The second level, “Can’t Wait to Be King,” is a nightmare due to precision platforming and unclear mechanics, making it much harder than the first stage.
2. “Battletoads” (1991) – NES
Turbo Tunnel. Enough said. This speeder bike level requires near-perfect reflexes and memorization, making it a wall for many players.
3. “Ninja Gaiden” (1988) – NES
The game is already tough, but Stage 6-2 introduces aggressive enemy spawns and knockback mechanics that send you into pits constantly.
4. “Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts” (1991) – SNES
The entire game is hard, but the second loop (which you must complete to get the true ending) suddenly cranks the difficulty even higher.
5. “Jak II” (2003) – PS2
A massive shift from the first game, Jak II is full of unfair missions, like “Escape from the Fortress” and “Destroy the Eco Grid”, where enemies overwhelm you with little room for error.
6. “F-Zero GX” (2003) – GameCube
The Story Mode is brutal, especially Chapter 7 (“The Grand Prix”), where you must beat 29 AI opponents in a perfect race.
7. “Kingdom Hearts” (2002) – PS2
The Riku fight in Hollow Bastion is a major skill check. The game up to that point is manageable, then suddenly, he becomes a relentless, teleporting monster.
8. “Cuphead” (2017) – Multiplatform
The game is known for being hard, but Dr. Kahl’s Robot in Inkwell Isle Three is an absurd difficulty spike compared to the bosses before it.
9. “Rayman” (1995) – PS1/Saturn/PC
Eat at Joe’s and the late-game levels introduce brutal platforming sections that feel way harder than earlier parts of the game.
10. “Dark Souls” (2011) – Multiplatform
While the game is challenging throughout, Ornstein and Smough in Anor Londo represent a massive jump in difficulty, especially for first-time players.
Uncover more hidden gems of the PlayStation 4! From overlooked masterpieces to under-appreciated indie games, this video dives into the PS4’s secret stash of games that deserve way more love.
GAMES SHOWN:
The Deadly Tower of Monsters
Super Box Delivery
Homebody
The Last Hero of Nostalgaia
Ovivo
Twelve Minutes
Yaga
The PlayStation 4 is like that cool friend who always has the best movies, the latest games, and somehow still runs smoothly even after years of use. It hit the perfect sweet spot between power and affordability, packing a serious punch without making your wallet cry. Whether you were swinging through New York as Spider-Man, hunting robotic dinosaurs in Horizon Zero Dawn, or losing yourself in a God of War existential crisis, the PS4 was your loyal digital sidekick. And let’s not forget the Share button—because if you pulled off an insane trick shot in Rocket League but didn’t record it, did it even happen?
Of course, the PS4 also had its quirks, like sounding like a jet engine every time The Last of Us Part II booted up, or occasionally deciding it just didn’t feel like ejecting a disc. But those flaws became part of its charm, like a beloved pet with an attitude. It was the console that kept the gaming world spinning for nearly a decade, bridging the gap between old-school couch co-op and the online multiplayer chaos of today. Plus, with a library that still holds up, it’s the kind of system you can dust off years later and still have a blast—assuming you can find where you left that one controller that always has drift.
The Nintendo GameCube was the little purple lunchbox that could—if by “could,” you mean deliver some of the greatest games of its generation while looking like something a toddler might use to carry juice boxes. With its tiny discs (which seemed specifically designed to get lost in couch cushions), a handle on the back (for all those on-the-go gaming emergencies), and a controller that felt like Nintendo had kidnapped an octopus for design consultation, the GameCube was weird, wonderful, and criminally underrated. While other consoles were out there trying to be sleek and edgy, the GameCube was proudly saying, “Who needs DVD playback when you have Super Smash Bros. Melee?”
But despite its toy-like exterior, the GameCube punched way above its weight class. It gave us masterpieces like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Metroid Prime, and Resident Evil 4—because nothing says “family-friendly Nintendo” like fighting off parasitic zombies in high-definition terror. And let’s not forget Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, a game that single-handedly ruined friendships and made you question why you ever trusted your co-pilot. The GameCube may not have dominated its era, but it left a legacy of absolute classics, proving that sometimes, the smallest, weirdest kid on the playground ends up being everyone’s favorite.
The DeLorean DMC-12 is the perfect example of what happens when a car is designed for cool factor first, practicality last. With its stainless steel body, gull-wing doors, and an engine that could barely outrun a determined jogger, the DeLorean was less of a speed machine and more of a conversation starter. Sure, it looked like it belonged in the future, but in reality, it had all the horsepower of a rebellious lawnmower. Yet somehow, this quirky, underpowered, over-stylized car became one of the most iconic vehicles in cinematic history—thanks to one tiny modification: a flux capacitor.
Enter Back to the Future, the only movie that could convince us a DeLorean could hit 88 mph without a strong tailwind and divine intervention. With a little Hollywood magic (and a lot of plutonium), this car transformed from an automotive oddity into a time-traveling legend. It wasn’t just a car—it was a gateway to adventure, paradoxes, and some very questionable alterations to the space-time continuum. And let’s be honest, nobody watches Back to the Future without immediately wondering, “Could I daily drive a DeLorean?”—before remembering that opening the doors in a tight parking space would require the flexibility of a gymnast.
Today is Valentine’s Day… and WE ❤️ VIDEO GAMES! Check out an hour of RECENT GAME PICKUPS! We got PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox, Dreamcast, SNES, Atari and so much more!
Download Whatnot and get $20 off your first purchase (can be used anywhere on the app): https://whatnot.com/invite/metaljesusrocks (offer valid until March 15, 2025)
Sell on Whatnot & they’ll match up to $150 worth of sales in your first 7 days. Apply to sell using the same link above! *promotions are subject to change
GAMES SHOWN:
GameStop posters
PS2 / PSP demos
Rogue Flight
Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary
Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection
Pepper Grinder
Xenogears 2.0
CastleVania Symphony of the Night
Alundra
Ninja Five-O
Grand Theft Auto III (Dreamcast)
Somerville
V-Rally 3
Freedom Wars: Remastered
God of Rock
Balatro
Diesel Legacy: The Brazen Age
Everspace 2
XenoCrisis
Atari 7800+ Press Kit
A.R.T.I.
Rogue Dawn Metroid
Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti
IGS Classic Arcade Collection
Shinorubi Pink Edition
Cat Quest: The Fur-tastic Trilogy
Triggerheart Exelica
Gibbon: Beyond the Trees
Rusted Moss
Lethal Wedding
Video Game Collector’s Field Guide (Book)
Tales of Graces F: Remastered
Unico Pocket Handheld
Yars Rising
SHINOBI NON GRATA
Lacrimosa of Dana (Book)
Shockman Zero
Raging Bytes
Black Myth Wukong
Wild Guns: Reloaded
Wonder Boy Collection
The Valve Steam Deck is what happens when a gaming PC and a Nintendo Switch have a baby, and that baby grows up chugging Mountain Dew and modding Skyrim at age five. It’s a chunky, unapologetically beefy handheld that can run everything from AAA blockbusters to the jankiest, most obscure indie games you found in a bundle eight years ago. With its Linux-based SteamOS, it’s basically a portable gaming goblin that thrives on tinkering. Want to install Windows? Go ahead. Emulate old consoles? Absolutely. Turn it into a weird Frankenstein machine that runs spreadsheets and plays DOOM on a smart fridge? You bet. It’s the kind of device that whispers, “Go on, break me, I dare you,” and then somehow just keeps working anyway.
Now, playing retro games on the Steam Deck is like giving a cyberpunk mech the soul of a Blockbuster Video rental section. Whether it’s SNES classics, PS2 gems, or some long-lost Game Boy Advance title you played in the backseat of a minivan, the Deck handles it like a champ. With emulation software, it transforms into an all-in-one time machine, letting you bounce from Chrono Trigger to Tony Hawk’s Underground without missing a beat. And thanks to those gloriously oversized thumbsticks and trackpads, even finicky old PC games get a new lease on life. It’s like holding every console you ever loved in your hands—except now, you don’t have to blow into a cartridge like a desperate wizard trying to resurrect a fallen warrior.
Ah, Sonic racing games—a journey wilder than a Sonic fan theory, faster than a Chili Dog hitting the floor, and more chaotic than trying to keep up with all of Eggman’s names (Dr. Robotnik? Dr. Eggman? Just pick one, man).
It all began in 1994 with Sonic Drift for the Game Gear, where Sonic and his pals—who are famously known for running at supersonic speeds—decided, “Nah, let’s drive tiny go-karts instead.” This made about as much sense as Knuckles taking financial advice from Rouge, but hey, it was the ‘90s, and Mario Kart had already proven that any franchise could justify go-karting. The game was only released in Japan, likely because Sega was still pretending the Game Gear was a global success.
Fast forward to 1995, and we got Sonic Drift 2, which actually came out worldwide. It added more characters and slightly improved gameplay but still had the same philosophical issue: Why is Sonic, the fastest thing alive, driving a car?
Then came 1997’s Sonic R, a game that boldly asked, “What if racing, but weird?” Instead of karts, Sonic and his crew actually ran—except for the ones who didn’t, like Eggman and Amy, who still brought vehicles because physics be damned. This game is infamous for its slippery controls, bizarre character balance (Tails Doll still haunts dreams to this day), and an absolute banger of a soundtrack that included Can You Feel the Sunshine?, a song that either makes you feel euphoric or deeply unsettled depending on what kind of internet horror stories you’ve read.
After a dark period of Sonic games experimenting with other bad ideas (looking at you, Shadow the Hedgehog), Sega revisited the racing genre in 2006 with Sonic Riders. Instead of karts or running, this time the gang hopped on hoverboards—because Tony Hawk was cool, and Sega wanted to make Sonic cool again. The game was fast, flashy, and had a steep learning curve that made newcomers feel like they were piloting a malfunctioning Roomba. It got a sequel (Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity) and an ill-advised Kinect-exclusive (Sonic Free Riders), which was more of a workout routine than a video game.
Then came the real comeback: 2010’s Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, a Mario Kart-style game where Sonic and friends finally embraced their vehicular destiny. It was great! So good, in fact, that it got an even better sequel in 2012, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, which let you switch between cars, boats, and planes mid-race—basically the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate of Sega racing games.
Finally, in 2019, Sega dropped Team Sonic Racing, a game where teamwork was the focus, forcing you to rely on AI or human teammates to win. It had solid mechanics, but fans missed the broader Sega crossover elements from All-Stars Racing Transformed.
And now in 2025 we finally have a new game called Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and looks to be a followup to All-Stars Racing! The Sonic racing timeline is a mix of great ideas, weird choices, and the eternal question: Why does Sonic need a car? But if nothing else, these games prove one thing—no matter how fast Sonic is, he just really likes driving.
Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkin) sits down with the one and only Gene Simmons to probe beyond the kabuki makeup and monster riffs that made KISS a household name.
KISS is the ultimate proof that sometimes, more is more. Why settle for just a rock band when you can have a pyro-loaded, face-painted, fire-breathing, blood-spitting spectacle? These guys didn’t just play music—they turned every concert into a full-throttle, leather-clad, platform-boot-stomping explosion of pure rock ‘n’ roll excess. With Gene Simmons’ tongue doing more work than most lead singers’ entire vocal range and Paul Stanley treating the crowd like his personal stadium-sized therapy session, KISS made sure you felt every moment. And let’s be real—no other band has ever looked at a standard drum solo and thought, “Yeah, but what if the drummer also levitated?”
But beyond the explosions, the face paint, and the fact that they somehow turned their logo into a billion-dollar merchandising empire (seriously, there’s probably a KISS-branded toaster out there), the band delivered exactly what rock fans craved: ridiculously catchy anthems. “Detroit Rock City,” “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” and “Rock and Roll All Nite” weren’t just songs—they were battle cries for anyone who ever wanted to trade in their 9-to-5 for a night of unapologetic mayhem. KISS mastered the art of giving the people what they didn’t even know they needed: a perfect mix of camp, chaos, and chugging guitar riffs that made you feel invincible. Because at the end of the day, if you can sell out stadiums for 50 years while wearing bat wings and breathing fire, you’ve officially won rock ‘n’ roll.
YouTuber Retro Maggie – Gives us a detailed look at her killer Gaming Room!
Imagine a sacred space in your home where the only responsibilities are leveling up, saving the world, and maybe remembering to hydrate. A dedicated video game room is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity for anyone serious about their digital adventures. No more fighting for TV time or awkwardly explaining to guests why there’s a tangled mess of controllers in the living room. Instead, picture a throne-like gaming chair, ambient LED lighting that makes everything feel just a little more epic, and shelves lined with carefully curated game collections. It’s your personal command center, a place where you can rage in peace when that boss fight gets the best of you, without judgment or side-eye from your family.
Plus, a gaming room is basically an investment in your well-being—science probably backs this up somewhere. It’s a stress-relief zone, a social hub for co-op marathons, and a fortress of solitude when you need a break from the real world’s side quests (like work and taxes). With a dedicated space, you can crank up the surround sound without worrying about waking the baby, immerse yourself in a VR world without crashing into the coffee table, and even display your gaming trophies with pride. It’s not just a room; it’s a lifestyle, a sanctuary, and let’s be honest—probably the best decision you’ll make for your happiness, short of installing a snack fridge right next to your setup.
