Hey all, it’s Kern here. I Finally got a Resident Evil 2 fan song that I really like, this thing took me FOREVER to do, and I’m sorry about that honestly… but, getting the feel of the song wasn’t as easy as one might expect lyrically… I think I bashed my pens upon my notebooks for about a week and a half of scrapped lyric attempts before I got something I actually liked.
The lyrics are in the video, if you want to read them. The goal with this song was to really hone in on the overall feel of Leon’s “rookie cop” days and how it kind of all fell apart before it even began. Later games show us what he ends up becoming, but I wanted to go back to his Resident Evil 2 origin story.
I wanted listeners to think back to their first attempts at the game (both the origional RE2 and the Remake) and step into the chaos of Raccoon City. I hope that with First Night, Last Chance that vision becomes possible. This Resident Evil 2 fan song is told from Leon Kennedy’s perspective, and I personally think it’s offers a haunting blend of emotion, duty, and survival, capturing the terror and tragedy of his first night on the force.
Also, his last chance to escape… a nod to Jill’s statements in Resident Evil 3’s game (the original, not the remake).
Well, that’s all for now. If you like the song, seriously like the song on YouTube, subscribe to the channel, and I’ll see you next time. This has been Kern of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course.
FAIL: Fallen Angels in Limelight – rock, glam rock, hard rock. City of Shadows Album 1 – A musical story about two cities joining together as one deep in the desert. A literal tyrant has come to lay claim to the city, and an uprising occurs. City of Shadows Album 2 – The exciting continuation of City of Shadows. Time to set out and travel the world! This story is ongoing, with song releases every Wednesday and Friday. Roll for Glory Album – An album dedicated to the wonderful world of DnD, and the fictional band in “Thunderous Power Kicks” (T.P.K) led by their fearless leader and Bard. RWBY Fan Songs – Fan made songs for the RWBY series encompassing several musical styles. (Kern’s on going project). Video Game Fan Songs – Fan made songs about video games spanning a wide variety of gaming genres and song styles (Kresh and Kern’s ongoing project). Ferret’s Synthwave – Songs with a Synthwave vibe.
Step into the chaos of Raccoon City with First Night, Last Chance; an original Resident Evil 2 fan song told from Leon Kennedy’s perspective. A haunting blend of emotion, duty, and survival, capturing the terror and tragedy of his first night on the force.
I’m coming at you with a game review of Final Fantasy. Yep! We need to go back to where it all started. These days the game is kind of messy and doesn’t hold up the way slightly later titles do, but let’s not judge it too harshly… it did after all save Square Soft’s butt…
A haunting fan song anthology revisiting The Dark Pictures Anthology. Striving to capture the chilling atmosphere of Man of Medan through The Devil in Me. Join us on this journey.
It began with a question: What if James Sunderland sang the truth? So, yeah… “Deeper Still” is a dark alternative rock fan song told from James’s point of view, inspired by the tragic In Water ending of Silent Hill 2.
Locke is introduced early in Final Fantasy VI as a charismatic rogue with a knack for sneaking, stealing, and looking good while doing it. He’s got fast hands, and faster comebacks.
Hey all it’s Kern here! I’m coming at you with a game review of Final Fantasy. Yep… we need to go back to where it all started. These days the game is kind of messy and doesn’t hold up the way slightly later titles do, but let’s not judge it too harshly… it did after all save Square Soft’s butt back in the day… lol.
These days, we know them as Square Enix, but back then, they were just a tiny, assumed to be doomed company.
Final Fantasy is a 1987 fantasy role‑playing game developed by Square for the NES. At the time, Square was practically bankrupt and this game was their last ditch resort. Needless to say, the game was a hit and it saved the company. It also launched what would become one of the best‑selling video game franchises in history… but that’s another story… one we will get to as I review this franchise in earnest.
Now, I’ve played a lot of Final Fantasy games over the years, and my first Final Fantasy game ever was Final Fantasy VI (or FFIII for the NES). I was much older when I played the original game. When I fired up the NES original, I didn’t have high hopes. I mean, the game came out all the way back in 1987. It was all pixels and a prayer. There were absolutely no CGI cutscenes, no espers or materia, and no iconic characters as we know them today…
Beyond that, jobs and abilities were hugely limited. There was only a White Mage, Black Mage, Red Mage, Thief, Warrior and a Black Belt to choose from when you begin the game, although these jobs change to what FFXI and FFXIV would know of as advanced jobs as you play through the original Final Fantasy.
That being said, since this game set the baseline you can see a lot of the standard Final Fantasy DNA here, along with other role-playing games of the era. Anyway, I fully expected it to feel clunky, flat, and a bit painful… and to be fair, it is…. it’s the very first game, after all.
So, I find that being the first game in such a long running and beloved franchise forgives a great deal, and it excuses Final Fantasy too due to age.
Hey, it’s not like I didn’t have my biases against the game, either. For example, without buying gear or magic, you’ll die almost instantly in the over world. Now, most FF games assume you might do that, and gives you a very basic set of gear to begin with unless you happen to be a very special breed of clunky (Final Fantasy XI, looking at you my beloved MMO diamond in the rough… but, seriously, WTF?!)
I digress… anyway, at least there was one thing players had to help them out a fair bit. Fun fact, did you know the original Final Fantasy came with a beautiful full-color, 89-page manual? It didn’t come with just basic instructions, this thing had it all. I’m talking full on mechanics here; total spell breakdowns, beautiful maps, and all of it decently laid out. The book even included a fairly decent walk-through for most of the game.
Seriously, if you’re going to play the original Final Fantasy, or any of its iterations/remasters, then use that book or an online guide to help out a little. Although, maybe I’m partial to it, there’s just something about sitting in front of a guide, feeling the pages between your fingertips, with a controller in your lap, you know?
I did that with a lot of games growing up, and it’s how I learned to read, actually. I didn’t always write book reports, I wrote full on “game reports” since there’s more reading in one of those games than an average children’s book I got away with it too, lol…
In any case, let’s really talk about just how ambitious this game really is. It is a bit clunky without the guide, I must admit, but let’s chat about what they got right, and horrifically wrong.
The Good, The Bad, the WTF!
First of all, this game is all the standard Final Fantasy joys reduced down to their most simple components… we’re talking towns, dungeons, vehicles, and elemental temples, job classes, and other retro rpg set pieces.
You build your own team in the first game. Four characters, six jobs to choose from, and your choices actually matter a lot.
To rehash, the jobs are: Fighter, Thief, Black Belt, White Mage, Black Mage, Red Mage.
Pick wrong, and the game punishes you. Pick right, and it rewards you with just enough flexibility to survive the punishing grind… and yeah, say it with me now…
Yeah, the grind is the real deal. This is an old-school RPG, you’re going to be grinding a lot. You need it for your cold hard cash (Gold in this case it wouldn’t be called Gil until later), leveling up, and even just to get from place-to-place enemy encounters can happen a lot. I’ve personally always felt that a sense of slow growth is so satisfying, but here it does feel like a little bit too much.
It’s a slog really…
These characters don’t really have firm personalities, it doesn’t feel as rewarding to level them up. We just don’t have a Sabin Figaro or Cloud Strife to bank on here.
Still, in a general sense at least, every step forward feels earned. Every spell slot, every upgrade, every boss victory… yeah, sure, it fits just fine and dandy. To some degree, it felt like it mattered “enough”, which for the first game ever from a failing company in bankruptcy says a lot.
Without fully fleshed out characters though, the story is downright bare-bones.
You’re the Warriors of Light, just without the bombastic plot of FFXIV. Of course, there are monsters and a big baddie in your way. This screen here basically tells you all you need to know about the over all plot:
Erm, yeah… that’s about it.
I know, I know, I just described most RPGs of the era, and of course I did… that was the standard formula back in the day, more or less. Honestly, I can’t fault it too badly. The simplicity actually works, and not everyone is like me, demanding heavy and thoughtful plots in their games.
Final Fantasy doesn’t care if it’s got a rich story, it isn’t pretending to be deep. It won’t pull off philosophical themes or cinematic twists. In that way, it may just be the perfect Final Fantasy game for some players.
Where the game really does well is within the overall mechanics and gameplay loop. Although, the game can be hard for those that don’t play rpgs. There are five different ways to travel: walking, canoe, boat, airship, and even teleportation. Without a story, that’s part of why it’s so easy to get lost…
The dungeons are punishing too. Some of them are just straight-up downright brutal and will wipe the floor with you if you go in unprepared. Stock up, seriously…
Stock up!
You’re going to hit battles with preemptive strikes, and some of those hit way harder than you’d think they would. There are no Phoenix Downs in this version (another downside), so if someone dies, your only option is to hike your happy ass all the way back to town and pay to revive them… not a fun thing to do, really.
If half your party gets wrecked halfway through a dungeon, that’s it! You’re kissing your butt goodbye on a game over… either that, or you’re pulling a clinch-kill in that final half with pure luck and gumption alone.
Let’s not pretend the game doesn’t have massive flaws where it counts too. Because it absolutely does. A lot of them. Stats like Intelligence? Erm, they kinda don’t really work… like, at all. As for spells like TMPR and SABR? Those are a real fart in the wind… and it only gets worse from there when it comes down to issues.
Overall, when you’re talking about general Crit rates, those are supposedly tied to weapon position in the data table, which means cheap early weapons are sometimes the absolute best.
Also, basic potions suck hardcore… so there’s that. Enemies can stack large numbers during an encounter (hence the grinding, alllll the grinding).
Then, of course, we have the little spell related issues. Spell slots are so limited, you’ll be rationing magic in ways that can be annoying just on principle… but, that’s the nature of the game and a product of its time.
The problems aside though, combat is pretty basic but a lot of turn based systems are… not much to say about it really. If you’re a fan of old school RPG’s you know roughly what you’re in for.
So… Is It Worth Playing?
Yeah… yeah it is… more or less…
Look, it’s a clunky old fart, to be sure… but, it’s an old fart of a game that deserves recognition, and I’ll give it that.
Final Fantasy on the NES is a rough game to play for some people, but it’s rough in that lovable, if amazingly groundbreaking way that early gaming classics are.
Yes, it does often miss the mark… but think of it more like a beta for what Final Fantasy as a franchise would one day become.
Personally, I can feel the ambition behind every mechanic. I can see what the devs were trying to do, even when game failed to fully accomplish it. failed to do it… and to me, that makes it a special little gem worth playing.
Despite the bugs, the balance issues, the grind, hardly any decent characterization, and even less in the way of guidance, not to mention the glitches, this game is an achievement onto itself.
No matter what we might think about it, Final Fantasy put Square Soft (now Square Enix) into the long lived gaming studio we know and love it to be… even when they still succumb to janky ideas that needed more time to cook (Thank you Dawn Trail).
I was pretty harsh on this game though, so let me put a little balm on the wounds I just sliced into it by leaving a fan song here:
This has been Kern of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time! For now, check out some other stuff below and don’t forget to support us on Patreon! We’ve got a $1 tier, and every little bit helps!
FAIL: Fallen Angels in Limelight – rock, glam rock, hard rock. City of Shadows Album 1 – A musical story about two cities joining together as one deep in the desert. A literal tyrant has come to lay claim to the city, and an uprising occurs. City of Shadows Album 2 – The exciting continuation of City of Shadows. Time to set out and travel the world! This story is ongoing, with song releases every Wednesday and Friday. Roll for Glory Album – An album dedicated to the wonderful world of DnD, and the fictional band in “Thunderous Power Kicks” (T.P.K) led by their fearless leader and Bard. RWBY Fan Songs – Fan made songs for the RWBY series encompassing several musical styles. (Kern’s on going project). Video Game Fan Songs – Fan made songs about video games spanning a wide variety of gaming genres and song styles (Kresh and Kern’s ongoing project). Ferret’s Synthwave – Songs with a Synthwave vibe.
Revisit the 16-bit classic that put SEGA on the map. Our in-depth Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) review explores gameplay, graphics, music, and legacy on the SEGA Genesis.
For starters, Loot River is an action based rogue-like game that was developed by STRAKA.STUDIO. It was also published by STRAKA.STUDIO and SUPERHOT PRESENTS. This game was announced back in 2021 and released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on May 3, 2022. What you’ll get here is a fusion of puzzle solving and action based gameplay.…
Elite: Dangerous is the modern installment in a series of renown space simulation games from Frontier Developments. If you have ever wanted to experience what it would be like to make a living hopping from star to star in the Milky Way galaxy, this is the game for you.
Hello everyone, this is Ebby of The Demented Ferrets. This will be a Top 5 list of my personal favorite Bosses from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. Please note that these are simply my opinions, and I do not speak for anyone else.
Super Mario Bros. is a game that I don’t need to review. We all know it, we’ve all heard of it, and it would be pretty redundant to review this thing when I’m sure other people could do it much better than I can. I do love the game though, even if I absolutely suck…
Hey all, it’s Kern here. You know, there’s something incredibly stirring about playing through a lovingly curated anthology of games, and that’s what the Dark Pictures Anthology is all about…. and that’s why we did a fan album for the series.
So, here I am, headphones warmed on and lights dimmed, sinking into our YouTube fan song anthology for The Dark Pictures Anthology. You’ll get a little bit of everything. We’ve got a fan song for Man of Medan, Little Hope, House of Ashes, and The Devil in Me, and as the first notes ignite, I’m reminded of just how deeply these games’ soundtracks cut into my soul… Kresh did an amazing job spearheading this one.
Walking Through Each Game with Music as Your Guide
Man of Medan – The sharp, metallic clang in this song hits like a cold wave. The nautical isolation of the SS Ourang Medan, the tension, the claustrophobic dread… yeah, you can hear all of that.
Little Hope – The haunted woods, spectral apparitions, and a sense of trapped time — the music here takes on a mournful, almost distant quality, weaving uncertainty into every note.
House of Ashes – Tribal drums, ancient ruins, and alien horrors blend into something primal and foreboding. The anthology’s song choices capture that descent into the unknown.
The Devil in Me – There’s glitzy horror lurking beneath the surface. Synths and dissonance echo the hotel’s twisted corridors, paired with a manic and unsettling undertone that mirrors the game’s macabre slasher homage.
O Death – You didn’t think we’d ignore a rendition of this one, did you? HA! Yeah right, this one was the shocker of the fan album, and it’s probably my favorite one.
Well hopefully you’ll like this fan anthology. We sure did have a lot of fun making it… and shout out to Kresh who busted her ass on this thing.
Hey all, it’s Kern here, a massive fan of the Silent Hill and Resident Evil games. This song is my first dalliance into the Silent Hill 2 fan music world.
It began with a question: What if James Sunderland sang the truth?
So, yeah… “Deeper Still” is a dark alternative rock fan song told from James’s point of view, inspired by the tragic In Water ending of Silent Hill 2. I aimed for raw emotion, urgent pacing, and haunting guitars. Hopefully, if I’ve completed my ambition you’ll think this track captures the moment where grief, guilt, and final acceptance all come crashing down.
This isn’t just a tribute, it’s meant to be James’s confession set to music. No redemption. Just a man, a lake, and the weight he can’t swim out from.
Lyrics: [Verse 1] I drove through the fog like a ghost in a frame Your voice in a letter… still calling my name. But you’re gone, aren’t you? Long before I arrived This town’s just a mirror, and I’m barely alive. The bed was too quiet, the air far too thin I watched you fading, again and again You asked for mercy… and I shut the door Now I hear that silence louder than before.
[Pre-Chorus] There’s no white light, no guiding flame Just the echo of your voice, and the weight of shame.
[Chorus] So I sink beneath the waterline Let it pull me down, erase this crime No absolution, no soft goodbye Just rusted stars in a blackened sky I breathe you in, I feel you still But you don’t speak… and I go deeper still.
[Verse 2] I met reflections, all fractured and blind Each one a question I tried to unwind Their pain, their rage, their broken grace Were all just pieces of my face She looked like you, she moved like sin But she wasn’t you, she was what’s within I chased a ghost, I called it love But love’s not meant to draw blood.
[Pre-Chorus] I built this cage, I made this bed Now I lay in it, and drown instead.
[Chorus] So I sink beneath the waterline Let it pull me down, erase this crime No halo waits, no wings, no light Just you and me in endless night I whisper low, the world stands still As I fall… deeper still.
[Bridge] “Mary… I’m sorry. I loved you… but I was so tired. I don’t deserve the surface anymore.”
[Final Chorus ] So I sink beneath the waterline Let the guilt become the brine One last breath, then nothing more No judgment, just the lake and lore The road is gone, I’ve had my fill… And I sink… deeper still.
Well, that’s about all for me for now. This has been Kern from The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. See you next time.
Hey all, it’s Kern here dropping you a fan song about Locke Cole from Final Fantasy VI (Final Fantasy 6, or Final Fantasy 3 if you play it on the SNES). Locke is introduced early in Final Fantasy VI as a charismatic rogue with a knack for sneaking, stealing, and looking good while doing it. He’s got fast hands, and faster comebacks. On the surface, he’s your classic RPG rogue (or Final Fantasy Thief).
He’s witty, agile, a little bit flirty, and fiercely independent… or, so it seems…
From the moment he appears, it’s clear there’s something more behind the smirk. Locke isn’t just here for riches or fun. He’s hurting. Everything he does, every fight he throws himself into, every damsel he tries to save, every relic he chases down is driven by something deeper: guilt, loss, and a desperate need to protect what he couldn’t protect before.
So enter in this fan song, “Call Me Thief” a tribute to Locke Cole, and who he actually is as a person. I wanted the song to reflect his passing as well as his caution. His values, and his contradictions. What he holds privately, and what he wears openly on his sleeve.
Locke Cole is probably one of the most compelling characters in Final Fantasy VI. Honestly, although he is not my all-time favorite, he stands solidly in the top 3 characters I most resonate with when playing through the game. If you liked the song, please consider subscribing to us both here on the blog or over on YouTube for more gaming fan songs like this.
Remember, we play games over on Twitch as well, so come by and say hello. You can catch us streaming for a few hours a few times a week.
FAIL: Fallen Angels in Limelight – rock, glam rock, hard rock. City of Shadows Album 1 – A musical story about two cities joining together as one deep in the desert. A literal tyrant has come to lay claim to the city, and an uprising occurs. Roll for Glory Album – An album dedicated to the wonderful world of DnD, and the fictional band in “Thunderous Power Kicks” (T.P.K) led by their fearless leader and Bard. RWBY Fan Songs – Fan made songs for the RWBY series encompassing several musical styles. (Kern’s on going project). Video Game Fan Songs – Fan made songs about video games spanning a wide variety of gaming genres and song styles (Kresh and Kern’s ongoing project). Ferret’s Synthwave – Songs with a Synthwave vibe.
Release Date: June 23, 1991 Developer: Sonic Team Publisher: SEGA Platform: SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive Genre: Retro Platformer
Hey all, it’s Kern here, and we’re blasting to the past “faster than the speed of light”. Yep, you see what I did there, I’m sure. In 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog burst onto the SEGA Genesis with a streak of blue and a cocky smirk, instantly becoming the face of SEGA’s brand, much like Mario became Nintendo’s. The game isn’t just another mascot platformer. Nah, I became a full-blown cultural phenomenon that brought a new level of speed, style, and difficulty to the genre.
Over three decades later, does this Genesis classic still hold up? Well, let’s figure that out.
The Gameplay – Fast, Fun, and Fluid
At its core, Sonic the Hedgehog is a side-scrolling platformer, but it has a few key things to consider. The game is ultimately all about momentum-based physics and high-speed traversal. Unlike Mario’s precision style hopping across the levels, Sonic thrives on the ebb and flow of each stage. It’s all about maintaining speed and reacting in real time to a world built for blazing-fast movement.
You play as Sonic, a blue hedgehog with “cool” attitude, on a mission to put a foot up Dr. Robotnik’s behind (later he should be known as Eggman). He’s been turning the woodland creatures into machines, and you’ve got to stop him. Simple premise, brilliant execution.
Quick Gameplay Highlights:
Speed-focused level design with multiple routes.
Tight, responsive controls, no spin dash, though. Spin dash wasn’t added until later games.
Rings are your life gauge! So long as you’ve got a ring on you, you can get hit. As long as you don’t fall down a hole, or drown, you’ll be okay so long as you have a ring.
Collect 100 rings, when you do, you get an extra life. Remember, when you take one hit without rings, that’s game over.
Bonus stages, they show up, and they’re pretty fun.
The Visuals – Bold and Beautiful
Each zone has its own aesthetic identity, from the lush greenery and waterfalls of Green Hill Zone, to the gritty gears of Scrap Brain, and stone brick in Marble Zone. For its time, bright flashy colors were the way platformers looked. In an attempt to appeal to children, that was fairly common. That being said, SEGA’s art direction for Sonic the Hedgehog was revolutionary for the early ’90s. The Genesis had a color palette that was able to showcase the completely vibrant backgrounds, and it looks gorgeous considering the speed at which Sonic runs through the game. It would have been so easy for the game to look like a muddy blur, but it never does.
Music & Sound – A Timeless Soundtrack
I think it goes without saying that some games leave ear worms behind. Just as classic Mario games have an iconic soundtrack, so does Sonic. Composed by Masato Nakamura, the soundtrack is a a true masterclass in 16-bit music design. Each zone’s theme is memorable and perfectly suited to its tone and visuals. Even decades later, tracks like Green Hill Zone and Starlight Zone remain etched in the minds of gamers everywhere… honorable mention to the boss fight theme, and the title screen. They’re just so memorable to me.
Difficulty – It’s Hard!
Okay, okay maybe not as hard as some platformers of today. For its time though, this wasn’t a super easy game. The game eases players in, giving you somewhat forgiving early stages. The thing is, it ramps up sharply. Once you hit levels like Labyrinth Zone, you’ll be in trouble. It is a water level… so have fun. Like all water levels in retro Sonic games, it has some pretty unforgiving water physics. Boss fights against Dr. Robotnik (Eggman) are fun but not hard to figure out. The Stages themselves are where the difficulty is really at. At least in the boss fights, if you’ve got a ring on you, you’ll be okay.
While not unfair, the game doesn’t always think through its gameplay style. The game demands memorization of each stage if you want to play them completely fluidly. Even then, you’ll need patience in later stages, and in a game about speed slowing down in a real pain in the butt sometimes.
Legacy – A Game That Changed Everything
Sonic the Hedgehog wasn’t just a game—it was a movement. Sonic made the Sega Genesis a household name to so many of us. It gave SEGA a foothold in ’90s console wars, and a worthy rival of Nintendo. Obviously, the game is part of our culture as gamers too. The franchise has only grown, and continues to do so. These days, Sonic fans have a literal empire of sequels, cartoons, comics, and films to enjoy
My Few Criticisms
So, as I said above, the first game has No spin dash to speak of. If you’re used to playing other games, you can’t expect to have it in this one. The pacing issues I described, you do have to slow down sometimes (looking at you, Marble and Labyrinth zones). For it’s time, Bosses are what you’d expect. That means they’re also standard. A lack of variety in fighting them comes down to recycling simple attack patterns, and hitting the boss at the right time… the first iteration of the game didn’t have a save system, and that’s something to keep in mind. Later remakes and later games would have one.
Final Verdict – A 16-Bit Classic, Play It
Sonic the Hedgehog for SEGA Genesis isn’t just a platformer, it’s a game design landmark and fandom touchstone. Even without the refinements of its sequels, the original remains wildly fun, stylistically sharp, and culturally significant to gamers everywhere. Whether you’re a retro fan revisiting your childhood or a new player exploring gaming history, this is a must-play title.
Some Fandom:
As I do love the sonic franchise, I made a few fan songs for the game, and they were a lot of fun to make. you can find them both here:
This has been Kern, of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest, and level grinds are par for the course. I hope you liked the songs and enjoyed the review. Don’t forget to follow us over on YouTube for all kinds of fan songs and other content. We’ve got a Twitch, we play games there, so if that’s your jam come say hello when we’re live. As always, you can support us over on Patreon if you like what we do! Please check it out and consider joining.
That’s all for now, I’ll catch you next time!
Have you replayed Sonic recently? Share your favorite zone, in the comments below!
FAIL: Fallen Angels in Limelight – rock, glam rock, hard rock. City of Shadows Album 1 – A musical story about two cities joining together as one deep in the desert. A literal tyrant has come to lay claim to the city, and an uprising occurs. Roll for Glory Album – An album dedicated to the wonderful world of DnD, and the fictional band in “Thunderous Power Kicks” (T.P.K) led by their fearless leader and Bard. RWBY Fan Songs – Fan made songs for the RWBY series encompassing several musical styles. (Kern’s on going project). Video Game Fan Songs – Fan made songs about video games spanning a wide variety of gaming genres and song styles (Kresh and Kern’s ongoing project). Ferret’s Synthwave – Songs with a Synthwave vibe.
Hey all, it’s Kern here! If you’re not following us over on YouTube you really should. In any case, DnD fans, it’s time to unite. Kresh made a fan album, and it’s packed with banger after banger! If you’re into DnD and rock vibes, check out some of the songs.
First though, let’s talk about Thunderous Power Kicks (T.P.K)! This is a fictional band set in the world of DnD, and led by their fearless band leader and bard Myev Rockblade. She’s glam rock diva, so she loves being the centre of attention but when it comes down to it shes loyal to her band/friends. This band is part of the greater Demented Ferrets band universes, along with FAIL: Fallen Angels in Limelight for our City of Shadows universe.
With that said, here’s the music, hope you like it! Jam on, DnD fans, jam on… and maybe start a tavern brawl or two.
Critical Hit!
Dungeons and Dreams!
TPK!
The Rogue’s Gambit!
I Have Dark Vision!
Dragon’s Breath!
Hunter’s Mark!
Strings of Fate!
TAVERN BRAWL!!!!!
Cleric’s Light!
Well, we’ve reached the end of this album, but there’s more where that came from in the works! If you like what we do and want to support us check out our Patreon: patreon.com/TheDementedFerrets. If you’re a member you can get access to all the mp.3’s. Non-members can buy the album post as a package as a one-time purchase, so you’ve got options if you want them… also, you can just listen to them for free here or on YouTube anytime!
That’s all for now. This has been Kern of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest, and level grinds are par for the course. We stream on Twitch too, so check us out there for fun and games. Until next time everyone!
Hey everyone, It’s Kern here…. you know, last year was packed with standout horror titles, and I didn’t really get around to reviewing them the way I hoped for. It’s time I got around to it now; Still Wakes the Deep makes a haunting impression with its claustrophobic tension, atmospheric design, and a chilling dive into psychological horror. This thing won a lot of awards too, which you can see for yourself:
The game was developed by The Chinese Room, the same studio behind narrative-driven games (walking simulators as some call them), like Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture and Dear Esther. Because they’re easy to play, they’re very accessible for novice gamers looking for a good story. You can find both of those games on Steam. For those of us who want some heavier gameplay, though Still Wakes the Deep is a solid choice.
As far as Still Wakes the Deep is concerned, the game is a slow-burning nightmare set against the brutal backdrop of the North Sea in the 1970s. You play as Cameron “Caz” McLeary, who happens to be an electrician working aboard a massive oil drilling platform. After everything goes right to hell in a handbag (as things tend to in horror games), the rig is damaged and everything rapidly descends into chaos. To make matters worse, monstrous entities begin to appear, stalking the creaking metal corridors. So, yeah, you’re screwed!
There’s no way off the rig, no help coming, and nowhere to hide for long. So what do you do? Run, hide, and keep away from the big baddies, that’s what! Still Wakes the Deep foregoes combat entirely. It’s all about survival. You spend time sneaking past unseen horrors, solving environmental puzzles, and navigating the collapsing rig under relentless storms. The first-person perspective heightens the immersion, placing you firmly in the hot seat as Caz, come hell and high water. That’s right, you get both! If you don’t like deep water horror, this is NOT the game for you.
For fans of story-driven horror set on open water and oil rigs, Still Wakes the Deep is a must-play experience. It’s not about cheap jump scares…. nah, instead, it delivers a slow, dread-filled experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
Kresh even made a fan song about it, so take a listen, if you want to! Just keep in mind, spoilers are layered within the song, obviously!
Well, that’s all for now everyone. This has been Kern of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course.
Hey everyone, it’s Kern here with our next fan song. First a little backstory. Kresh and I both really like the Resident Evil series, but when it comes to the third game in the franchise Kresh never played the original… only I did. As someone who played the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, I have some pretty strong opinions about why I think the original game is far and away the better game. Those opinions lead to this fan song. The glam-rock song is meant to be taken “in good fun”, and its not something to take super seriously.
About the Song: “Where’s The Fear? (Nemesis No Show)” is a song that depicts Kern’s two largest complaints of the Resident Evil 3 Remake. First of all, the Nemesis in the remake doesn’t feel nearly as threatening as his original counterpart. The original used arguably clunky tank controls, but the fact that Nemesis moves incredibly fast made him feel much more difficult to get away from, provided that you did choose to run from him. The second reason he feels much less threatening in the remake, and far less scary, is the lack of branching pathways and the overall improved enemy design when it comes to basic zombie encounters… the remake beefs up the usual zombie fodder a fair bit, but that means in context Nemesis feels weaker. While this song is obviously poking fun at the remake, it’s supposed to be “in good fun”, and not something to take too seriously.
There are some reasons why other people may find the remake to be the better of the two Resident Evil 3 games. That opinion has a fair bit of credence, but to me the original will always be better, and that’s why the remake was the one I chose to make the dis-track for. It’s the weakest of the remakes by far in my opinion, but that’s a statement I make in-context…. the “weakest game” is by no means a “bad game”, and please let that distinction stand as the nuanced opinion that it is.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is my all time favorite Resident Evil game in the franchise. The remake couldn’t have hoped to live up to my personal enjoyment as a player, and that’s not the game’s fault. When the things that make it my favorite were cut entirely, it’s fair to assume I’d find the remake lackluster. Visually, it certainly looks better… overall I just don’t find that it feels better to play.
The Strengths and Weaknesses Both Games Have
The Resident Evil 3 Remake isn’t a bad game, it’s just balanced differently. In an attempt to make the remake linear, they cut out the freedom of choice options that allowed players to interact with Nemesis in a much more organic way. This single action streamlines the remake into a completely solid experience for anyone intending to only play the game once. For those that have never touched the original, it’s a streamlined and simple approach to a very convoluted story. Resident Evil 2 and 3 take place both simultaneously, and separately, depending on timeline and lore.
While Nemesis was heavily scripted in both games (and it would be foolish to think he wasn’t heavily scripted in the original game too), he doesn’t feel as scripted in the original because the player is given distinct options when it comes to dealing with him. Choosing to battle him, incapacitate him briefly, or escape him for the moment are usually the crux of the choices presented. These set pieces offer a special way to enjoy the game during a replay because you can choose other options to begin with. While I will be the first to admit some choices have very little impact compared to others, I will also say that I prefer the attempt that the original game made to expand upon its story telling process.
Furthermore, even though I do believe that Resident Evil 3 Remake contains a weaker showing of Nemesis as a looming threat, let me be clear: both games are worth playing.
I think the story of Resident Evil 3 is much better represented in the original game. However, I think players will find the remake to be a better balance of overall enemy design and combat related immersion. It’s true that Nemesis is a weaker threat in the remake compared to his original counterpart, but, let’s not forget that in the original game he’s about the only real threat that there is. Once you’ve played the game a few times, every other enemy feels predictable. He needs to feel much more organic because to an experienced player he’s about the only element of surprise that we actually need to be careful of… all of the other enemies lack a feeling of real danger once you know the maps and the routes.
That isn’t to say an experienced player won’t find themselves in a thorny situation or two. Unless you’ve perfectly optimized all the runs and possible enemy placements in your head, and plan accordingly, the original game can and will provide its challenges. It’s merely that the difficulty threshold then increases based on player error, rather than the enemies themselves. Using too many bullets early might mean ending up shorthanded when you really need them later. The same would be true of healing items. That’s usually how the original Resident Evil games scale difficulty, so it’s no surprise. While it’s a good idea, it’s an unbalanced idea for anyone who plays the game repetitiously.
Zombies in the original aren’t too bright, and sometimes they will just go after the walls instead of the player. Unless you’ve encountered a large pack of them in a tight space, they’re not a huge problem. Crows are almost non-threatening completely since they show up sparingly, and the poisonous enemy types like spiders become crippled in the face of certain weaponry. The only enemies in the original game that might be just as dangerous as Nemesis are the hunters, and they show up rarely.
Contrasting that difference, in the remake zombies and other enemy types are a much greater threat than they ever were in the original. While I’m a little sad Nemesis felt like he became a little too nurfed in favor of other enemies of the game, all of the enemies in the remake feel at least somewhat formidable. By trading off branching paths and the real power-house threat Nemesis provides in the original game, the Remake was able to offer a linear and cleanly portrayed experience. For some players; the much more balanced combat, lack of tank controls, and on-rails story may prove to be the more entertaining experience for them.
For me personally, the original is just the better game, that’s how I feel. Others may disagree, and that’s completely fine. For Kresh, the remake was her first experience with Nemesis, and for that reason alone I’m glad we were given the remake. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is an old game, and its age shows. Beyond that, the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis had its failings within the initial trilogy too. Even though I love it, the original, it was still a step down objectively from its predecessor, Resident Evil 2. That was true of the original trilogy, and we see the remakes following that same pattern. Objectively Resident Evil 2 Remake is far and away better than the Resident Evil 3 remake… but that’s just history repeating. Nothing more than a true testament of what an amazing Game Resident Evil 2 actually was, and the source material that its own remake had to work with in spades.
I’m happy so many people like the Resident Evil 3 Remake, and I’m profoundly grateful that modern gamers who would never have touched the original, now have their own version of the story. I also genuinely hope one-day far in the future they will recall Resident Evil 3 Remake with the same loving fondness that I have for the original all these years later…
Still though, my personal opinion stands firm. In the Resident Evil 3 Remake, the titular enemy was ripped from not only the title of the game itself, but he was also knocked down a few pegs. Nemesis ultimately lost a little bit of what made him so formidable, and we decided to poke fun at him for it…
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time!
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Hey everyone, a while back Kresh and I played through the Dark Pictures Anthology series over on our Twitch channel starting with Man of Medan. Those videos are now over on YouTube, and here on the blog for your viewing pleasure. We had a lot of fun playing it, and hopefully you’ll have a lot of fun watching. This is a two part series. Enjoy.
Man of Medan is a survival horror video game that was released in 2019. The game was developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game contains violence and gore, replete with paranormal horror elements and occasional “jump scares”. This is not a game aimed at young children, and viewer discretion is advised.
Man of Medan: Part 1 of 2
Man of Medan: Part 2 of 2
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The Demented Ferrets 