wickedchadwick

Category: The Geek Room

My little corner of the internet to celebrate the things I love. Ok, in all honesty it’s because no one will listen to me rant about superheroes and spaceships for any longer than 2 minutes at work. So, yeah…

  • Loot Run round-up

    Loot Run round-up

    Sixty-eight. 68 games. An average of 11 games per month since my last Loot Run post. If anything, I should post more often to spread the buyer’s remorse out a little. Wow.

    Ah shit, i just remembered I bought a new console as well.

    Goddamit, and another hand-held.

    Let’s get this guilt trip over with.

    At the top of the pile has to be the addition of a Switch 2. If you’re not aware Nintendo announced an upcoming price increase (in September I believe). This would increase the price by $50 CDN and put the pressure on to acquire one. Long story short I solved the puzzle by using PC Points to pay for the whole thing. I’m quite proud of that one and may be the high point of my PC Points spending since starting in 2018.

    The second handheld mentioned had been on my wishlist for a while. The Game & Watch Legend of Zelda edition. This little collectible handheld was released for the 35th anniversary of Zelda several years ago. I thought it was interesting and moved on. Then I saw one in box for $60 at last year’s East Coast Comic con. And I missed picking it up. Fast forward to the same Con in 2026 and I find it for $80 with a nice rubberized shell and acrylic stand to show it off. Box too. So I offer $70 and he takes it. It’s beautiful. And it plays the original Zelda, Zelda II, and Link’s Awakening (Gameboy). A new centrepiece for my handheld collection (or Zelda shelf depending on available space).

    Then come the games. Whew.

    The vast majority of the additions are Switch titles which seems to be my primary focus lately. There’s a lot going on right now in the physical media world and more and more I’ve gravitated to the novelty of the Switch. Something about cartridges harkens back to the “good old days”. It must also be stated that some of the most interesting indie/niche titles end up on the platform.

    Some notable highlights from my more curated purchases include:

    Anno Mutationem – A 2D/3D cyberpunk side-scrolling platforming adventuring….

    Axiom Verge, Another Crab’s Treasure, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight, and Tunic round out some of my bucket list items.

    Two copies of Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Ed. Now hear me out. I grabbed the PS5 version first and put roughly 100 hours into it. I rolled credits but the game is like Skyrim and Oblivion. You know you’ll go back someday to try a different angle. Or pick a stealth-archer again but whatever, it’s fun. The second copy, for Switch 2, was acquired under the guise that Zombie watched the Edgerunner anime and had a passing interested in playing the game. So there’s one reason to add it. The other is, honestly, a little petty but the DLC, Phantom Liberty, does not exist on the PS5 disk. Instead a download code was included which is now attached to my Sony profile. Boo. I want the whole game on the disk. I find out after that the Xbox Series version is complete on disk. Cool but I’ve got to play that in the basement. I can’t stream the Series X to my One S in my bedroom. Gawd, I’m lazy. Wait, what’s this? the Switch 2 version is a technical marvel raking in very positive reviews. The DLC is included on the game card along with all content. (insert Fry’s “Shut up and take my money!” meme).

    Anyways, that’s enough storytelling. You can see the batch of games above and pass judgement as you see fit. I’m happy, it’s a great hobby. I hope everyone can find this much joy from their hobbies. Whew, getting a little sappy this long weekend evening. That’s enough for tonight. And as always, thanks for reading!

    *please note. I’m well aware my grammar and composition degrade rapidly as I write these articles. I try to write them the way I would have a conversation. But I converse like 13 squirrels with ADHD so you get what you get

  • Impulsive Ink

    Impulsive Ink

    It seems every time I fall off from updating this site i have some big change happening in my work life. Most recently i decided to change jobs and now, on the eve of starting, I’m trying to get back to what I love.

    If you know me, you know I’ve become a little more cavalier with getting tattoos lately. The spontaneity of rolling into a foreign (to me) shop, picking something off the wall, and waiting (im)patiently for the next artist to be available is so liberating. The idea of just enjoying life and letting go. This is most difficult for an over-thinker like myself but the addictive personality i also employ turns tattooing into collecting. With that said, here’s the most recent ink.

    The Master Sword is the least impulsive of the bunch, I’d always planned on getting this somewhere. With Majora’s Mask Skull Kid on my forearm it was a no-brainer to continue the theme. The sword is wrapped in vines and sports a Silent Princess flower to mirror the tattoo ZombieFish got recently.

    The most ‘out-of-nowhere’ tattoo is Death from Darksiders 2. As one of my favourite games I’d dipped into the original artist’s work and found his original sketch of Death’s mask. I fell in love instantly and it was quickly added to my “Tattoo Idea” album. Well, a trip to PEI for Lizzy’s tattoo appointment had me itching for my own. Another shop on the Island was having a walk-in Saturday and I decided to take a chance. Not knowing what to expect we were quickly greeted by the an artist that asked what I wanted and where. I had the idea that I would be sitting and consulting with an artist first, so when I was put on the spot I opened my ideas album and the last image was the mask sketch. I stuttered “uh, I guess this one?” which was quickly followed by “and where do you want it?”. Again, an indecisive “uh” escaped my lips and I pointed to my stomach just below my belly button. Sure, I’d been entertaining a “womb” tattoo (ZombieFIsh’s words, not mine) but hadn’t locked-in on anything. Well, that was that. I was told to return in the afternoon and I wandered out of the shop wondering what the hell just happened.

    Fast-forward to the finished product. It might just be my favourite piece. Firstly, it’s a comic book artist piece, right up my alley. Secondly, secondly?… the tattooer immediately recognized that I would want this re-created exactly. No artistic re-interpretation, just a copy. And he nailed it!

    The last batch was a semi-impulsive Canada Day walk-in tattoo. Ok, it was actually three. Flash sheets were previewed on social media a couple of days before the announced event. LIzzy and I arrived 15 minutes before the shop opened and were only preceded by two couples. Within two hours we’d collected five new tattoos between us and were off to get some much needed food.

    I knew I’d wanted the Koopa shell and the kunai, which I consider inspired by our time watching Naruto, was equally nerdy. Then a sheet, not posted on socials, surprised us with larger pieces than a micro-day typically offers. A series of frogs in outfits from samurai to viking warriors tempted me. And then I zeroed in on the plague doctor. The rest is history.

    I’m thrilled with my additions to my arm this past year and am looking forward to another large piece to finish this sleeve.

    EDIT: ok, so I’ve got so much ink lately I forgot that I grabbed a small Mario-ish ghost at East Coast Comic Con. The eyes are a little different than the traditional Boo but I love him as a filler. No regrets and a great story.

    That’s all for now. As always, thanks for reading!

  • Loot Run Round Up

    Loot Run Round Up

    Twenty-two. 22 games since my last Loot Run post. At least that’s what my collection app says. Let’s review.

    Switch – For some reason I’ve had the Switch bug these last few months. It’s an awesome platform for indie-ish games, oddball gems that might be collectible someday. And even if they’re not it’s fun to fill the shelf with red spines. I used to dislike the uniformity of the cases. However, I have since grown to enjoy standing in front of them. I squint at the small writing quietly stating “ooh, i forgot i had that one”.

    12 of the 22 games are for Nintendo’s hybrid console. Many of these additions have been on my most-wanted list including Okami HD, Red Dead, and Darksiders 2 to name a few. The addition of Skyrim came with free judgment from ZombieFish, declaring “do you really need another copy of Skyrim?”. The answer is “yes” Zombie, “yes”.

    PS5 – I’m starting to actively collect PS4/PS5 titles now. You’ll notice a theme with another copy of Darksiders 2 (I have a problem) and Oblivion (Skyrim’s predecessor).

    With the recent addition of a PS4 Pro to the collection I’m really enjoying the Sony exclusives. And with the ability to stream my PS5 I’m not limited to the last generation titles (as long as the wifi remains solid).

    The remaining loot for the Xbox platforms were pretty simple. Notable titles include; The Bioshock Collection, Rise of the Tomb Raider (woohoo, I have the trilogy now), and Judgment (a Yakuza spin off Zombie picked).

    Anyways, that’s enough for today. I’ll try to post more often, it’s good for the soul. As always, thanks for reading.

  • Tattoo Time (again)

    Tattoo Time (again)

    Oh I had the idea of a spontaneous tattoo gnawing at the back of my head all week. Hallowe’en usually prompts some desire for ink and shops often do Flash art walk-ins. So I left work early on Oct 31st to hit up my local shop. Unfortunately they were wrapping up for the day and I didn’t want to be that guy, so I said my hellos and took off.

    But the idea was still there and another local shop (new to me) was extending their Hallowe’en sale to Saturday. Waiting for ZombieFish to call me (she had a spooky sleepover at Moms) I went to check out Tempest Ink on the other side of the river. I’ll admit, I’m always a little nervous walking into a new shop. You’re not sure if they will be busy, if they’ll all turn and give you a look, ect. Plus, I didn’t want to go in, check out the art and then say “thanks! (but no thanks)”. So I ate my breakfast wrap in the car and saw another couple show up and head in. Perfect timing!

    I love October themed stuff anyways so a lot of the flash art was appealing to me off the bat. One particular style caught my eye, what I know as “New School” (or Skool if you’re really cool). Found a nice little match stick (I was looking for gap fillers for my sleeve) but alas, ZombieFish messaged she was ready for pick-up. I told the artist I would be back (I’m sure they hear that all the time) and took off to do some parenting.

    Fast forward to the afternoon. I’ve dropped her off at a high-school football game with her friends. I take a deep breath, be brave man, and head back over. Long story short, I hit it off the with the artist, Matt, and got this little match stick free-handed. I love it and expect I’ll be returning to him for several more new skool pieces.

    They’re called Tempest Ink in Moncton. Several artist in a small house but very friendly. You should check them out.

    As always, thanks for reading!

  • Xeno Burnt Chronicles

    Xeno Burnt Chronicles

    Wow, what an experience.

    I can finally say I rolled credits on a Xenoblade game. This is despite owning the original, 3DS, Remaster of Xeno 1, plus 2 & 3. Also the original X on WiiU.

    I love the idea of these games. Still Japanese RPG but different then Final Fantasy. I’ll admit to getting into the first one as it has a long history of coming to Western audiences. It was almost a challenge to track down a playable copy without emulating on PC (which I successfully did but never bothered playing)

    When I finally committed to Xenoblade Chronicles X Remaster this year I promised myself I would finish it. Well over 120 hours later I completed Chapter 12, the original ending, and the credits rolled. Apparently an additional chapter was added in the remaster that has ties to the mythology of the other titles. I didn’t care. I was done. Mic drop. No thanks.

    This isn’t to say I had a terrible time. I genuinely enjoyed the story, even in it’s convoluted anime-esque fashion. But I was done.

    700+ titles in my collection were screaming for a turn and gosh-darnit, they were getting it.

    That being said, play this game. At least til you get the mechs (Skells).

    Here’s a small collection of screenshots I grabbed so you can appreciate how pretty this title is.

    As always, thanks for reading.

  • Plucky Loot

    Plucky Loot

    Ah, impulsivity is such a monster. Zombie and I went to our favourite pawn shop but didn’t see anything compelling. So we swung around the corner to EBGames and… well…

    The Plucky Squire has been on my radar since it came out last fall. The art style and concept really caught my attention. So when I saw the new copy marked down from $45 to $35 with only one copy left on the shelf, I grabbed it.

    Sept 7th – thought I’d drop some screenshots to give you an idea of how endearing this title is.

    Thanks for reading! (wrote this a while ago and left in drafts…. oh the shame)

  • Aug Loot

    Aug Loot

    The month started off by picking up Dredge (Deluxe Ed) and Catherine on Amazon for Zombie’s birthday. I love her obsession with Atlus.

    I treated myself to a knock-off Lego set from the dollar store.

    $5 for an “Ok” set. Nostalgia won me over, i had this tank as a kid

    Zombie picked up some awesome One Piece models for really cheap. I’m not a proud crying Dad, you’re a proud crying Dad

    $5 each!?! I’m so proud of my lil bargain hunter

    And finally, i scored Mario Kart Live from Shopper’s with some games. They had a Redemption event, give them 100k in points and got $140 in product. The below cost me only the tax, aprox $20.

    And that’s about it so far for August. Thanks for reading!

  • Lil Luke Loot Run

    Lil Luke Loot Run

    Another local Shopper’s began clearancing their games. With a x25 points bonus I grabbed 3 titles.

    And another Bitty Pop

    Not much else to say. Thanks for reading.

    Ok, I lied. I went back to Shopper’s the next day because they had a Redemption event, giving me 50% extra in point value. Grabbed some more games and indulged in some Bitty Pops! (mini Funko Pops) that my girlfriend and I are a little obsessed with.

    (eek! they’re adorable and I got R2!)

    All the games were at least 50% off. Demon’s Souls (24.99), Metal Gear (27.49), Avengers (14.99) and finally a Nintendo first-party game, Mario Tennis Aces (39.99). All these cost me only the tax ($16.12) and roughly 70K in points.

    Ok, now i’m done. As always, thanks for reading.

  • ZOMBIE’S PSP MOD

    ZOMBIE’S PSP MOD

    Zombie has a new hobby; modding portable systems. After her 3DS she wanted to tackle the PSP. We have a PSPGo (mine) and a silver PSP 2000 but the battery compartment is broken.

    We ordered a new shell and a memory card adapter (to SDcard) on amazon and she quickly went to work.

    PSP 2000 Silver, paid $50 for this years ago
    aprox $30 for this pink shell on Amazon.ca
    PSP 2000 in surgery
    Surgery continued over the weekend

    Disassembly was fairly easy for her although she was surprised by how many tiny parts there were. The bigger challenge came from placing all the components in the new shell.

    After some minor modifications we were able to piece the system back together and boot it up. And with that, her first mod has been completed. I’m not getting teary-eyed, you are.

    As always, thanks for reading.

  • Omega Loot!

    Omega Loot!

    Long story short, Zombie’s BF has never been to our favourite pawn shop so we brought him yesterday. And like a junkie I got my fix.

    The cheap Funko’s got me first. I used to only pick them up at the Dollarama when they were $4-$5 so there was little guilt at these prices. I love the obscure (or lesser known) comic book characters so Omega Red and Nova were great additions.

    But $7 seems a little light for a pilgrimage to our store and Ghost of Tsushima was as low as I was going to find. There was a copy of the Director’s cut for $50 but realistically the original vanilla release is enough for the collection. I’ll probably never dive deep enough into it to need the DLC.

    Zombie’s BF excitedly picked up a copy of Mario Kart Wii for a reasonable price and replacement Joy-Con. I was impressed, he wanted to train on that game to kick his friends’ asses. A most honorable pursuit.

    And that’s that. As always, thanks for reading.