5 Celebrity Video Games You Don't Remember

 

One day I was aimlessly scrolling through instagram and found a reel referencing a Kris Kross Sega CD video game. I had never heard of it, so I asked some friends and they never heard of it, did a quick google search and sure enough it was an actual game. So me being me that sent me down the rabbit hole of video games featuring celebrities. We all remember 50 Cent's video game, or though not one celebrity but a whole record label in Def Jam Vendetta. And of course the arcade game that is Michael Jackson's Moonwalker or even his dancing game on Wii.

Here are 5 video games featuring celebrities you either never heard of or don't remember.

5. Power Factory: C+C Music Factory

It's very easy to see how this game has been forgotten to time, as C + C Music Factory is really a one-hit wonder group. However, in the early 1990's their song Gonna Make You Sweat was just about in every movie scene or commercial were folks were up and dancing. I guess it's not surprising they were tapped to lead an cutting edge game.

Released in 1993 on Sega CD, the game featured players editing videos to some of C + C Music Factory's games. Actually when you think about it, it was ahead of it's time as about 13 year's later the Nintendo Wii debuted which clearly took hints from this game.

4. Aerosmith-Revolution X

Aerosmith is a legendary rock band, and lead singer Steven Tyler has always had that enigmatic charisma about him. Which is typical with celebrities and the entertainment world someone thought it would be a good idea to make a video game and use the group's likeness for it. Thus we got Revolution X, an arcade game released in 1994.

The plot of the game is Aerosmith have been taken hostage by a group meant to evoke a new world order. The primary player's mission is to save all the members of the group through various levels. The game engine was similar to T2: Judgement Day arcade game and was a critical and fan success. Eventually making it's way to home consoles such as Nintendo and Sega.

3. Jet Li: Rise To Honor

Released in 2004 on Playstation 2, Jet Li: Rise To Honor is a bit of a odd game to be honest in the sense that while the name and likeness of Li grace the title and cover. As well as the fighting style and references to film's of his, the main character is not Jet Li rather a fictional character Jet Li plays. It's kind of confusing at least in my opinion why that decision was made.

The cut scenes of the game are even presented like a movie, and the plot is a bit more in depth than a traditional video game of that time. It received favorable reviews, but not enough to make a sequel.

2. Spice Girls-Spice World

Released in 1998 as the Spice Girls phenomenon was winding down due to Ginger Spice separating from the group. The game is another one that was ahead of it's time and displayed game play that would be perfected year's later with the Wii. In this game players are tasked with getting the Spice Girls ready for a live performance. This is done with choreography, picking which song out of 15 listed the group will perform and then "recording" the performance.

The game received a lot of criticism for the design of the group and the graphics. In addition to the lack of additional features to enhance the game play such as wardrobe changes. For all of the faults, I'm sure diehard Spice Girl fan's love the game regardless.

1. Wu Tang: Shaolin Style

If you know much about Wu-Tang, you know the group is heavily influenced by martial art's films of the 1970's. So it should be no surprise when a video game based on the group was created they followed the same path. Released in 1999 on Playstation, the plot focuses on Master Xin the last master of the Wu fighting style who is kidnapped in Staten Island. It is up to some of his last students coincidentally Wu-Tang to rescue him.

The game is mostly played in fighting tournaments inspired by games such as Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter. It was also known for being very gory and graphic with blood for a video game during that era. It also allowed four players to play at one time, quite revolutionary for Playstation at the time. 

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5 Stores I Wish I Could Still Shop At

 

It's that time again, the most wonderful time of the year. Where everyone is in the hustle and bustle of completing end of year tasks, holiday events, tree lighting ceremonies and of course holiday shopping. Even though online shopping has taken over, there is still an immense amount of value in actually going to a store, soaking in the atmosphere, and feeling the products before you buy it.

With all that in mind, and a few short days from Christmas. I thought about some stores I really enjoyed going to when I was a kid. Even though I didn't have money of my own to spend. Once again since I am a very nostalgic person, I decided to write this blog about stores that are no longer with us, that I really wish were.

5. K- B Toys

Check it, in the 90's and earlyish 2000's every mall had a space for K-B Toys. Filled with toys and often having some toys on display you could play with near the front of the store. I'm in Baltimore, and the major shopping malls of the day (Towson, Security, White Marsh, Westview, Reisterstown Plaza, and many more) all had K-B Toys in them.

I don't remember them really having anything exclusive to draw people in. I think it was the convenience of being in the mall, that drew all us kids in. And damnit they got me. The chain suffered a slow death in the 2000's before finally being sold to Toys 'R' Us in 2009. 

4. Sam Goody

In this digital age of streaming, physical media seems to be an afterthought. Except to me and a few other people I know who still appreciate and at times prefer physical media. 

For those unaware, once upon a time there stores filled with physical media. Cassette tapes, CD's, VHS, and later DVD. During those times Sam Goody was thee mall store to turn to when you wanted the latest releases.

Sam Goody was also known for playing the hottest tracks throughout the store. A subtle sales pitch to get folks to buy entire albums.

By the early 2000's Sam Goody had seen better days. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2006. There are still a few "children" of Sam Goody left like FYE. Even that is not the same.

3. Caldor

I've often said that if Caldor was still around, Target would not have my pockets in the chokehold it does. In fact both stores would probably have me broke.

When I was a young kid (before the age of 10), I dont recall any Walmarts or Targets in my area. My family shopped at Ames, Value City, K-Mart and the holy grail Caldor.

Caldor as a department store just had everything you needed. In fact it essentially was Target before Target, Target swagger jacked so much from them. Another company that crumbled in the early 2000's..man I miss Caldor.

2 Circuit City

Back in the 90's and early 2000's you had department stores like Walmart, Sears and JCPenney that sold electronics. There was rival chain Best Buy but nothing compared to Circuit City.

As much I enjoy shopping at Best Buy, Circuit Citys showroom just had a aura about it. Everything was immaculately placed and neat, relatively easy to find and it seemed like the store had a certain flow to it. That encouraged shoppers to traverse the whole store aimlessly.

The chain also had a catchy jingle and later made great use of a classic Cars song. It's a shame the store is no longer around, but it was a great place to shop in its day.

1. Toys 'r' Us

Ok, so Toys 'R' Us is attempting to mount a comeback. Having sections in Macys department stores. The jury is still out on what will become of it.

For now I'm talking about the cultural icon that was Toys 'R' Us. We all know the jingle and remember the fond memories. Walking into huge stores that rivaled any Super Walmart filled with toys to make any kids dreams come true.

The epitome of a toy store, it's shelves were stocked with board games, video games, dolls, action figures bicycles. You name it, they had it. The stores were so big as a kid it seemed like you could easily get lost in there.

Now that I have a young daughter I wish we could walk the aisles, killing time and trying out new toys I have no intentions of buying.

Toys 'R' Us sadly filed for bankruptcy and closed stores in 2018. Shattering the hearts of so many adults who grew up wanting to be a Toys 'R' Us kid.

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