By Dean Moses
New York Comic Con (NYCC) is one of the most anticipated pop-culture conventions where fans can experience exclusive anime, manga, entertainment, and video game content. Exhibitors from around the nation lugged their precious cargo, providing limited edition video games, retro counsels, modified controllers and more.
A Limited Run
Limited Run, a business that takes games released digitally—or from retro consoles—and prints them physically on cartridges and discs, made its debut at NYCC. Usually, fans have to wait several months, sometimes even years for premium edition products, to receive the orders they purchased online. However, this year at NYCC buyers were able to save on shipping and the long wait by visiting a small booth where Limited Run offered convention-special variant games like the 16-bit-side scrolling Edia’s Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection.
At the booth, players were also able to try a demo of the HD enhanced, 8-bit game Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland, which is set to be released in 2024. In this iteration by developer, The MIX Games and Wallride, gamers can play as their favorite Rugrat character as they escape from their playpens and step into a whirlwind adventure with several of the Nickelodeon staples.
Jujutsu Kaisen Demonstration
Fans of the beloved shonen, a Japanese term for manga or anime, Jujutsu Kaisen were able to take part in a demonstration of Bandai Namco’s newest game: Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash. This is the first console game of the Jujusu Kaisen series and is set to be released in February 2024, coming to the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and 4, and the Nintendo Switch. NYCC attendees were afforded a firsthand look at this action-packed 3D fighting game. Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash boasts 15 playable characters with a story mode and up to four players online where gamers can create their favorite tag team to defeat their foes.
Tournaments with Video Games New York
Video Games New York, an indie gaming store located in the East Village, not only had multiple booths at NYCC, but also hosted tournament matches. This small business took the very best of their retro merchandise and showcased it at NYCC, featuring beloved Nintendo classics, indie games (including their own productions), and video game soundtracks on vinyl.
Throughout the four-day convention, attendees challenged pro players in the Game Zone on retro classics like Killer Instinct, Tekken 7, Street Fighter, Dragon Ball Fighter Z, Mortal Kombat, WWF No Mercy, Naruto Clash 2, Soul Calibur, and more. Those who were able to come out on top after testing their might won a trophy for first place and a medal for second and third.
Additionally, NYCC guests were able to attend gaming panels like Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which is set to be released on February 29, 2024. At the panel, fans were able to meet five of the voice actors: Britt Baron (voices Tifa Lockhart,) Cody Christian (Cloud Strife,) John Eric (Barret Wallace,) Max Mittelman (Red XIII,) and Suzie Yeung (Yuffie Kisaragi,) who gave a behind the scenes discussion on the much-anticipated iteration.
Photo by Dean Moses
