Thank your own personal deity—possibly the God of War and Tsushima—it’s Friday! Speaking of that samurai epic, it arrived on PC last night, and I have been hilt deep in it since 2 o’clock in the AM. Runs well and looks phenomenal so far. Given Nixxes spectacular and recent craftsmanship with Horizon Forbidden West, my finely-tuned instincts already tell me this is worth the yen.

In retro news, I’m lighting some sparklers for the 22nd birthday of the Nintendo GameCube. Fondly remembered as the console with the needless but appreciated handle, I fondly recall day-one scoring this boxy beast at $399 for Luigi’s Mansion, Wave Race: Blue Storm, and Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II. Granted, the Cube wasn’t the strongest contender in the sixth generation of gaming, but I still adored it for birthing classics like Smash Bros. Melee, MK: Double Dash, Super Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime, and Zelda: The Wind Waker.

This Day in Gaming

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

– Ridge Racer Revolution (PS) 1996. Ebay

– Star Wars Episode I: Racer (N64) 1999. Get

– GameCube console launch, 2002. Ebay

– Rogue Leader: RS II (GC) 2002. Ebay

– Luigi’s Mansion (GC) 2002. Sequels

– Wave Race: Blue Storm (GC) 2002. Ebay

– Final Fantasy X (PS2) 2002. Get

– Halo 2 (PC) 2007. Get

– Injustice 2 (PS4, XO) 2017. Get