One thing I’ve always admired about his writing is his to make what you’re reading feel like you’re talking to him over a table at a cafe, as he draws you in as a reader ensuring that he’s never talking down to his audience, rather sharing his knowledge on something he’s clearly an expert in. The Mega Drive and Genesis Encyclopedia is no exception. These books are behemoths and the preservation of these classic games is something he clearly takes very seriously. That he can take on these giant projects and still make it feel like he’s talking directly to you in his calm, easy going style is one hell of a talent. Read the full review [link=https://fingerguns.net/games/2021/11/18/the-sega-mega-drive-genesis-encyclopedia-review-scully-does-what-nintendidnt/]here[/link]
Finger Guns

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars If you trembled with terror as the T-Rex thundered towards you, prayed you would reach the end of a level with only a sliver of health or tried to lock the elderly butler in the freezer, then this rigorous unofficial history of the birth of Tomb Raider and its sequel is the book for you. I vividly remember loading up Tomb Raider for the first time and being dumbstruck by its atmosphere and realism. It cost around £40 which was a fortune back in 1997, but I still have it and play it. This was something nobody had seen before; it required an entirely new sklllset from the player. The freedom of movement, though limited by today’s standards, was mind blowing. Once it clicked, I lost hours of my life inside its world. Released in the time of the Spice Girls, Tony Blair and Britpop, Tomb Raider quickly became a global phenomenon. Author Daryl Baxter has interviewed every member of the creative team behind the games (including Lara’s voice artists) and vigorously.. Read more
NetGalley, Wyn Lewis

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Having lived through the growth of gaming era, this was a fun walk through the past. My first gaming experiences came from playing the arcade game Space Invaders and a first ti me two-and-a-half-hour binge on Pac-Man, where a buddy of mine and I played so long and hard we rubbed the skin off our pointing fingers and developed blisters. Fanatics aren’t born, they are created. Author Charlie Fish’s book starts way before my initial experiences, opening the door to a time when games were birthed in companies and at universities. The book is nicely split into sensible chapters, which include platforms, the most important creators, companies and marketing, gender representation, and the games themselves. His choice to break the games discussion into decades was a good idea, as the gamer universe is huge and recent games would have dwarfed their ancestors. This enabled a balanced view of the games most popular in the 80s, 90s, etc. I also enjoyed the numerous.. Read more
NetGalley, Dee Arr

Like the NES book, this proves to be an exhaustive reference when it comes to picking out the very best SNES titles, so if you're a newcomer to the format, then leafing through its 264 pages is going to be a revelatory experience – as well as highly entertaining, as Scullion's writing is infused with plenty of humour. However, unlike a lot of gaming writers who trade laughs for knowledge, Scullion clearly knows his stuff and does an excellent job of summing up precisely why you should (or shouldn't) seek out a particular game. While we all have fond memories of titles such as Super Mario World, Zelda: Link to the Past and Secret of Mana, there are a shocking number of duds on Nintendo's 16-bit powerhouse, so Scullion's book should help you pick out the gems and avoid the duffers. Just like its predecessor, the SNES Encyclopedia comes in hardback format and is printed on high-quality, glossy paper stock, making it the ideal coffee-table tome for anyone who is even remotely interested.. Read more
Nintendo Life

"A weighty hardback full of glorious art and throwback facts, it's perfect for rainy day reading."
Evening Standard, 23rd May 2019