Should I Buy EA NHL 26 At Launch?

Should I Buy EA NHL 26 at Launch?

I ask myself this question every single year when EA Sports releases the newest installment in the NHL series.

I’ve loved hockey for as long as I can remember — just like many of you — and I’ve been hooked on EA Sports hockey since the very first NHL Hockey on the Sega Genesis. Those were the glory days: long nights in front of the TV, eyes stinging and watering from playing too long, my buddy next to me, and his mom yelling at us to “get outside for once.” Those moments will always be my fondest gaming memories.

But let’s fast-forward to today. In Canada, NHL 26 costs $89.99 for the standard PlayStation 5 copy. Each year, EA advertises “new features,” yet somehow, the game never looks that different. The fighting engine hasn’t evolved, the crowd models are the same, and the overall presentation feels recycled. Honestly, it often feels like I’m rebuying the same game with only a few tweaks.

Last year, I got caught up in the hype and bought it at full price — only to see it drop nearly 50% just a few months later. That stings. With a little patience, you can save yourself a lot of money by waiting.

The core problem, in my opinion, is competition — or the lack of it. EA is the only company making an NHL hockey game now. When 2K stopped producing theirs, EA lost the push to innovate. I still remember skipping EA’s version for two years in a row just to buy the 2K series — and loving every second of it.

When there’s no competition, you can get away with putting out what feels like a rehashed product every year. And that’s why I’m not sure we’ll ever see big, game-changing differences in the NHL series again.

So here’s my question for you:

Do you buy NHL 26 at launch?

Do you think the yearly changes are worth paying full price? Or do you wait for the discount a few months later?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. I’ll always cherish the first four Sega Genesis NHL games and NHL 14 — which I still think was the best hockey game of the 2000s.

Until next time…

GAME ON!

My Retron 3 HD Experience

Hey guys, welcome back to another post of mine!

Today, I want to introduce you to a retro gaming product that lets you play Nintendo, Super Nintendo, and Sega Genesis games all in one place. Some of you might already know this console, but for those who don’t—it’s called the Retron HD 3-in-1 Retro Gaming Console.

I actually bought this console on a whim one day when I walked into a local gaming store here in my hometown of Toronto. Lately, I’ve been on a mission to track down and reclaim all the Sega Genesis, NES, and SNES games I grew up with—ones I lost over time. The sales guy at the store pointed me to this console, and honestly, it made perfect sense. Rather than trying to hunt down each original console (which can get pricey), why not go for a system that plays all three?

So, how long have I had it?

It’s been about a year, and I’ve used it on several occasions. I played The Revenge of Shinobi from start to finish and encountered zero issues. I also tested out Hit the Ice (SNES), Donkey Kong Country, and WWE Royal Rumble—they all worked perfectly.

The only game that gave me trouble was Donkey Kong Country 2. It didn’t seem to want to play on anything except an original Super Nintendo, which is a known compatibility issue with some clone consoles. But besides that, everything else ran fine.

As for the controllers—it depends on your preference. My buddy Dave wasn’t too impressed with them, but I personally thought they were decent and got the job done.

Final Thoughts

If you no longer own a Nintendo or Sega but still want to enjoy those classic games, the Retron HD 3-in-1 is a quick, affordable way to do it. Be warned though—it can become an expensive hobby (kind of like vinyl records). Once you get started, you’ll find yourself hunting down all the games you used to have... and even the ones you never got to try!

Like any good hobby, it comes with a cost, but it’s one I’m happy to pay. Retro gaming brings back memories and adds endless entertainment to my home.

If you're interested, I’ve linked my Amazon Affiliate link below. I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase, but it’s at no extra cost to you.

Thanks for reading, and if you’re like me and love video games and collectibles, this console is a must-have for your collection.

Until next time—Game ON!

My Top 5 Nintendo Picks

Here's a post I’ve been dwelling on for a while.

It’s such a difficult decision to make. Because of the number of titles I played as a kid, narrowing it down to just five is no easy task. It’s like when people ask me what my favorite song or band is—how do you even answer that?

So with this Top 5 list, I’m basing it purely on the games that created strong memories for me. This isn’t a ranked list—it’s just five titles that really meant something.

So… let’s get to it!

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DONKEY KONG COUNTRY (SNES)

Man, I discovered this game through my subscription to Nintendo Power magazine. I had no idea it was coming out, but when Nintendo Power sent me a VHS tape hyping it up, I knew I had to have it.

It became my birthday present—and what a gift it was. I was blown away by how much I loved it. From the graphics (which were mind-blowing for the time) to the soundtrack, everything just came together to make an unforgettable experience. My friend and I played the living hell out of it until our eyes couldn’t take it anymore.

Honestly, I think many of you reading this would agree: this is hands-down one of Nintendo’s best games ever.

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BLADES OF STEEL (NES)

Born and raised in Canada, hockey has always been the game up here. Back in the NES days, there were a few hockey options—Ice Hockey, Wayne Gretzky’s Hockey, and Blades of Steel.

For me, Blades of Steel was the clear winner. Everyone around me loved it too. The fighting mechanics were next-level for the time—it felt like a game within a game. I loved going toe-to-toe with friends in hockey fights because I got pretty damn good at it! Haha.

It was such a blast to play, and I’m currently looking to repurchase it. I’ll never forget the joy this game brought me. It’s a true classic.

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TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE ARCADE GAME (NES)

Where do I even begin?

This game was based on the arcade machine we all drooled over as kids. I was obsessed with it, so the idea of getting it on my home console felt like a dream. I remember my best friend got it super early from his mom, and I was straight-up jealous! I had to wait until Christmas, and I literally couldn’t sleep on Christmas Eve thinking about it.

This was one of two games I wanted more than anything as a kid—the other being NHL Hockey on the Sega Genesis.

Once I finally got Ninja Turtles, I was hooked for ages. It’s a no-brainer inclusion on my Top 5 list. These days, I actually own the Arcade1Up Ninja Turtles cabinet that includes both the original and Turtles in Time.

Like many other games I’ve lost through moves, I definitely need to get this one back in my collection.

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DOUBLE DRAGON II (NES)

This was a huge franchise when I was growing up, especially in arcades. I actually owned the first Double Dragon on the Sega Master System, and I was always drawn to the arcade cabinets.

Naturally, it made sense to keep playing it at home. Double Dragon II was one of those games I replayed countless times throughout my childhood, and it still brings back a wave of nostalgia every time I think of it.

This series is easily one of the best beat-‘em-up franchises ever made.

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MIKE TYSON’S PUNCH-OUT!! (NES)

Another arcade classic that made its way to both the NES and SNES. This game is insanely fun—and super addictive. Once you start, it’s hard to stop.

I used to ask myself: why is this game so addictive? For me, it’s because every opponent has a unique personality and fighting style. Once you figured out their weaknesses, and mastered the timing of your dodges and punches, you could progress further.

But the deeper you got, the harder it became. I did manage to reach Tyson back in the day, but I never beat him. Honestly, I’m not sure I ever will—but I’d love to give it another shot soon.

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So, there you have it—my Top 5 Nintendo games list.

Yes, I know I left out Mario 3, Super Mario World, Metroid, Ninja Gaiden… Ugh. The list could go on forever. That’s how hard it is to narrow it down to just five!

I’d love to hear your Top 5 in the comments—and let me know what games you think I missed.

By the way, I’ve included Amazon affiliate links for each game. If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission. That said, I’d also recommend checking with your local retro game shop to compare prices.

Alright, it’s been a slice—until next time… Game on!

My Journey with Online Poker

My Journey with Online Poker 

Today I want to talk about online poker. This is a game I've been playing for about nine years now. I'll never forget the day I found out you could actually make real money by playing a simple game of cards.

Mind you, I was never into card games growing up. Sure, I knew how to play Crazy 8s and Go Fish, but I never fell in love with any of them—until I discovered poker.

Realizing I could play a game online and possibly make money from it? That was a game-changer. How cool is that to discover? Well... there’s just one thing: it ain’t that easy. 😂

When I first learned the hand rankings and the basics of how to play, I had fun—even though I was losing almost every day. For me personally, it took many years before I finally sat down and said, “I don’t want to lose anymore.”

That’s when I started seeking help from poker pros online. YouTube? Yup. Tons of content, but also incredibly overwhelming.

Eventually, I discovered a poker pro named BlackRain79, and everything started to click. I moved away from tournament poker and focused on cash games instead. Next thing you know, I was making $200 to $300 a month... then $400 to $600. I couldn’t believe it—I was actually winning.

But then came the catch: it literally consumed my life. I love the game, but not to the point where it's all I do. I enjoy video games, hockey, and spending time with family. I just couldn’t keep up the consistent grind. So, I had to slow things down.

Once I did, the losses started rolling in again. In fact, I just lost a tournament with a full house before writing this post.

Another thing I’ve noticed: poker really affects your mood. When you're winning, you're the happiest person in the room. When you're losing, you can’t help but feel down and give off bad vibes.

I’ve come to accept that I have a love-hate relationship with poker. My advice? Only play when you truly want to. Whenever I play just to chase money, the results are never good.

I’d love to hear your poker stories or your take on online poker. I personally play on GGPoker—in my opinion, it has the best software and an excellent rakeback system. If you're new to poker or this site, I promise you'll enjoy it.

I've added a link at the bottom of this post that will take you straight to the GGPoker app, or you can access it on your PC as well.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Until next time—see you soon!

GG POKER LINK

Are Retro Home Arcade Cabs Still Alive?

Are Retro Home Arcade Cabs Still Alive?

Hey guys, welcome back to another blog post with yours truly!

As a huge fan of retro games and collectibles, this is a topic that keeps popping up in arcade communities. Are retro home arcade cabinets still alive?

As most of you know, a company called Arcade1Up completely dominated this space during the COVID era, making it financially possible to own your very own mini arcade. Whether you live in an apartment, house, loft, or garage, you could set up your own retro arcade at a reasonable price.

Well… you used to. 😅

Times have changed, and so have the prices.

Arcade1Up got the ball rolling with cabinets featuring our favorite childhood arcade games. These things were selling like hotcakes at one point. But now? Not so much.

The big issue? They haven’t been delivering many new titles or securing the licenses we’ve been waiting for. Where’s WWE WrestleFest? That would be a dream to play online with others!

Now, with other companies trying their hand at making cabinets, I really wish Arcade1Up would get back to innovating—not just re-releasing Pac-Man for the thousandth time. (Seriously, we get it.)

But anyway, back to the main question:

Are retro home arcades still alive? In my opinion — absolutely, yes.

Even without new titles or cabinets, there’s still a strong community. People like me are constantly watching our favorite content creators for updates and sneak peeks. We’re all waiting for that next exciting cabinet to drop — the one we’ve been dreaming of.

Personally, I currently own four cabs and one pinball cab from AtGames. I often find myself watching creators like MichaelBTheGameGenie, hoping for news that something awesome is on the way. My dream pick? WWE WrestleFest online. But I’d happily settle for Donkey Kong or Popeye by Nintendo to round out my setup.

There’s no doubt in my mind — home arcades are still exciting and desirable, especially for people in my age group. We just need something new to be excited about.

Until then, all we can do is keep dreaming of affordable, awesome cabs that spark that same childhood joy.

Thanks again to everyone who reads my posts each week! I’d love to hear from you — what’s in your personal arcade collection, and what titles do you want to see hit retail stores?

Until next time — see you later, everyone!

My Memory Of Hulk Hogan

Today, I want to step away from my gaming posts and talk about what Hulk Hogan meant to me as a kid.

I was a huge wrestling fan in the '80s and '90s, with tons of wrestling toys, collectibles, video games, and posters. Even today, I still find myself collecting WWE figures to add to my collection.

The question is: If Hulk Hogan didn’t exist, would WWE be as big as it was—or is—today? For me, I don’t think so.

Hulk Hogan was wrestling at the time I started watching. No offense to other wrestlers—I loved many others in the WWE—but like him or not, Hulk Hogan was the GOAT of this industry. His presentation, his strength, and his words to kids were a huge deal for all of us watching him back then.

Funny enough, he wasn’t even my personal favorite wrestler… but I just had to see him.

I’ll never forget the time my brother took me to the Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens for a WWE event. We sat in the second row, and I watched Hulk Hogan vs. King Haku. For me, it was electric—to be that close and see the sheer size of Hulk in real life.

With this post, I definitely don’t want to get into the things Hulk dealt with later in life. I honestly felt the media made him look horrible. I’m referring to the sex tapes and all that garbage. Watching him in court, and losing his wife through it all… it was tough to see.

How many of us are perfect? Have we all made great choices in life? Haven’t we all done wrong at some point?

At the end of the day, the man is human. I refuse to look at him any other way than as The Hulkster—the larger-than-life star who sent a great message to all of us at a time when wrestling had a wholesome quality to it.

From watching him in movies like Rocky and No Holds Barred, to seeing him on arcade games like WrestleFest and Royal Rumble for Sega Genesis… Hulk was everywhere. There are so many other games and moments I haven’t even listed here.

To those of you reading this blog—I’d love to hear your stories of what Hulk meant to you during your time on this planet. Please comment! It would be great to hear your experiences.

I’ve included a couple of pics in this post of the figures I have as collectibles. Unfortunately, I’m still missing my old-school rubber Hulk figure—man, I loved those days. Haha.

Anyway guys, I’m grateful you took the time to read this. I hope you have a great day.

RIP Hulk Hogan.

Thank you for the memories. 

Is The Nintendo Switch 2 Worth 629.99 CAD?

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Worth $629.99 CAD?

Let’s get right to the big question: Is the Nintendo Switch 2 really worth $629.99 in Canada?

My answer? Yes—but I totally understand why many people would say no.

That’s a steep price for any piece of technology, especially one that’s relatively easy to break and not as powerful as some alternatives. In today’s economy, not everyone can—or wants to—drop that kind of money on a gaming console. Fair enough.

But for hardcore gamers, the temptation is real. For many of us, it’s impossible to ignore a system like this.

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What Makes It Worth It (For Me)

What I really love is that Nintendo stayed true to the original Switch concept—a hybrid console that works both as a home system and a handheld. That idea was genius back in 2017, and it still is today.

Only now, the Switch 2 is smoother, faster, and more powerful than ever. Games run better, load times are shorter, and overall performance is improved.

Still, I was caught off guard by the price. I expected something closer to $499.99, especially since that’s what I paid for my PlayStation 5 when it launched. And let’s be real—the PS5 is a far more powerful machine than the Switch 2.

So yeah, the value comparison is tough. But there's more to the story.

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The Future of Gaming (and Its Price Tag)

Let’s zoom out a bit.

Whether you think the Switch 2 is too expensive or not, this is the new normal. Gaming is getting more expensive across the board.

Take the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro, which is expected to retail for around $949.99 CAD. And when the PlayStation 6 drops? Don’t expect it to go back down in price. That’s just not happening.

Nintendo knows people will buy the Switch 2 anyway. In fact, it already broke records—3.5 million units sold in the first four days after its June 5th release.

Bottom line: If you’re a gamer in 2025, you’re going to have to deal with high prices from here on out. Sure, you might find second-hand or refurbished units down the line—but even those won’t be cheap.

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Final Thoughts

So here’s my take: I’ve really enjoyed using the Nintendo Switch 2—even if I don’t love it quite as much as my PS5. But it’s a fantastic console for travel, vacations, and those on-the-go gaming moments.

In fact, I brought it with me to the cottage last week. I was right in the middle of a Mario Kart World race when I got yelled at because breakfast was sitting there for five minutes! (Rolls eyes) Gotta love it... haha.

At the end of the day, life is expensive, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have fun. If you’re a gamer and you love Nintendo titles, the Switch 2 is definitely worth picking up—eventually.

Thanks for reading, and if you’ve got any thoughts, feedback, or opinions—drop them in the comments below. I’d love to hear what you think, good or bad.

Until next time—game on!