Retro News

September2014

  • Review Mega Man X3 (Wii U eShop / SNES)

    A less than fitting farewell

    In 1996, the Mega Man X series parted ways with Nintendo hardware. Mega Man X3 is how it ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper. The first Mega Man X game got things off to such a solid start that it was almost inevitable that a letdown would come sooner rather than later. After all, with so little room for improvement,...

  • Video If You Love Mario Easter Eggs, This Series is for You

    Covering Super Mario Bros. to Super Mario World, so far

    One of the delights of retro Nintendo games is in discovering their secrets, little snippets of interesting features that can only be spotted with close attention. Hunting 'easter eggs' is a major part of retro gaming. A current series on the Did You Know Gaming channel is looking to reveal...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Bomberman 64

    It didn't sit well with purists at the time, but Bomberman's first outing in 3D was nevertheless a valiant effort on Hudson Soft's part to ensure its explosive star remained relevant in gaming. To its credit, the single-player mode delivers an engaging experience based around puzzles and exploration; the multiplayer, however, fails to retain the...

  • Feature The Nintendo 64 Controller and the Rise of 3D Gaming

    The three-handled situation

    The Nintendo 64 controller is one that has fallen out of favour with some gamers – its outdated control stick and limited number of buttons leaves it and its parent system in a state of being old but without necessarily being seen by the general public as 'retro'. You could easily say the same for Sony's original...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Mario Party

    Aside from being the first release in Nintendo's long-running party game series, Mario Party's biggest claim to fame is its stick-spinning mini-games, which left many eager players with blisters on their palms. The series may have come a long way since 1999, but this title nevertheless features a diverse range of timeless mini-games and every...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Castlevania

    A divisive first foray into 3D for the franchise as it suffers from mixed fortunes. The feel of 2D versions was captured well through music, locations, enemies and plot. Its controls are quite tight and graphically impressive. It’s a challenge; albeit, for the wrong reasons. Certain areas, bosses and gameplay choices leave one extremely...

  • News Pokkén Tournament's Concept Even Shocked The Game’s Creators

    “The entire office was dumbfounded”

    In an announcement that could be described as hard to fathom, it was less than a week ago when it was revealed on NicoNico that a fighting-title by the name of Pokkén Tournament for arcade would be co-developed by Bandai Namco, with involvement from Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada and Soul Calibur producer...

  • Nintendo 64x64 ISS 64

    Revered as the N64's favourite football game despite (in technical terms) not being the best. Yes, it had bugs, no FIFA licence and comedic commentary but ISS64 shone because it was the ground breaking next-gen football game. Gameplay bettered FIFA 64, multiplayer so addictive it caused sleep deprivation and, solo, it still had scenarios that kept...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Blast Corps

    Few games outside of the horror genre get the heart pounding quite like Rare's Blast Corps does. It’s a race against the clock: playing as a demolitions expert, you must clear a path for a nuclear missile carrier that's out of control -- not too much pressure then! The range of real-life and absurd fictional vehicles on offer ensures that...

  • Review Donkey Kong Jr. Math (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Summin' it

    In among the Excitebikes, Super Mario Bros., and Ice Climbers of the NES’s North American launch sat Donkey Kong Jr. Math, an edutainment title seemingly designed so that hopeful tots could point to it on the shelf and Trojan-horse Nintendo’s new Duck Hunt-playing powerhouse into the family home, parents unsuspecting, under the guise...

  • News Mega Man Legends 3 8-Bit Fan Demake is Available Now

    It's more than Capcom's giving us

    Last year we told you about an 8-bit demake of Mega Man Legends 3 being produced by a group of fans; it promised quite a departure from the original 3D adventure, naturally, as it was taking the characters and setting for a more typical 2D action Mega Man experience. It's taken quite some time, but it's finally...

  • Nintendo 64x64 1080° Snowboarding

    Almost Wave Race on snow; 1080° recreates the feel of snowboarding via the realistic sound effects and beautiful backdrops. The developers have worked hard to create engaging, differentiated tracks despite the constriction of snow. To master the game, time needs to be invested in learning the tracks but the true fun of the game is pulling off...

  • Project Nintendo 64x64

    Celebrating 64 Nintendo 64 games over 64 days in 64 words

    Today we bring you something a little different, Nintendo 64x64 - a collaboration project between @N64Memories and Nintendo Life. Now, if you've been a reader of Nintendo Life for a while you'll no doubt be aware that some of our team are huge Nintendo 64 fans, so you can imagine their...

  • Weirdness Hear Nintendo's Classic Themes Played on Kazoos

    Marginally too cool for school

    Nintendo has arguably some of the best music in the gaming world, causing different groups of people to take the music from the games they love and perform it themselves. It's no surprise that certain individuals take it upon themselves to somewhat reinvent tracks in order to give them a fresh and interesting feel...

  • News Trust Us, You Need This Super Famicom Box Art Collection Book In Your Life

    Update: Kickstarter now cancelled

    Update: The Kickstarter has now been cancelled for the reasons explained by Stuart here: Hey folks. Firstly, I’d like to say a huge heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported this Kickstarter project. I’ve had a whirlwind of a weekend with my inbox literally breaking with messages of support from fans...

  • Nintendo 64x64 Super Mario 64

    The most sublime platformer and yet considered Nintendo / Mario's peak; Mario games never really replicating that unparalleled innovation again. Free-roaming worlds to explore truly gave the gamer control over the game's destiny. A perfect control system and camera demonstrated the console's capabilities from its release, setting the bar...

August2014

July2014

  • Video This Pixel-Powered Chiptune Tale, Pulse Fighter, Shows The Power of Game Boy

    This'll pummel your senses

    As you may have read earlier today, it's the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy in North America, another welcome landmark for the venerable portable console. This dramatic three-minute tale is perfect for the occasion, as a result. The video, entitled "Pulse Fighter", is the work of m7kenji (visuals) and chiptune artist...

  • News The Game Boy is 25 Years Old in North America

    Happy Birthday, Old Boy

    The Game Boy recently celebrated the 25th anniversary for its release in Japan, a reminder of the enduring legacy of one of Nintendo's greatest creations. Its role in transforming the games industry and popularising portable systems can't be overlooked, not to mention the various franchises and classic games that define it...

  • News Ocarina Of Time Began Life As A Remake Of Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link

    With a focus on samurai swordplay, no less

    The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is arguably one of the best entries in the entire series, but it might surprise you to learn that it has its origins in a remake of one of the franchise's least popular instalments: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Nintendo worked on bringing the game to the Super NES...

  • Video Check Out the Full Console Wars Panel From Comic-Con

    Representatives from Sega and Nintendo were in attendance

    While Nintendo and Sega are now often partners, with exclusive Sonic games on big N systems, in particular, gamers of a certain age or with some awareness of gaming history will know very well that things used to be very different. During the late '80s and '90s the two companies were the core...

  • News This Master Arts Metroid Prime 2 Light Suit From First 4 Figures Has Lit Up Our Day

    A pricey treat

    When it comes to premium collectible Nintendo-themed statues, First 4 Figures has often provided some of the most memorable releases. Its latest product is sure to excite Samus fans, as it's opened pre-orders for the Master Arts Metroid Prime 2 Light Suit. This is from the excellent Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, of course, and will come...

  • Review Mega Man 6 (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Let battle commence. Awooga!

    Arriving on the same day as Mega Man 5 on the Wii U Virtual Console, Capcom has decided to grace us with the final NES entry to wrap up that era of the franchise. Released in 1993, when the SNES was already out and Mega Man X was on the verge of release, Capcom just couldn't let itself say goodbye to the NES and made one...

  • Hardware Review AtGames Arcade Gamer Portable

    Sega's Master System and Game Gear hardware gets cloned

    Nintendo may be fiercely protective of its vintage games and retro hardware, but former rival Sega isn't quite so precious about where its former classics end up these days. We've already seen the likes of Sonic, Golden Axe and Streets of Rage migrate to practically every modern format under...

  • News This Majora's Mask Cake is Legendary

    Yep, slow news day

    When it comes to The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Nintendo's successfully kept demand for a remake at bay — speculation and iffy-looking shop 'listings' will continue until the end of time, or until a fresh release is announced. In any case, the fanbase for the N64 classic will continue to find ways to honour its status in...

  • Review Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (Wii U eShop / GBA)

    Full of promise, or just hot air?

    Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land is in fact a remake of Kirby's Adventure, Kirby's first outing on the NES from 1993. While it isn't his original adventure (that honour goes to Kirby's Dream Land), it is the first instance in which he was able to use his now classic copy ability. The remake — which originally...

  • Review Mega Man 5 (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Proto Man problems

    Over a year ago, the first four Mega Man games were released on Wii U Virtual Console in quick succession. We don't know exactly what took so long for the remainder, but the fifth entry is finally here. As you might expect, Mega Man 5 is quite similar to the four games before it; eight new Robot Masters have appeared, and it's up...

  • Review Bases Loaded (Wii U eShop / NES)

    America’s 8-bit pastime

    Is there anything more American than hotdogs and apple pie? Yes. Yes there is. It’s baseball. The answer is baseball. It’s a game that has permeated the American culture and inserted itself firmly into so many of our lives. As such, it comes as no surprise that there are a plethora of video games available based on the...

  • Review Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Wii U eShop / NES)

    Blood relative

    After the success of the original Castlevania title on the NES system, Konami decided to change things up quite a bit for Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. Gone was the straight-ahead platforming action of the original, replaced with a much more rpg-flavored approach that placed more emphasis on item collection and exploration. While...

  • News NES30 GamePad Brings Old School Control To iOS, Android, Mac, Windows And Wii

    Let's party like it's 1985

    If you're fed up of using the Wiimote for games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Donkey Kong Country Returns, then you might want to take a look at 8Bitdo's new NES30 GamePad controller. A near-perfect replication of the original 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System joypad, this controller brings the concept up to date by...

  • Review Bases Loaded (3DS eShop / NES)

    Can this old timer still make contact?

    Back in the mid-to-late 80s, when the NES was the dominant force in video games, cyber sporting wasn’t exactly the complex affair that it is now. With modern controllers having about a dozen buttons and joysticks to manage, it’s common for every one of those to be utilized for numerous functions —...