Retro News
July2017
Random Game Boy Tetris Inspires New Commercial From UK Supermarket Sainsbury's
Clear those lines
Tetris is one of the world's most famous video games, and has been the subject of hit singles, documentaries and - of course - more sequels and spin-offs than you can shake a stick at. One of the more recent applications of Tetris is this new commercial from UK supermarket chain Sainsbury's, which shows a table being laid for a...
Hardware Review Hyperkin SmartBoy Turns Your Smartphone Into A Real Live Game Boy
Gaming on the go, revitalised
"Many a true word is spoken in jest." That age-old saying is very true of Hyperkin's SmartBoy device; originally pitched as an April Fool's prank it gradually evolved into something more tangible thanks to online reaction which keenly illustrated a demand in the marketplace for something that allowed you to play old...
News Flash Carts Could Be Slowly Killing Your Retro Consoles
Scary technical details contained within
The relentless march of technology - combined with the rising price of certain retro games - has created a healthy market for flash carts which allow you to load up a bunch of ROMs onto an SD card and play them on your original vintage consoles. We've made no secret of our affection for such carts in the...
Video Is this $40 8Bitdo Controller Really a Switch Pro Controller Alternative?
Look at the shiny shiny
The Switch's Pro Controller is a thing of beauty, but what isn't so beautiful is the price tag. It may be filled to the brim with gizmos and gadgets but it's still a tough pill to swallow. At a lower cost, however, you can invest in a more compact alternative from 8Bitdo, the first manufacturer to stick out a third-party...
News Wisdom Tree Wants To Inflict Noah's Ark On The World, Again
Sunday Funday
What more can be said about Wisdom Tree's unlicensed games that the Angry Video Game Nerd hasn't already said? (NSFW kids, he swears a lot!). Games such as Noah's Ark are tedious platformers, dressed up with biblical themes which often don't even make any sense. If for some crazy reason you have any nostalgia for these games then...
News Fake NES Mini Consoles Spotted for Sale On The Web
Buyers beware
Imitations of Nintendo's popular NES Mini have been spotted on a Chinese import site, with packaging that can quite easily catch out consumers. The much sought after console sold out months ago, with fans trying ever since to get their hands on one without paying astronomical prices from scalpers. A new batch seemed to have appeared...
News Fan-Made "Mega Maker" is Releasing Next Week
DIY Mega Man
“Super Mario Maker's” popularity proved something most people in the ROM hacking community already knew for years: there is a game designer hidden in all of us. Yet most of us do not have the technical expertise to look up code and understand how it works. Level editors are nothing new, of course, going as far back as some games...
News Netflix Renews Castlevania Series For A Second, Longer Season
8 episodes, up from 4
Netflix's animated take on Konami's Castlevania series went live on Friday, and we're sure a great many of you will already have basked in its blood-soaked, foul-mouthed brilliance. Penned by author and comic book legend Warren Ellis and featuring some impressive vocal talent, it's a surprisingly effective take on
News Nintendo's Been In The Video Game Business For 40 Years This Month
Humble beginnings
Time flies when you're having fun, and it's crazy to think that it's been 40 years since Nintendo started making video games. It feels like there is a anniversary for something every other day at the moment, but this is a big one. According to Nintendo's own records, the Color TV Game 6 and Color TV Game 15 in July 1977 in Japan...
Random How To Take Photos Of The Moon With The Game Boy Camera
2-bit moon
Just when you thought the humble Game Boy Camera couldn't get any cooler, someone comes along and takes detailed photos of the moon with it. Enter Alex, a Reddit user who connected a Game Boy Camera to an antique telescope in order to take grainy photos of the Moon and Jupiter. In his own words: The Game Boy Camera is a monochrome,...
Hardware Review Hyperkin's Retron HD Is The Cheapest Way To Play NES In High Def
Can't get a NES Classic? Check this out
Hyperkin is one of the elder statesman of the clone hardware arena, having operating in this sector for quite some time now via its line of Retron systems, the earliest of which replicated the performance of the fan-favourite Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES. The recent kerfuffle regarding the...
News Amazon UK Reduces SNES Mini Orders to One Per Customer
A good call, right?
Though there's always hope that Nintendo will step up and deliver enough stock for demand, it's fair to say that right now plenty expect the diminutive SNES Mini to be hard to find. In the UK pre-orders opened early, but often at relatively random times and with pre-order allocations selling through rapidly. Argos kept orders...
Random NES Found "Rotting" In Kentucky Barn For Decades Is Resurrected
Back from the dead
Vintage consoles are beloved by collectors for many reasons; for some, it's down to pure nostalgia and the belief that games really were better back then, and for others it's the iconic designs and familiar controllers. Another reason cartridge-based retro systems are so appealing is their robust nature; they can withstand much...
Video Off-Screen Footage Of Netflix's Castlevania Series Surfaces Online
Sink your teeth in
Netflix's Castlevania animated series premiers this week, and off-screen footage has emerged showing the introduction sequence and two key scenes. The quality of the footage isn't great and those of you wanting to feel the full impact of the production might be advised to wait until it launches officially on the 7th July, but for...
News Early Super Nintendo Rayman Prototype Released
The Lost And Found Rayman
The retro community was rather giddy when in late 2016 Michel Ancel announced that he had recovered the only known Super Nintendo prototype build of the original, unreleased version of Rayman. It is always a rather exciting prospect when lost software is recovered and there's a whole community of people out there working...
News You Still Can't Pre-Order The Super NES Classic In The US, And This Could Be Why
The all-important approval
If Nintendo Life's Twitter account is any yardstick to judge this by, our North American readers are getting increasing frustrated that pre-orders for the Super NES Classic Edition are still yet to open. We've put together a handy guide rounding up all the SNES Mini pre-order options for you, so all you can do for the...
Video Warm Up for the SNES Mini With This 16-bit Tech Showcase
The technology behind the retro magic
There's plenty of buzz right now around the The Super NES Classic Edition (NA) / The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL), as plenty scramble to secure pre-orders and stock ahead of the September release. That's prompted a surge in interest around the original hardware, of...
June2017
News Here's What The SNES Classic Edition Looks Like With Its Flap Wide Open
Crouching SNES, Hidden Ports
While we patiently wait for the North American Super NES Classic Edition pre-orders to open, many US-based media outlets have been granted access to this shrunken Super NES, including Polygon who have lots of lovely photos in their gallery. While they weren't given the opportunity to see the SNES Mini powered up as it...
Video Home Movie Clips Reveal The Wildly Differing Fates Of The Game Boy And Virtual Boy
"Do you know what this WOULD have cost?"
iRetrogamer's Tyler Esposito has a wealth of home movie recordings made by his late father, who was gaming mad and got his son hooked on all kinds of interactive entertainment. His latest offering focuses on two Nintendo products with totally different fates - the Game Boy and the
Review Magical Drop II (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Just Magical
Although SNK’s Neo Geo is perhaps best known for its dreamy array of one-on-one fighters, beat-‘em-ups, and shooters, the arcade marvel also played host to an impressive parade of puzzle games, from classics like Puzzle Bobble to deep cuts like the oddly addicting currency-converter Money Idol Exchanger. If there’s a series that...
Video Let's See What Star Fox 2 Might Offer on the Super NES Classic Edition
It's not the final ROM, but it's close
Star Fox 2 is a bit of an oddball for Nintendo; a fully completed sequel to an already successful and highly impressive title that was shelved to make way for the new, shiny N64 with go-faster stripes. Thankfully it's on its way to the public's deserving hands with the release of the Super NES Classic Edition,...
News PQube Is Bringing The Hyperkin SmartBoy To Europe
Plays Game Boy cartridges on your Samsung phone
European publisher and retail group PQube has confirmed that it will be bringing the Hyperkin SmartBoy to Europe. The SmartBoy is a device which bolts onto your Android phone and allows you to play original Game Boy cartridges. It's been released as part of the Samsung Mobile Accessory Partnership...
Review Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
In space, no one can hear you yawn
When the one-on-one fighting game gold rush took place in the '90s it seemed that practically every developer or publisher had their own take on the genre, and as you might expect, not all of these efforts turned out to be classics. Sunsoft fared better than most - Waku Waku 7 remains one of the most unique...
News Mario Paint Lovers Rejoice, Hyperkin Is Making A New SNES Mouse
Coming next month for $20
The SNES mouse never really gets the attention it probably deserves. Despite shipping with Mario Paint - which was as close to being a "killer app" for the device as you were likely to get - and offering compatibility with more games that you might expect, the mouse has been largely forgotten as time as gone on - but not by...
News Famitsu Readers Choose Super Mario Kart as the Best Racing Game of All Time
Crosses the line ahead of all its rivals
Whenever a conversation turns to the 'best of all time' in anything, there's sure to be some feisty opinions. Now that the Famitsu Weekly readers have chosen their best racing game of all time, that's sure to get fans talking. The winner was Super Mario Kart, which saw off various rivals including...
Video Let's Take a Look at All 21 Games You'll Get on your Super NES Classic Edition
Or 20 +1 as Nintendo want to put it
It's a bit of a shame that the Super NES Classic Edition is being bundled with fewer games than its NES counterpart, but the ones that are included with this console are absolute knockouts. From Donkey Kong Country and Super Metroid to Secret of Mana and of course Star Fox 2, they're all included in...
Random Take a Look at Some Awesome Retro Gaming Coffee Tables
As we're all about the old-school right now
It's been an interesting start to the week, with plenty of us thinking about retro gaming following the big SNES Mini reveal from Nintendo. As a result it seems like a nice time to dip into the rather fun bit of the internet, where enthusiasts showcase their love of gaming along with some intriguing...
News Star Fox 2 Dev Is As Shocked As You About The Game Coming To SNES Classic Edition
"I presume it will be that mastered version?"
The internet is still in shock somewhat from Nintendo's decision to include the previously unreleased Star Fox 2 on the Super NES Classic Edition. While questions remain about exactly which version of this unreleased game will be on the hardware, we do know Nintendo has commissioned new artwork and a...
News The Super NES Classic Edition Hides the Classic Controller Connector Ports
But how will the NA version work?
One thing that you might have missed given the deluge of information coming at you regarding the Super NES Classic Edition, was that those SNES shaped controller ports are actually just for show. As shown in the photo of the Japanese version, you can clearly see the panel pops out and unveils two Wii Remote style...
News Nintendo Unveils the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom for Japan
Same deal, but with a few different games
We've had the reveals for the Super NES Classic Edition (NA) and the The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL), and now Nintendo has released details of the Japanese version. Aesthetically and in terms of its name it seems to follow the style and branding of the PAL iteration...
News Nintendo Promises 'Significantly More Units of Super NES Classic Edition', But Only in 2017
Controller cable said to be 5 foot in length
With today's announcement of the Super NES Classic Edition (NA) / The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL), Nintendo has generated a lot of buzz online. After the availability issues with the NES Mini in 2016, however, the scrambl
Random Here's The Reason Why The North American Super NES Looks So Different
"I thought the Super Famicom didn't look good when stacked"
There was great excitement in the Nintendo Life team when the Super NES Classic Edition was revealed to the world, but of course it didn't take long for envy to set in from our US based colleagues when they saw the European version of the SNES Mini; the design differences have always been a...
Poll Are You Excited About the Super NES Classic Edition?
Big hype for a little console
Nintendo, as it likes to drop big announcements through press releases and social media posts, has confirmed the rumours and unveiled the Super NES Classic Edition (NA) / The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (PAL). Let's just call it the SNES Mini from this point on for clarity. It's not just...
News Register Interest in the SNES Classic Mini on the Official Nintendo UK Store
If it works, there's a bit of traffic...
Today Nintendo of Europe announced The Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System alongside the equivalent Super NES Classic Edition in North America. Now we're all desperately waiting for pre-orders, knowing full well that demand will be very high. If you're in the UK there's a small...
Feature The Full Story Behind Star Fox 2, Nintendo's Most Famous Cancellation
"The series was never intended to be limited to linear 3D scrolling stages"
To celebrate the announcement of the SNES Classic Mini, we're republishing the full story behind the cancellation of Star Fox 2, which first appeared on the site back in May 2015. This year will see the launch of another entry in Nintendo's long-running space battle...
News Star Fox 2 Will Finally Be Released Thanks To Super NES Classic Edition
It only took 22 years...
Nintendo has just casually announced the Super NES Classic Edition which had long been rumoured ever since the initial NES Classic Edition last year. One thing that no-one saw coming was that Nintendo is including a (we're assuming) finished version of Star Fox 2, a cancelled Super Nintendo game that has widely been...
News Nintendo Announces Super NES Classic Edition
Now you're playing with super power
Nintendo today announced the long-rumoured Super Nintendo Classic Edition. The system launches on 29th September, will retail for $79.99 in the U.S. and comes with 21 games, including the never before released Star Fox 2. It includes two Super NES controllers and works with the Wii's Classic Controller and...
News Sega Forever Manager Blames Mobile Fragmentation For Shortcomings
"If you look at the vast majority of feedback it's been strong"
Following the release of Sega Forever on smart devices last week, there were quite a lot of comments on social media decrying the quality of its emulation. Digital Foundry's John Linneman was perhaps one of the more vocal critics due to his years of experience in dealing with the...
News More Rumours Add Weight to Talk of a SNES Classic Mini
It seems inevitable, right?
The NES Classic Mini is a cool little device and proved hugely popular, though sadly Nintendo botched the whole supply and demand thing. The success of the hardware, and the buzz it brought in the Holiday season last year, certainly makes rumours of a SNES Classic Mini this year seem feasible. It could be announced...
News Congratulations Nintendo 64, You're A Proper Grown-Up Now
The classic system turns 21 today
It's a day of anniversaries today it seems, not only does Sonic The Hedgehog turn 26, but it is also a whopping 21 years since the Nintendo 64 was released in its native territory of Japan. Launched on 23rd June 1996, the N64 served as a landmark moment in Nintendo's history as a video game manufacturer, mainly...
News Soon You'll Be Able To Wear The Street Fighter II Jeans You've Wanted Since You Were 11
"The Worlds of Raw Denim & Street Fighter 2 Collide!!"
Jeans are pretty cool. They're fashionable - despite being invented many years ago - and hard-wearing. But you know what's really cool? Street Fighter II jeans. In a move that we're shocked hasn't happened sooner, clothing line Naked & Famous Denim is teaming up with Capcom to create a line...
Random Ease The Pain Of Sega Forever's Botched Launch With This Official Cereal
FREE GIFT INSIDE
Sega Forever has finally launched after weeks of speculation, and sadly, it's not had the best of starts. Dogged by poor emulation, the games released so far may be free to download and play, but they're a long way from being the best way to experience such classic titles. While Sega clearly has some work to do in order to bring...
News Sega Forever Launch Marred By Terrible Emulation
"This feels kinda like watching a trainwreck unfold"
Yesterday with joyous glee we reported that Sega Forever had launched on smart devices, and we touched on some comments from Sega Networks' chief marketing officer Mike Evans about the possibilities of bringing the collection of games to Switch as they are built using Unity. However, it...
Video This Year's AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback Console Looks Much Improved
720p, Filters, save states and much more besides
It's fair to say that AtGames doesn't have the best reputation in the realm of clone consoles - which is somewhat ironic when you consider the company has been doing this for years now. Its systems are typically marred by poor emulation, terrible AV output options and ropey audio, but it's trying to...
Review Last Resort (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
It's the shooter Morrissey would play
Given how popular "shmups" were during the late '80s and early '90s it's odd that the Neo Geo didn't have more of them, but the few it did play host to were generally amazing. Blazing Star and Pulstar instantly spring to mind when talking about the genre on SNK's system, but there are many fans who hold a candle...
News Sega Forever Aims To Revive The Company's Past On Mobile, But Could Come To Switch
From Master System to Dreamcast
Sega's been teasing its Sega Forever service for a while now, and has recently indulged in a satfisyingly old-school promotional campaign which includes mailing out cassette tapes with classic Sega tunes
Review Sengoku (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Hacked off
Hamster Corp's dedication to mining the back catalogue of the Neo Geo on Switch is commendable, but it does throw up some issues - namely that as time goes on the company is going to have to dig deeper and deeper into the library of the system, and that means having to endure some less-than-classic titles. While we wouldn't say that...
Guide How To Use A GameCube Controller With Your Nintendo Switch
Going old-school
Own a Nintendo Switch? Fancy using your classic GameCube controller with it? Well, thanks to Mayflash's GameCube Adapter you can now achieve this interface dream. The catch is that the adapter needs to be updated with new firmware (this only works on PC at the moment, you can't use a Mac to update it) and that you can only...
News Say Hello To Allan Alvarez, Perhaps The Greatest Mario 64 Player Ever
And he was only a baby when it was first released
For many players, speedrunning is the ultimate way to show off your skill. While certain games require talent to remember movies or perfect strategies, the art of speedrunning arguably calls for even greater concentration and focus, with the smallest mistake costing valuable seconds and potentially...
Hardware Analogue NT Mini Review - Not Just The Best NES Clone, It's Much More Besides
FPGA or GTHO
It's fair to say that the gaming public's interest in clones of vintage consoles hasn't diminished over the past few years; in fact, interest in such hardware is arguably on the rise. We've seen a raft of systems which aim to replicate the performance of retro hardware, including the Hyperkin Retron 5, the Cyber Gadget Retro Freak and...
News Even After 10 Years, Billy Mitchell Still Hasn't Seen King Of Kong
"On the souls of my children, I haven’t watched it"
It's hard to believe that The King of Kong is a decade old now. A seminal work in the history of video game movies, it presented a thrilling David and Goliath tale which focused on humble schoolteacher Steve Wiebe's dream of being the world high score holder for Nintendo's arcade smash Donkey...
News Bitmap Books Announces Officially Licensed NEOGEO: A Visual History
400 pages celebrating the Rolls Royce of game consoles
UK publisher Bitmap Books - previously responsible for The Unofficial NES/Famicom: A Visual Compendium and Super Famicom: The Box Art Collection - has announced that its next project is NEOGEO: A Visual History, an officially licensed publication celebrating one of the most iconic gaming...
Video Tinkling The Ivories With Doremikko, The Famicom's First Piano Video Game
Welcome to the Magic Forest
Those of you old enough to have been alive during the NES era may recall seeing adverts for Miracle Piano Teaching System, released in 1990. It aimed to teach kids how to play the piano via the on-screen instructions delivered using the NES itself, but despite its groundbreaking nature, it wasn't the first device of its...
News Famicom Title "Ganbare Goemon Gaiden: Kieta Ōgon Kiseru" Translated to English
1990 JRPG spin-off includes healthy doses of Ebisumaru
Despite very few and far between official Western releases, Konami’s “Ganbare Goemon” series has quite a following outside of Japan, a deserved status considering that despite a few ninja duds it is a strong and solid series that made its way across several generations of Nintendo...
Random Should The Rumoured SNES Classic Be In Short Supply, This Modder Could Help
Nintendo wouldn't do that again though, right?
Nintendo hasn't officially stated if we're getting a SNES Classic Mini yet, but rumours suggest that it's happening. The company has apparently learned its lesson from the NES Classic and will hopefully, you know, actually make
Video These Super Mario Odyssey Costumes Hark Back to Mario's Past
Mario-achi
Nintendo's never shy to reference retro goodness in its titles, be it stark and obvious or somewhat subtler. Where these costumes form Super Mario Odyssey fall between those categories depends on how well-versed you are in your Mario history. From a guitar-toting, poncho-wearing Mario of Qix fame, to a Chain Chomp with a dashing...
Video Let's See How Super Mario Odyssey's Mechanics Work in this Super Mario 64 Rom Hack
Photoshopped eyes courtesy of Banjo-Kazooie
Super Mario 64 is arguably one of the most heavily modified retro games to date, and as soon as Super Mario Odyssey's deeper mechanics were shown off at E3, notable rom-hacker Kaze Emanuar set to work injecting these features into the classic N64 title. We decided to take it for a test-run to see what can...
News We Know There's An Appetite For Virtual Console On Switch, Says Reggie Fils-Aime
"What's going to be the best way to make that happen?"
The Switch has just had its first E3 but we still don't know exactly how the Virtual Console is going to work on the system. Nintendo has previously spoken about linking some kind of classic game service to the forthcoming paid subscription system, even going as far as to state that...
Hardware Review BittBoy Portable Video Game Handheld
Unofficial NES gaming on the go
Of all the obscure clone consoles to come out of the Far East, the BittBoy is one of the most interesting we've seen in a long time - for obvious reasons. We're massive fans of the original Game Boy here at Nintendo Life and the fact that the BittBoy shamelessly steals the same basic design was enough to get our...
News Sky Skipper Arcade Restoration Revealed To The World
Impressive work
Keen readers of Nintendo Life may remember our report on the Sky Skipper project, an ambitious quest by UK-based Alex Crowley and US-based Whitney Roberts to save an almost lost piece of Nintendo arcade history. That piece of history is Sky Skipper, one of a number of arcades planned to arrive after the DK success story. It was...
Video The Top 5 Most Embarrassing E3 Moments by Nintendo
All that glisters is not gold
E3 is a time for most video game fans to get excited and hyped about upcoming releases, and to see all the newest tech that various games companies have to show off. It is sometimes, however, an event of disappointment. Hopefully this year's E3 will be able to surpass the moments in the video above, which highlights...
News AtGames Is Refreshing Its Sega Genesis Line Of Clone Systems For 2017
Clone alone
AtGames has confirmed that it is rolling out three new versions of its "classic" Sega Genesis clone hardware this year, alongside three new Atari-themed systems. Coming this year are the Sega Genesis Flashback, a system we already knew about which features 85 games and support for original cartridges. Wireless controllers and 720p HDMI...
Random Miyamoto Was Once Quite Interested In PSP Game Boy Emulation
"Did you make this?"
While we're a Nintendo site first and foremost, here at Nintendo Life we do occasionally embrace formats produced by other companies - and back in the days of the Nintendo DS, we admit we also dabbled in the world of PlayStation Portable ownership. Sony's handheld was a massive success, despite the incredible dominance of the...
News Pokémon Gold And Silver Are Coming To The 3DS Virtual Console
Boot up the classics
During today's Pokémon Direct it was revealed that classic entries Pokémon Gold And Silver will be coming to the 3DS Virtual Console later this year. Both titles will be compatible with Pokémon Bank, and will launch on 22nd September. Originally released on the Game Boy Color these games hit Japan in 1999, with the...
Video There Are Actually More Games Called Star Fox Than You Might Imagine
I can't let you do that, StarVox
When European gamers discuss why the original SNES Star Fox was called Starwing for its EU release or why Star Fox 64 was saddled with the confusing title of Lylat Wars, it is often assumed that it was due to some kind of copyright issue in Europe. However, as we discovered many moons ago, the issue was...
News SNES Classic Edition Gets Name-Checked In Xbox E3 Survey
Microsoft knows something we don't
News comes from the most unlikely places at times. A Microsoft survey asking Xbox Live members about their thoughts on the upcoming E3 has once again fueled speculation that a SNES Classic Edition is in production at Nintendo. In the survey, Microsoft ask users "On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means 'Not...
Review Shin Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun: Kunio Tachi no Banka (SNES)
Say that title three times in a row
With the celebrations of all these other anniversaries going about it is easy to forget the adventures of Kunio, which also celebrated thirty years in 2016. Despite being absent from most Western gamer’s memories in the past several years (despite the odd virtual console re-release), the legacy of Technōs most...
May2017
Video Take a Look at Retro-Bit's Capcom-Themed NES Controllers
Go ahead dauntlessly!
At the start of the year Retro-Bit unveiled its Capcom-themed controllers, mimicking iconic pads from the NES, SNES and Mega Drive / Genesis eras. Naturally those of us with a love for retro gaming can't help but be tempted, especially as they're compatible with PC in addition to the original NES / SNES hardware. Now our video...
Video Rare Footage Of Sega's Epcot Innoventions Installation Appears Online
Genesis! 32X! Sega CD! '90s fashions!
Back in 1994, Sega and Nintendo were very much at war. The two companies were battling for dominance of the living room, with the Genesis and Super Nintendo firmly ensconced in millions of households all over the world. Keen to push its rival to the limit, Sega took part in a wide range of promotional activities...
Music This 8-Bit Rendition Of The ARMS Theme Is Even Catchier Than The Original
Earworm
If you've taken part in the ARMS Global Testpunch recently then you'll no doubt find yourself humming the game's excellent theme tune for most of your waking hours - it's that catchy. In case you're one of the few people who haven't heard it yet - or you need reminding so it can torment you for even longer - here's what it sounds like:...
Review Samurai Shodown IV (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
VICTOLY!
After the first two Samurai Shodown games the third outing was seen as something of a disappointment by hardcore fighting game fans. It removed some of the more popular characters and various movement options available to the player, drastically altering the pace of the game; it also felt half-finished when compared to its polished...
Guide How to Get Third Party 8Bitdo Controllers Running on Your Switch
Putting the 'firm' back in 'firmware'
In case you missed it, 8Bitdo's line of third party controllers are now compatible with the Nintendo Switch thanks to a firmware update, meaning you can take out your opponents as intended on Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers, grab a perfect score on Puyo Puyo
News SEGA Forever May Be a Subscription Service for the Company's Iconic Retro Games
Probably for mobile, but the dream is for console...
Games companies face ongoing challenges in promoting and monetising their retro content, especially in this age of emulators that are readily available across various devices. Nintendo has the Virtual Console - though the details of its Switch equivalent are still largely a mystery - and we see...
News 8Bitdo Pads Updated With Nintendo Switch Support, Just In Time For Ultra Street Fighter II
Even more control options
Peripheral maker 8Bitdo has released a new firmware update for its controllers which enables support for the Nintendo Switch. The range of pads - which includes the NES30 and SNES30 controllers - are based on classic Nintendo products and boast an exceptional build quality. While there are obvious
News Super Famicom Title "Ghost Chaser Densei" Translated Into English
The other Ghosts in the Shell
You may not be familiar with Winkysoft’s rather decent and zany “Denjin Makai” series of scrolling beat’em ups. Like so many others they stubbornly remained Japan-only affairs, with both games (the titular “Denji Makai” and the sequel “Guardians”) sticking to Japanese arcades. But not all hope was lost,...
News Famicom Version of "Rampart" Translated to English
But your castle is (with)in another castle!
If you fought in the great medieval wars of the 1990s, you might read the headline and wonder what the fuss is all about. After all Atari's "Rampart", a perfect mix of artillery / puzzle game, conquered the arcades and gained quick cult status among gamers; it also had many home conversions, even managing...
Retrospective The Awkward Birth of the DS, Nintendo's Most Successful System
How a third pillar became a golden goose
With 154.02 million consoles sold to date, the Nintendo DS is the company's most successful hardware platform, the world's best-selling dedicated handheld games console and the second most popular video games system of all time. Not a bad set of achievements for a handheld which, prior to launch, was debated,...
Random Does Dr. Mario Take Place Inside Luigi's Brain? A Manga From 1990 Says It Does...
A look at the backstory of Mario’s medical training
Remember when Mario started branching out into jobs other than his traditional plumber role? After cameo appearances in Punch-Out!! for NES, Tennis for Game Boy and some others, Nintendo decided to give Mario his first white collar job as the star of Dr. Mario. Released for...
News Rare Treasures Aims to Chronicle the History of Rare
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Rare was a prominent part of Nintendo’s history in the 90’s, responsible for major games such as Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, and GoldenEye 007, though it rather famously departed from the Big N in 2002 for supposedly greener pastures with Microsoft. Still, the company holds a special place in the heart of...
News Hyperkin's SmartBoy Gains Official Samsung Licence, Coming To Retail Later This Year
Part of the Samsung Mobile Accessory Partnership Program
The Hyperkin SmartBoy may have started life as an April Fool's joke but later this year it will become reality when it hits retail in the U.S. and South Korea. Hyperkin has announced that the device - which is designed to function with Samsung phones which feature a USB-Type C connection,...
News AtGames Is Releasing A New Sega Genesis Clone To Rival The NES Classic Mini
85 games, 720p over HDMI and save states
If you've been following the growth of "clone" consoles over the past decade or so then the name AtGames will instantly ring a bell. This company has been producing licensed hardware clones for years, and has periodically updated its Sega Genesis / Mega Drive line with new features and games, but what it has...
News Hyperkin's RetroN HD Runs NES Games In 720p, Arrives Later This Month
"This is the best time to be an NES enthusiast"
Hyperkin has announced that it is releasing a new RetroN system which runs NES games in 720p HD. The RetroN HD is compatible with NTSC and PAL NES games and comes with its own bespoke controller, but also supports original NES pads. It launches on May 25th and will cost $39.99 - you can...
Review Garou: Mark of the Wolves (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Only winners And losers here
Out of all the critically-acclaimed one-on-one fighting games produced by SNK over the decades, Garou: Mark of the Wolves has to rank as one of the most beloved and revered. Released at time when 3D visuals were taking the industry by a storm, it was seen by some as a companion piece to Capcom's equally gorgeous Street...
News TecToy Celebrates 30 Years In Partnership With Sega With "New" Mega Drive Game
Updated model of the 16-bit console releasing this week
Brazilian firm TecToy has enjoyed a long and prosperous relationship with Sega which dates back to the days of the Master System and Mega Drive, and this year the firm is celebrating 30 years of partnership with the Japanese gaming legend. TecToy has already confirmed that it is producing a...
News Columbus Circle Is Releasing A New Super Famicom Game This Year
1997's Kaizou Choujin Shubibinman Zero is going physical
Nintendo's Satellaview add-on for the Super Famicom was blessed with several download-exclusives which never saw a physical release back in the day, making them particular desirable to collectors and gaming historians alike. Thankfully, one Satellaview won't be consigned to mists of time...
Gallery This Super Famicom Switch Skin Will Give You The Retro Feels
Love the skin you're in
The allure of retro hardware is pretty strong, and Nintendo knows it - hence the fact that it has produced vintage-themed variants of the Game Boy Micro and 3DS XL in the past. It has yet to pull the same trick with the Switch (hardly surprising given how new the console is) but if you really want to give your system that...
Random China Is Getting A Live-Action Contra Movie
Because why not
Movies based on video games have a habit of being somewhat inconsistent; for every decent effort there are countless terrible examples which totally fail to live up to the promise of the source material. We'll let you decide which camp the upcoming Contra flick will fall into. The script - by Beijing Starlit Movie and TV...
Review Blazing Star (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Get it more!
Whenever horizontally-scrolling Neo Geo shooters are discussed, two names inevitably dominate the conversation: Pulstar and Blazing Star. Both were developed by the same core team (Aicom, which then became Yumekobo) and both rely heavily on pre-rendered sprites rather than hand-drawn visuals. Neither title was ported around the time of...
Publisher was only seeking £25,000
Bitmap Books latest Kickstarter campaign has ended pretty spectacularly, raising £224,773 (around $291,000) despite only asking for £25,000. 5,101 backers pledged their support for the book, which follows the NES Visual Compendium crowdfunding campaign that raised £
News Sonic's Lost GameCube Skateboarding Game Sure Does Look A Lot Like Sonic Riders
Vision Scape's forgotten prototype surfaces
Sonic Riders may not have been the most critically-lauded entry in the character's history, but it provided an interesting spin of the racing concept first introduced in Sonic R. However, according to Unseen 64, Riders could well have been inspired by pitch made by a North American studio called Vision...
Video The SNES PlayStation Prototype Is Now In Full Working Order, Thanks To Ben Heck
CD-ROM now fully functional
We're sure you all recall the discovery of the SNES PlayStation - who could forget that earth-shattering event, right? However, in the months that have past the system has faded into memory, so it's a good job we have Ben Heck to remind us of its existence. The hacking genius has been working tirelessly to get the...
News NBA Playgrounds Is Slam Dunking The Switch eShop Next Week
Takes up more storage space than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, too
Saber Interactive's NBA Playgrounds is hitting the Nintendo Switch eShop next week, it has been revealed. We already knew that this NBA Jam-style title would be coming this month, but now we have a solid release date: May 9th. The game will cost $19.99 in North America. Interestingly,...
Video The Most Memorable Issues of Nintendo Power
Now you're playing with power
Nintendo Power magazine, the official monthly publication of Nintendo of America, was discontinued to the disappointment of fans across the U.S. in 2012. Since then, loyal readers have reminisced about the magazine's history, and avid collectors have sought to compile their own library of Nintendo Power history. In the...
Review Over Top (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Let's go next stage!!
The Neo Geo was famous for its staggering selection of fighting games, but it was less blessed when it came to racing titles. Only a handful were ever released during the console's lengthy lifespan - hardly a massive shock when you consider that the 2D nature of the console made realistic driving games tricky - and of that...
Exclusive Game Boy Specialist Crawfish Interactive Is Back From The Dead, Kind Of
Say hello to Chrawfish Interactive
Cameron Sheppard back in his Crawfish (no 'h') days If you're a seasoned Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance player then the name Crawfish Interactive will probably ring some bells. This UK-based studio created many licensed titles for Nintendo's portable line and was famous for its skill in getting the...
News Inti Creates Announces Blaster Master Zero Version 1.2
Destroyer Mode! New playable characters! A demo!
Blaster Master Zero was one of the stand out releases in the early Nintendo Switch library, bringing some high quality 8-bit action shooting to the console. We positively loved it in our review, though we cited some issues with the easy difficulty as a potential negative for some who might be looking...
Review World Heroes Perfect (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Ra Ra Rasputin, lover of the Russian queen
The one-on-one fighting gold rush started by Capcom's Street Fighter II inspired many famous series, including Fatal Fury, King of Fighters, Virtua Fighter and Samurai Shodown, but there were just as many - if not more - also-ran challengers which achieved moderate success at the time but have since faded...
News Classic Neo Geo Shooter Blazing Star Hits The North American Switch eShop Today
UPDATE: Available now in Europe
Update: The game is available as we speak in Europe. Original story: In a surprise move, Hamster Corp. has revealed that the cult Neo Geo shooter Blazing Star will be hitting the North American Switch eShop today. The game is widely regarded as one of the console's finest blasters, and in its original physical...
April2017
News Reggie Fils-Aime Discusses NES Mini Demand and Apologises to Those That Missed Out
2.3 million sold, but it could have been more
The NES Classic Edition is currently not in production, leaving plenty of Nintendo fans around the world disappointed. As we've discussed here on Nintendo Life, the launch and proceeding shipments of this nostalgic mini console was baffling to both economists and consumers alike, with supply not getting...
News Nintendo Remains Tight-Lipped On SNES Classic Mini Rumours
No news is good news?
2016's NES Classic Mini was a shock success for Nintendo, and almost from the moment it was announced many speculated that the company would, in the fullness of time, follow up with a SNES version. The NES Classic Mini is now officially discontinued, apparently because a SNES edi
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