Retro News
Review Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones (GBA) - The Series' Second Western Release Still Hits Hard
Worth fighting for
This review was originally published in March 2015. We're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of the game in the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy Advance library. While Fire Emblem is a franchise with a long history in Japan, its track record in the West is far more condensed; in fact, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Pikmin - "A Moment Of Sheer Panic That I Can’t Quite Describe"
I am compelled—I must approach it
Captain's log, stardate 202504.21. Following our last Catch-up Crew mission to Shadow Moses Island, the crew has enjoyed extended shore leave having (re)acquainted ourselves with Metal Gear Solid. Our new assignment takes us to the M-class world of PNF-404. However, ship instruments indicate that we haven't left...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game Ranked
All the Sega Mega Drive games, ranked by you
Updated with Streets of Rage, Super Thunder Blade, and ESWAT: City Under Siege following the April update. Remember, the ranking below is dynamic and will change according to each game's User Rating in our
News N64 Recompiled Is Planning Its Best Year Yet In 2025
Unofficial PC ports to get mods & performance boosts
By this point, you're probably well aware of N64 Recompiled which, in basic terms, allows N64 games to be played on PC by natively running the game's code on your target platform. Most recently, we've seen Majora's Mask get a "PC port" thanks to the project. And it sounds like things are...
News Retailer EB Games' New Retro Service Offers Some Unsurprisingly Rough Trade-In Prices
For Mario Land 2 that'll be... six golden coins
Australian retailer EB Games announced last week that it would be expanding its trade-in service to include retro games and consoles. It sounds like a good concept on paper (we retro game fans relish the idea of seeing more classics out in the wild), but in practice, the prices offered by the retailer...
News M2 Is Working On A Brand New 'Night Striker' Game
And we've got some footage
M2, the emulation wizards who are responsible for multiple Sega Ages titles, Virtual Console ports, and the excellent Castlevania Advance and Dominus Collections, has shared a brand new trailer for its upcoming game, Night Striker Gear, which is coming to Switch in 2025. The clip was shared on Bluesky by ohfivepro (via
Review Donkey Kong (GB) - One Of The Game Boy's Very Best
It's on with the King of the Kongs
This review was originally published in June 2011. We're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of the game in the Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy library. In 1994, Nintendo had a great idea; why not make a true sequel to the original Donkey Kong arcade game? The result is Donkey Kong for the Game Boy,...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy (Color) Game Ranked
All the GB and GBC games, ranked by you
Updated with Donkey Kong and Mario's Picross following the March 2025 update. Remember, this list evolves as users rate the games within, so head to the game profiles and rate them out of 10 if you'd like to see the rankings below alter. Enjoy! Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles first arrived on Nintendo...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Metal Gear Solid - "It’s Been A Long Time, What’s The Situation?"
!
The time has come for another Catch-up Crew mission, a regular assignment that sees cadets playing games for the first time - games long since played by other officers. Through their eyes, NL's senior staff gain fresh insight and a better understanding of not only those classic games, but also ourselves. Mainly the games, though. Today, we visit...
Review Wario Land 4 (GBA) - A Boisterous But Impeccably Designed Platformer
Quality over quantity
This review was originally published in May 2014. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack GBA library. Although Wario's core platforming series has been overshadowed for years by the surrealist microgames of WarioWare, his excellent platformers have the sort...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online N64 Game Ranked
All the N64 games on NSO
Updated with Ridge Racer 64. Enjoy! The library of Nintendo 64 games on Switch boasts some of the system's heaviest hitters - a great selection of quality 64-bit games easily accessible to anyone subscribed to the 'Expansion Pack' tier of the Nintendo Switch Online service But which N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online are...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Pokémon Snap - "There’s Nothing Stopping You From Pelting Every Unlucky ‘Mon"
Jack and beans
Welcome to Catch-up Crew, where USS Nintendo Life officers slingshot around the sun and go back to play something a crewmember missed back in the day. We went back to the first WarioWare game last time, but today our destination is the year 1999 when Pokémon Snap first appeared on a chunky N64 cartridge. For anyone looking to play...
Review Sutte Hakkun (SNES) - An Addictive Curio You Should Definitely Check Out
One of the most unique video game experiences ever crafted
This review was originally published in April 2009. We're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of the game in the Nintendo Switch Online SNES library. Every so often a game comes along that makes you take your thumb off the fire button and don your thinking cap. But who wants...
Feature A Trip To Machida, The Real-Life 'Pallet Town' That Inspired Pokémon
Pokén around
The first generation of Pokémon games features some of the most iconic locations in the entire franchise. The eerie Lavender Town, the winding Viridian Forest, and the quaint Pallet Town where all players start their journey. Pallet Town isn’t just a fanciful creation, but draws real-life inspiration from Pokémon creator Satoshi...
Feature That Time I Was Invited To Square HQ To Playtest Final Fantasy VI
I was there 30 years ago…
If you’re reading this on October 11th 2024, then 30 years ago today Final Fantasy 3 (aka VI) was released in North America. A lot of memorable games (Super Metroid, DKC, Earthworm Jim, Ridge Racer, and Doom
Feature The Famicom Failure That Almost Bankrupted HAL, But Shaped Nintendo's Future
HAL be there
Unless you’re a dedicated Famicom collector, it’s unlikely that you’ve heard of Metal Slader Glory. Released right at the tail end of the Famicom’s life in 1991, the year after the release of the Super Famicom, Metal Slader Glory never made it out of Japan, and it proved to be a massive flop for HAL Laboratory. But the very...
Feature 'POCA!' Is A Game Boy Camera Photobook Adventure & A Heartfelt Homage To 'Hip' Tanaka
"I feel like I made the book almost for him"
Sitting down to speak with Jonathan Traynor, a Glasgow-based artist and writer, about his newly-released book, POCA!, we were expecting a few things. Y'know the sort of stuff: how the Kickstarter went; where the idea for the book came from; hopes for the future; picks for the Top of the Pops Xmas #1; and...
Feature Meet Four Developers Making Brand-New Game Boy Titles In 2024
35 years and stronger than ever
The Game Boy turned 35 years old on 21st April 2024. Today, George speaks with four talented individuals keeping the candle burning for the DMG-001 in the 21st century... The humble Game Boy may be turning 35, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing new to look forward to. Far from it, in fact – the homebrew...
Feature Evolving With Pokémon: How The Games Helped Me Navigate A Confused Childhood
This coping mechanism was super effective!
The Game Boy turned 35 years old on 21st April 2024. Today, Tim thinks back on how Pocket Monsters came to his aid in his formative years, and how the series that started on Nintendo's iconic portable would stay beside him in the years that followed. Pokémon is a clockwork franchise. Its cyclical...
Feature Why Play Final Fantasy VII Remake When You Could Play FFVII 'Demake'?
"more than just pirate versions"
You’re probably aware of Square Enix’s lengthy and somewhat lavish efforts to remake the 1997 game Final Fantasy VII. The second instalment of this ambitious remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, was released just recently, and we’re still likely to be years away from any sort of conclusion. But you might not be...
Feature Meet Morphcat Games, The New-Gen NES Devs Pushing The 8-Bit Envelope
"No one has come close to exhausting its full capabilities"
Four decades after it became an international sales phenomenon and dominated a crowded games market, the Nintendo Entertainment System – the 8-bit box that gave birth to some of the medium’s biggest enduring franchises – today finds itself playing host to something else entirely: new...
Talking Point As A Nintendo Fan, Do You Really Need To Play The Virtual Boy?
Oh boy
It’s Christmas morning, and amidst the thick haze of food already cooking for lunch and the soothing laughter of our children enjoying their new toys, my wife approaches me with a small, square package. I hadn’t seen this under the tree. “That’s your last one,” she says. I instinctively go to shake it – she knows me well enough to...
Opinion Raise A Glass To The Nintendo DS' Peculiar Peripherals
Let there be cartridge
I've been noodling with my old DS in the last week. Whether it was to celebrate its 20th anniversary, reaffirm it as my favourite system of all time, or simply help me forget that it has been two decades since I first played Nintendogs, I can't be sure. But what I do know, is that I've been having a blast. Naturally, I went...
Random New 3D Scans Stop Classic Donkey Kong Country Figures From Being Lost To Time
Keshi Kong
We love a bit of niche video game history here at Nintendo Life, and the work of Mr Talida (aka Keshi Corner) has caught our attention on more than one occasion. This is the 3D scanning specialist that has ensured rare Zelda and Mario figures from the 1980s and '90s live to fight another day and now, they ha
News The Entire 'Hand-Drawn Gaming' Digital Guide Collection Is Free For This Week Only
You want some free advice?
If you want to get the low-down on some of the biggest titles in gaming and peruse some gorgeous hand-drawn art while you're at it, then Hand-Drawn Game Guides has got you covered. What's more, you can currently pick up the entire six-issue 'Hand-Drawn Gaming' digital collection for free! This offer is only sticking...
Talking Point What Are Your Top 5 Nintendo DS Games?
Phat wad
Believe it or not, it's now 20 years since Nintendo launched the DS. Rather than getting caught up in where the last two decades disappeared to, we thought it was worth looking back at our personal top five games for a system with a staggering amount of superb software. From delightful minigame gimmicks to full-blooded games in the...
Guide 50 Best Nintendo DS Games Of All Time
The best DS games ever
Nintendo DS was an experiment, a quirky dual-screened handheld which Nintendo famously introduced as a "third pillar" alongside the GBA and GameCube. However, within a handful of years, its innovative games and wide appeal led to the Game Boy brand's retirement and the dawning of a new era of Nintendo handhelds. We've...
Feature It's 20 Years Since The Launch Of Nintendo's Most Important Console
The rise to heaven
One of the joys of Nintendo's Switch is how it marries the company's home console heritage with its equally prestigious handheld line. Ask anybody over the age of 30 to name a handheld system and "Game Boy" will likely still be the first answer; that system became synonymous with portable gaming in the same way as all home...
You 'Ware it well
Welcome once again to Catch-up Crew, where Nintendo Life staffers assemble for a mission to explore an old classic, with veterans leading new recruits into the unknown. Last time we examined Rareware's Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. For today's mission, we're taking a look at WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, or
Review Banjo-Tooie (Nintendo 64) - An Enormous Adventure With Charm Up The Kazoo
Can you bear second helpings?
This review was originally published in October 2009. We're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of the game in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack N64 library. <related ids="106839"> Banjo-Kazooie was a game that revolutionised platforming on the N64: Rare's off-the-wall-humour, creative...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy Advance (GBA) Game Ranked
All the GBA games, ranked by you
Updated with Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. Remember, this is a dynamic, reader-ranked list based on each game's User Rating in our database. The order is therefore subject to real-time change as those ratings fluctuate. Enjoy! Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers have instant access to a small but...
Feature 10 Years Ago, Nintendo Launched The Very Best 3DS
Practically perfect in every way
When it comes to Nintendo handhelds, it's standard for the first iteration to get the job done just sufficiently to sell the idea, but by the end of the system's lifecycle there are several upgrades available that, by comparison, make the original feel like a dev unit or pre-release prototype. We love the original...
Review F-Zero: GP Legend (GBA) - A Great Handheld Entry That Nails The Series' Spirit
Dare you to blink
This review was originally published in January 2015. We're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of GP Legend (and Climax, which was never released in the West) in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack GBA library. The F-Zero series has often dished out a steep challenge, and in GP Legend the uninitiated will be...
News Delightful-Looking GBC Puzzler 'Sofia The Witch' Scores Sweet Limited Collector's Edition
Yep, that's a NEW GBC game
Those in the market for a fresh addition to their Game Boy Color library might want to check out Sofia the Witch: Curse of the Monster Moon — a brand-new puzzler from developer Jake Macher and published by Bitmap Soft. This one looks really rather sweet. You play as Sofia, a witch (obviously) who sets out on a...
Feature The Nintendo Museum Goes Hard On Merch & Fun, But Could Dive Deeper Into History
Worth a trip to Japan?
This week, Nintendo opened the doors to a site destined to become a stop-off for many a video game fan visiting Japan: the Nintendo Museum. This latest venture into the real world promises a peek into the company's archives and history, and Kyotogamer was there for Nintendo Life with an account of what's in store if you make...
News Metroid 64 Fan Game Blends Prime Mechanics With Other M
And it looks glorious
A trailer for an upcoming Metroid fan game based on N64 technology has been released by developer InDenial Game Studio. Dubbed 'Another Metroid 64', the game looks to blend third-person exploration with some limited first-person combat gameplay; so kind of like a blend of Metroid Prime and Metroid: Other M (and yes, we know...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: Donkey Kong Country - "I Liked His Big Red, Er, Ribbit-Bag?"
Catching up with the DK crew
Welcome aboard once again for this edition of Catch-up Crew, the series where the senior staff of the USS Nintendo Life do what every good crew should do on a seat-of-your-pants cosmic adventure - adjourn to the observation lounge for a conference. Yes, we're back at the table to discuss a classic video game that at...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online SNES Game Ranked
All the SNES games, ranked by you
Updated with the March 2025 additions. Enjoy! The library of SNES games available on Switch with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription now stands at 74 titles. While it may lag behind the number of NES games on the service, there are plenty of Super NES gems to enjoy. But which SNES games on Switch are best?...
Video Gather 'Round Kids, Sakurai Talks About CRT Displays
Back in my day...
Masahiro Sakurai is back with another video, and in this week's 'Grab Bag' episode, the legendary game creator delves into the world of CRT displays. Now, if you've been around long enough to actually own and play games on a CRT (which, yes, you can still do now if you happen to find one out in the wild), then Sakurai's video will...
Guide 50 Best GameCube Games Of All Time
Your guide to the GameCube's greatest games
The GameCube console concentrated on doing just one thing well: playing games. This was also the last time Nintendo put itself in direct competition with Sony and Microsoft in pure spec terms before changing tack with the Wii. We've compiled a list of the very best GameCube games of all time to help you...
Random 'Minecraft' On GameCube Boasts A Better Render Distance Than Switch
Crikey
For some time now, developer @meesedev has been hard at work creating a new game engine - dubbed the Meese Engine - for use on the Nintendo GameCube and Sega Dreamcast. The engine is heavily inspired by Minecraft, with many describing the effort as a full-on 'demake' of the Mojang-developed title for older hardware. However, meesedev has...
Soapbox The Next Pokémon Game Should Rework Old Critters, Not Just Add Dozens More
Gotta not forget 'em all
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Lowell considers how future Pokémon games could do justice to old Pocket Monsters who got lumped in with the also-rans... We’re still a little far out from Pokémon...
News 'Assault Suits Valken Declassified' Is Getting A Limited Switch Physical Release
Limited Run's pre-orders run until Sept. 29
Limited Run has revealed a physical release of Assault Suits Valken Declassified, the Switch re-release of the 1992 SNES mecha classic (also known as Cybernator). Number 202 in the boutique publisher's Switch series, the release comes in two flavours: the standard version for $34.99 USD, and a Classic...
News Banjo-Kazooie Is The Latest N64 Game To Be Fully Decompiled
Tick tock PC
Fans and coders have been working on decompiling multiple classic Nintendo 64 games over the years, with Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, Perfect Dark, and Majora's Mask just being a handful of titles they've managed to revert to source code. Now, a Nintendo Life favourite is joining the roster of decompiled N64 games (thanks to CM30...
Exclusive Shadow Of The Ninja - Reborn's Legendary Devs Reveal Details In New Mini-Doc
"Looking back, it feels like my dream has come true"
As we gear up for the release of Shadow of the Ninja - Reborn, a remake of Natsume's classic NES action platformer, today we can exclusively reveal a new behind-the-scenes look at the development story behind the reimagined version. As put together by publisher ININ Games, the mini-documentary...
Random Man Sets World Record By Connecting 400+ Working Game Consoles To One TV
Switch Switcher
One man has set a Guinness World Record for having the highest number of unique, working video game consoles connected to one TV. Talk about putting your collection to work... (thanks to our friends at Time Extension for spotting this!) Ibrahim Al-Nasser, from Saudi Arabia, has managed to con
Random Bull-Airs Range Of Nintendo-Inspired Sneakers Is Extremely Cool
Power dressing
New York City-based clothing and sneaker company Bull-Airs has recently released a retro-inspired collection heavily referencing Nintendo's classic consoles, and a new set of pre-orders will be going live this Friday (thanks, GoNintendo!). The sneakers come in four different varieties, each one inspired by the colour scheme and...
Feature Catch-Up Crew: F-Zero X - "In First Place I Just Yeeted Myself Off The Course"
Join our mission to seek out 'Games of Shame' and make first contact
We've all got them. Brilliant, much-celebrated video games — sometimes ones boasting a huge lineage of excellent sequels — which, for some reason, we never got around to playing. It might have been unfortunate timing, with another game arriving to swallow up our time and...
Review Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team (GBA) - Robust Roguelike Rescuing
Pokécrawler: Red
This review was originally published in February 2016. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack GBA library. It's also worth noting that a 2020 Switch remake of Red/Blue Rescue Team exists: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX. As well as the regular series...
News Rare 'Nintendo Dolphin' GameCube Prototype Re-emerges On Social Media
"More pictures soon"
Those familiar with Nintendo hardware and its development codenames will know that the GameCube was once known as the 'Dolphin'. In fact, this is probably one of the more well-known codenames in console history, aside from maybe the 'Revolution' for the Wii and the 'NX' for the Switch. A prototype of the GameCube had been known...
