Retro - Timeline
Wednesday12th Feb 2020
Mario Memories Playing Super Mario Bros. 3 In The Garden
Darren recalls a stolen moment in his back garden with Mario
Today is the 30th anniversary of the US release of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES! That's right, boomers - you're getting old. In honour of the occasion we're republishing this article originally posted as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations for the iconic Mario franchise as a...
Tuesday11th Feb 2020
Feature 10 Nintendo Games We'd Love To See Finally Come To The West
Nintendo games that never officially left Japan
These days there are very few first-party or Nintendo-published titles that don't get an international release, but back in the day it was common for games to remain in their Japanese homeland for months or even years, if they ever came overseas at all. No, we're not just talking about the countless...
Monday10th Feb 2020
Random Two '80s Icons Combine In This Custom-Made Megatron NES Zapper
"Do you have what it takes to kill that damn dog?"
If you're a child of the '80s, then chances are you grew up with the Nintendo Entertainment System and Transformers. The two products were arguably at their height during the same period, so it's only natural that some resourceful fan has decided to fuse the two together. Simon Smith is that fan,...
Sunday9th Feb 2020
Ninterview How Two GamesMaster Fans Are Paying Tribute To TV's Best Video Game Show
Tune into "Under Consoletation"
These days, you need only turn on your phone or open up a laptop to gain access to video game news, reviews and footage, but back in the pre-internet early '90s, you either had magazines or GamesMaster. For those of you outside the UK, that name might not mean anything, but trust us, it was amazing. GamesMaster was a...
Poll Box Art Brawl #29 - International Superstar Soccer 64
Fresh blood is coming in
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, the series where we throw a rosette and a bunch of regional box art variants into a pit and see which one emerges victorious with the bloodied prize pinned to its chest. Last week we watched as Mario Bros. battled for your amusement and pleasure. In a shocking turn of events, the sneaky...
Saturday8th Feb 2020
Random Reggie Admits He "Did Not Own A GameCube" When He Applied For A Job At Nintendo
But he did have a PS2 and Xbox
We know the former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé was a big fan of Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and the Metroid series long before he took on the role, but he wasn't exactly the ultimate collector. Despite revealing he had "over 80 games" for
Monday3rd Feb 2020
Feature Remember When Atari Turned Down Nintendo And Sega?
How different things could have been
When you think of the key names in the history of video games hardware, a few notable monikers spring to mind. Nintendo is obviously one of them; the Japanese veteran has been a major part of the industry since the '80s, and has maintained a position of importance and influence despite numerous challenges from...
Sunday2nd Feb 2020
Poll Box Art Brawl #28 - Mario Bros.
Super! Hang on...
Welcome back, you beautiful people, to another edition of Box Art Brawl, the series where regional box art variants get subjected to public scrutiny and ranked according to their beauty by you lovely lot. Last week we had a true classic in the form of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which unsheathed its Master Swords and did...
Thursday30th Jan 2020
News Tecmo Bowl Brings American Football To Hamster's Arcade Archives Series This Week
More retro goodness
This week sees the release of the retro sports title Tecmo Bowl on the Nintendo Switch eShop. As usual, it supports 1-2 players and will set you back $7.99 / £6.29. Here's the rundown: "TECMO BOWL" is an American football game released by TECMO in 1987. Experience matches as a player of either the WILDCATS or BULLDOGS...
News The 64Mate Steps Up Its Game With 64DD Compatibility And Tower Stacking
Watch out, Sega
Remember the 64Mate? It's an all-in-one Nintendo 64 storage add-on that was announced last December for Kickstarter. If you missed our original post, it's basically a compartment that can be attached to the underside of the console. In an update on Twitter, the creators have announced the 64Mate is "stepping up" its game with 64DD...
Wednesday29th Jan 2020
Feature The Most Expensive Retro Games For Nintendo Systems
12 rare games to keep an eye out for
Make no mistake, we've got endless love for chunky plastic cartridges and proper printed manuals (remember those?), but the convenience of digital games is hard to deny and over the last decade or so digital distribution has taken off to the point where often physical versions aren't even an option these days...
Random Super Mario 64's Shifting Sand Land Becomes A Dungeon In This Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Mod
The ultimate crossover?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Super Mario 64 are considered to be some of the greatest games of all time. To this day, there are still many people enjoying them on a regular basis. There's also a community dedicated to modding and speed-running these classic N64 titles. One individual known as Kaze Emanuar...
Random This Mod Turns The Virtual Boy Into A Proper Console You Can Play On Your Television
Easier on the eyes
The Virtual Boy wasn't exactly Nintendo's finest hour. Despite this, the device was arguably ahead of its time and over the years has developed a cult following. In 2018, for example, an indie developer released a Virtual Boy emulator for the Oculus Rift headset - allowing users to play this short-lived generation of Nintendo...
Tuesday28th Jan 2020
Talking Point How Much Is Your Video Game Collection Really Worth To You?
Sentimental value rarely equals hard currency
Chibi-Robo earns his keep. It's happened to everyone at one time or another. Whether due to changing life circumstances or sheer curiosity, most of us will have looked at our video game collection and wondered how much hard cash we could get for it. We've interviewed serious collectors in the past and...
Book Review Japansoft: An Oral History - A True Treasure You Need To Read
Celebrating the unsung heroes with this exceptional book
A few years ago, British journalist and author John Szczepaniak launched a Kickstarter campaign with a grand vision – to document the memories of some of Japan's most influential yet underappreciated games developers. The result was an extensive three-volume series (and accompanying
Sunday26th Jan 2020
Poll Box Art Brawl #27 - The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
Hey, listen! *splat*
And here we are once more for another edition of Box Art Brawl, the weekly battle between regional variants of retro game box covers to find out which one you think deserves gold medal in the looks department. Last week Super NES classic Castlevania: Dracula X bared its teeth and got down to bloody battle until the Japanese...
Wednesday22nd Jan 2020
Feature Hyperkin Explains Why Its Next Console Is Bringing The Game Boy To Your Living Room
Forget those "streetlight-lit car rides home"
Hyperkin has been one of the biggest names in 'new' retro products for quite some time now, thanks to products like the RetroN 5 and Supa Boy. The company is back with a new device – the RetroN Jr. – which plays the ent
News You Could Get Your Hands On A Polymega Early Thanks To Its Upcoming Beta Test
Early (retro) access
All-in-one retro console Polymega is due to launch this year, and the company behind it has just announced a beta test program which will give a lucky number of applications early access to the hardware. If you've already placed your preorder and you apply via the website before 5PM PST on January 31st, you could be selected to...
Tuesday21st Jan 2020
Anniversary Super Smash Bros. Turns 21 Today
And look how far it's come!
On 21st January 1999, the original Super Smash Bros. was released for the Nintendo 64 in Japan. Over the last 21 years, Smash has become one of the most celebrated, adored, and hype-inducing series available on Nintendo's platforms. The character selection screen in Super Smash Bros. with all characters unlocked...
Sunday19th Jan 2020
Poll Box Art Brawl #26 - Castlevania: Dracula X
Whip it good
Welcome back for another edition of Box Art Brawl, the weekly vote to see who triumphs over the first and second losers in a box art beauty pageant. Three regional versions of the same game cover battle it out to see who is the sharpest looker. Last week we had a returning series in the form of Resident Evil 2. We looked at the N64...
Tuesday14th Jan 2020
News 'Secret Screen' Nintendo 64 Prototype Resurfaces More Than 20 Years Later
Designer says Sega took the idea
While not exactly being the most commercially successful Nintendo console, the iconic N64 remains a firm favourite in the minds of gaming fans to this very day. Despite this, we doubt there are too many people out there who have seen this little oddity before. Retro gaming fan and preservationist Shane Battye has...
Sunday12th Jan 2020
Poll Box Art Brawl #25 - Resident Evil 2
Biohazard REturns
Welcome again to Box Art Brawl, the weekly bout that sees regional variants of retro games compete to see which has the most attractive box-based visage. Last week featured a load of old balls - monkey balls, that is - as Super Monkey Ball 2 bounced off itself in battle. You lovely people decided that the European variant was the...
Thursday9th Jan 2020
News Arcade1Up Is Reviving A Sega Classic That Has Never Been Seen Outside Of Arcades
And its NBA Jam cabinet is looking sweet, too
If you follow the retro gaming scene closely, then the name Arcade1Up will instantly ring a bell. This relatively new company scored a sizeable coup by gaining the licence to create an arcade cabinet containing Konami’s classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game, and it has followed up that...
Wednesday8th Jan 2020
News This Cube-Like Console Play Will Play Every Game Boy Game On Your TV
The next in the Retron line of consoles from Hyperkin
Hyperkin has just lifted the lid on its next games system, the Retron Jr., which plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games on your TV. The cube-like system connects to your television via HDMI and outputs in 720p. It comes bundled with a SNES-style wireless ‘Scout’...
Tuesday7th Jan 2020
Feature No Anime Please, We're Westerners - When Anime Was Taboo In Western Games
A time when anime and western games didn't mix
Japanese animation – or 'anime' as many call it – is huge business these days. While it is naturally most popular in its homeland, we've seen numerous anime properties cross over to the west and find the kind of success that is usually reserved for home-grown cartoons and media franchises. Series...
News This New Handheld Wants To Heal The Scars Of Gaming's Most Infamous Console War
Say hello to the Super Retro Champ
Back in the early '90s, Sega and Nintendo were bitter enemies, with their respective consoles fighting for dominance of living rooms all over the globe. There may be some of you who still consider this battle to be unfinished business, even in 2020, which is why My Arcade's Super Retro Champ could be a remarkable...
Sunday5th Jan 2020
Poll Box Art Brawl #24 - Super Monkey Ball 2
Super Monkey Brawl
Welcome to the twenty-fourth (!) round of Box Art Brawl, the weekly regional box art battle that sees you settle the score and vote for the best regional cover design or a retro video game. It's the first brawl of 2020 - we hope you all had a spectacular start to the New Year and are ready to scrap once more! Last week we had a...
Sunday29th Dec 2019
Poll Box Art Brawl #23 - Snowboard Kids
The kids were all right
Welcome to a festive edition of Box Art Brawl, where regional box art variants battle each other for the honour of your vote. Christmas is over, New Year is approaching, so it's time to hit the slopes as the snow settles in the interim. Last week Star Wars Episode I: Racer raced itself to the podium and t'was decreed by you...
Friday27th Dec 2019
Feature Why You'll Never Get To Play Your Favourite Retro Game On Switch
Companies really do want your money, but at the right price
A few weeks ago while scrolling through Twitter, a particular video clip caught our eye. It showed Slipstream, a 1995 F1 arcade game from Capcom. Using Sega’s System 32 board, it was produced in very limited quantities for the Latin American market and never saw wide release. As you can...
Thursday26th Dec 2019
Feature How Pirate Television Helped Sega Beat Nintendo In The UK
"We were The Rolling Stones to Nintendo's Beatles"
The year is 1992. In a typical British household a typical British family is huddled around the television, still unsure about what has just transpired during the ad break of their typical British soap opera. Nestled among the traditional commercials for washing powder and breakfast cereal is a...
