Retro News
December2018
Feature The Real Wizard: A Nintendo World Champion's Tale
Jeff Hansen talks about his past life as a gaming superstar
No, you're not suffering from déjà vu; this article originally appeared on the site in June this year, and we're republishing it as part of our 'Best of 2018' series which celebrates what we feel were our finest features of the past twelve months. Enjoy! Nintendo – perhaps more so...
Feature Creating The Ultimate Game Boy
The DMG-102 is the handheld of your dreams
The humble Game Boy is probably older than many of the people reading these words right now, but it nonetheless remains an utterly iconic piece of consumer tech. Since the start of the Game Boy line way back in 1989, the range has undergone several revisions and has sold millions of units all over the...
News Early Pokémon Red And Blue Concept Art Shows How Different Some Classic 'Mon Originally Looked
Gyarados was terrifying
For many Pokémon fans, the names and faces of the series' ever-growing collection of monsters are forever imprinted in our minds, and especially the 'classic' set of Generation 1 creatures that debuted in Pokémon Red and Blue. Of course, the new release of Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! has only enhanced...
Random John Cena Is A NES Aficionado
"Yay, technology"
American actor, professional wrestler, rapper and all-around good guy John Cena recently spoke about his love of the original Nintendo Entertainment System during an IGN video promoting the new Transformers film, Bumblebee. The cast of the movie was quizzed about '80s toys, and the most knowledgeable of the bunch was John. After...
Video SNES Classic Runs PSone Games Better Than The PlayStation Classic
Classic Sony
If you keep tabs on the competition, you will have no doubt have heard about the PlayStation Classic. Following Nintendo's success with NES and SNES Classic systems, Sony decided to release a miniature version of its own legacy hardware. Unfortunately, this particular system hasn't lived up to expectations, with an underwhelming...
Video Here's How Smash Ultimate's World Of Light Trailer Might Have Looked On Game Boy Color
"Don't let a single one get away"
Despite having now owned the game for several days - and having beaten up more innocent Jigglypuff than we care to admit in that time - we still find ourselves occasionally reminiscing over that wonderful World of Light trailer. It's hard not to fall in love with a video depicting so many of our beloved childhood...
News This Awesome Hand-Drawn Ninja Gaiden Guide Brings Back Lovely Pre-Internet Memories
And you can have it for free
Before strategy guides and that pesky, know-it-all internet came along, completing tricky games was a serious challenge. There was a time when players couldn't simply Google "how do I unlock Simon Belmont's luscious locks in Smash Bros.", and instead had to figure everything out by playing over and over again. Often,...
News The New BittBoy Can Play NES, Game Boy And Game Boy Color (Ahem) Games
Let's hope Soulja Boy doesn't find out
We reviewed the original BittBoy some time ago and found it to be a perfectly likeable – if legally questionable – handheld system. Now, the company behind it is releasing a successor, and while it retains the same basic design, there are a few extra features worth noting (and no, it's no less dubious from...
News SNES Classic King Arthur's World Is Getting A Modern Day Remaster 25 Years Later
Recreated by the original team
It may well have been around 25 years ago that SNES classic King Arthur's World invaded our screens for the first time, but a brand new remaster for modern platforms is currently in the works. If you need a quick refresher, or if you're simply too young to have been around, the game has you playing as the titular King...
Feature SNES Classic Edition Vs. PlayStation Classic - Which One Should You Choose?
16-bit or 32-bit?
Nintendo wasn't the first company to wake up to the idea of repackaging its games in tiny versions of classic consoles – Sega and Atari (from a licencing perspective, at least) were there a long, long time ago – but its entry into this previously niche sector certainly made an impact. The NES Classic Edition and SNES Classic...
News Analogue Announces New Limited Edition Super Nt, And You Can Order One Right Now
Limited to 1,000 units, so be quick
If you're a fan of your fancy tech and intriguing video game consoles, you may already be aware of the Analogue Super Nt. Inspired by the design of the Japanese and European Super Famicom / SNES systems, this machine can play your original games on your modern 1080p setups with beautiful ease, and a new Limited...
Video Obscure Mario Facts You Probably Didn't Know About
No, really
If you thought you already knew everything about Mario, perhaps you should watch the above video first. Did You Know Gaming has managed to compile 10 minutes of obscure Mario facts you probably had no idea about. For example, during the Super Famicom era, Nintendo experimented with digital magazine publishing. Despite being officially...
November2018
News Paprium's Disastrous 'Launch Party' Leaves Backers Furious As Unfinished Prototype Is Shown Off
"I'm starting to think this situation is beyond repair"
The saga of Paprium – the next game from Pier Solar developer WaterMelon – rolls ever onwards. Earlier this year we spoke to one of the game's artists about the stop-st
Random Only 300 Of These Fiorentina-Themed Game Boy Pockets Were Ever Released
Football in your pocket
If you live and breath calcio, you might be fond of the Serie A Italian football side Fiorentina. Even if you just love the global game and are also a fan of Nintendo, you'll probably remember this team's classic 'Nintendo' kit of 1998. To this day, it remains one of the club's most iconic and memorable designs. During this...
Random The Famous Basketball From The Front Cover Of NBA Jam Is Actually Real
But how is it not on fire?
The famous arcade basketball game NBA Jam was originally released by Midway in 1993 and made available on the Super Nintendo the year after. Anyone who played it will no doubt remember the game's cover art depicting a basketball exploding through a paper-like banner. For those who didn't know, this wasn't a CGI render or...
Video Family Guy Pays Respect To GoldenEye 007 On N64 With Suprisingly Accurate Skit
"Almost James Bond"
Rare's 1997 Nintendo 64 release GoldenEye 007 is considered as one of the greatest games of all-time. Not only did it provide Nintendo fans of this era with mature-themed gameplay, but it also gave the FPS genre on consoles some much-needed recognition. It was so influential, it spawned its own PC mod and has basically become...
News Reggie: N64 Classic Mini Is "Not In Our Planning Horizon", But Wouldn't Ever Rule It Out
NES and SNES were "limited time opportunities"
With the NES Classic hitting stores in 2016, and the SNES Classic following suit in 2017, it likely comes as no surprise that fans were expecting a potential Nintendo 64 Classic (the next home console in Nintendo's historic lineup) to arrive at some point this year. A couple of months ago, an N64...
News EON Is Launching A Successor To Its Popular GameCube HD Adapter
And it's got the blessing of Smash champ Juan “Hungrybox” DeBiedma
We covered the EON GCHD not so long ago and found it to be a superb - if somewhat pricey - means of retrofitting your GameCube for the HD era without having to perform any awkward modifications. EON has today announced that it is producing a successor to the unit which promises...
News Mega Drive Kickstarter Success Xeno Crisis Is Getting A Limited Physical Edition On Switch
Don't mind if we do
Bitmap Bureau has revealed that Xeno Crisis - an arcade-style shooter set to launch for the 30-year-old Sega Mega Drive - will also be receiving a physical release on Nintendo Switch. You may remember that, right at the start of the year, we reported on the game's Kickstarter progress, noting that a $65,000 stretch goal was...
News Columbus Circle Is Releasing A Converter That Lets You Play Game Boy Color Games On Your SNES
Colour me excited
The Super Game Boy was great, especially if you were a Nintendo fan who was short on cash and wanted to extract as much enjoyment as possible from your small library of games. Being able to experience your Game Boy games on the big screen was a real boon, and if you're anything like us then you'll have many happy memories of...
Not a bad decision, huh?
At this point, everyone and their cat knows about Tetris; the highscore-chasing, block-placing phenomenon has sold hundreds of millions of copies around the world, captivating the minds of its players for years on end. One cog in the Tetris success machine is Henk Rogers, a game designer known for securing the rights to...
News Brush Up On Your Gaming Music Knowledge With A Diggin' In The Carts Radio Marathon This Weekend
Final episode airs this week
A little while ago, we reported on the return of Diggin' In The Carts - an eight-part radio series which has been celebrating all different aspects of video game music over the last few weeks. With special guests including none other than Donkey Kong Country composer David Wise, the show has been going along swimmingly,...
News A Garish Neo Geo Mini Christmas Edition Is On The Way With More Games Included
Now with 48 titles
SNK has announced that the Neo Geo Mini is set to receive a limited edition Christmas variant which will come with more games included. This edition has 48 games available to play, as opposed to the standard edition's 40. From the 48 titles set to be available in the Christmas edition, nine are not available on the standard and...
Video Learn About Nintendo's Failed Harry Potter Pitch For The N64
Expelliarmus!
With the sequel to Fantastic Beasts arriving in cinemas worldwide on 16th November, there's no better time to talk about the secret history of the Harry Potter video game series. In a new Did You Know Gaming video, independent game researcher Liam Robertson takes a look at Nintendo's failed Harry Potter pitch during the N64 era. Prior...
Random NPD Reveals Best-Selling N64 And Game Boy Color Games From The Mid To Late Nineties
Retro flashback
While we're used to seeing the latest video game charts, it's easy to forget how they looked roughly twenty years ago. NPD Video Game Industry Analyst Mat Piscatella recently shared the best-selling game charts from the mid to late nineties. In terms of Nintendo charts, he featured the big systems of the time including the Nintendo...
News SEGA AGES Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Might Be The Best Version We've Ever Had
An improved version of Virtua Racing is also expected
SEGA and M2 are doing a great job of bringing classic Mega Drive games to the Switch with the SEGA AGES series of games. As with the 3DS 3D Classics range, these aren't just lazy efforts. M2 really get into the original games source code so you know you are getting a port worthy of your time. In...
Wants to make sure Sega AGES volume one is a hit first
M2 - the development team behind the Sega AGES line - is currently busy bringing Sega's retro line of games across to the Switch. Sega itself even ran a poll not long ago asking fans what games they wanted to see added to the series in the future. Surprisingly, the Dreamcast classic Jet Set...
October2018
News SNES Mini And NES Mini Combined Global Sales Surpass 10 Million Mark
Retro revival
The SNES and NES Classic Mini have proven to be a huge success for Nintendo since the systems were launched and resulted in many companies trying to emulate this success with their own retro devices. It turns out, both of Nintendo's miniature systems have been so successful, combined global sales have now surpassed 10 million units...
Video Learn About The Unreleased Game Boy Title Starring The Rapper Vanilla Ice
Ice ice baby
Back when licensed video games first caught on during the '80s and '90s, it wasn't just cartoons, comics and movies that were being adapted to the newest form of entertainment at the time, there were also games based on musicians. The most famous was Michael Jackson's Sega-developed title Moonwalker - requiring the player to execute...
Hardware Classics Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
The genesis of Sega's superstardom
To mark the 30th birthday of Sega's 16-bit system, we thought you might like to reacquaint yourselves with this feature, which was originally published back in March 2013. It's fitting that the first non-Nintendo entry in our Hardware Classics series should be the Sega Mega Drive. This sleek 16-bit powerhouse...
Video This Personal Video Game Collection Is The Greatest Of All-Time
A world record holder
If you're a fan of video game history, it might be worth checking out the above video posted by Australian super-collector Joel "Last Gamer" Hopkins. He's got an entire house dedicated to games - with a total of five rooms covering every aspect of his beloved hobby. We previously posted about this world record holder last year...
Savage Reign and Alpha Mission!
Good old HAMSTER. This Japanese company has become quite reliable when it comes to bringing retro classics to the Switch eShop, and this week is no exception with Neo Geo brawler Savage Reign and arcade shmup Arcade Archives: Alpha Mission being offered for your consideration. Both of these SNK classics will be...
News Sega AGES Devs Discuss Possibility Of Dreamcast Games On Switch Again, Emulation The Way To Go?
Only a matter of time?
The first entries into Sega's AGES range on Nintendo Switch have finally arrived, with plenty more games still lined up to follow suit, but there's one question still hanging in the air. That question revolves around Dreamcast games and, in particular, whether or not the Switch will receive any games from the long-discontinued...
News AtGames Disappoints Again With The Bandai Namco Flashback Blast
Bait and switch
With Christmas on the way, lots of folks will be tempted to pick up something like the AtGames' Bandai Namco Flashback Blast for their loved ones who enjoy retro gaming. At only $20 with classic Namco arcade titles packed on to a retro style 6 button joypad with an HDMI dongle, this seems like a bargain too good to be true. For the...
Anniversary Super Mario Bros. 3 Turns 30 Years Old Today
Feel old yet?
Thirty years ago today, on 23rd October 1988, Super Mario Bros. 3 launched in Japan. Following the traditions already put in place by previous Mario games, Super Mario Bros. 3 had players controlling either Mario or Luigi as they went on a quest to save Princess Toadstool from the dastardly claws of Bowser. There were enemies to stomp...
News 16-Year-Old Joseph Saelee Beats Seven-Time Tetris World Champion For The Ultimate Crown
The hard work pays off
Joseph Saelee, a 16-year-old Tetris prodigy, has just emerged victorious at the Classic Tetris World Championship, defeating a seven-time world champion in the process. The event took place at Portland, Oregon this weekend, ending yesterday on 21st October, with Joseph taking on Jonas Neubauer in the grand final. The...
Video The Nintendo 64 Classic Mini "Leak" is Completely Fake
"I would bet money that this isn't real"
If you keep up to date with the latest happenings in the world of Nintendo, you might have seen a few photos doing the rounds over the weekend of a supposed Nintendo 64 Classic Mini. It's the device that is expected to succeed the incredibly popular mini versions of the NES and Super Nintendo. After a closer...
Random This Unreal Version Of GoldenEye 007 Aims To Recreate Rare's Iconic FPS
Releasing in 2022
Rare's beloved 1997 Nintendo 64 classic GoldenEye 007 might be stuck in licensing limbo, but that won't stop the modding community from trying to revitalise the iconic first-person shooter. For years now, GoldenEye: Source - a fan mod available through Valve's Steam service - has allowed players to live out their old-school...
News Rare Is Set To Open Its Own Online Store, Banjo-Kazooie Plush Toy Among The Products Available
And there goes all our money once again
British game developer Rare has announced that it is "making plans" for its very own online store which looks set to feature merchandise based on its popular creations. The news comes from the tweet below, with the company also taking the opportunity to show off an adorable Banjo-Kazooie plush that has us...
Hardware Review EON GCHD GameCube HDMI Adapter
Another mod-free HD option for Nintendo's famous box
While the world waits for Nintendo do something - anything - constructive with its enviable back catalogue of games on its latest console beyond giving us a few dusty old NES titles, there's a burgeoning community which aims to harness the power of vintage hardware to experience the best titles...
News Sega Says Its Retro Release Strategies "Can Be Opportunistic As Well As Strategic"
"There is a thought process that goes behind it"
Wherever you look, and whichever current gaming platform you own, there's a wealth of retro Sega content to sink your teeth into at the click of a button. From the recent launch of the Sega AGES line on Switch and the Sega Mega Drive Classics collection on all major consoles (Switch coming soon), to...
News The Power Glove Was "Way Ahead Of Its Time" According To One Of The Men Behind It
"It was pretty cooly designed, for that time"
Ah, the Power Glove. It may have sold a million units but it has become something of a joke among Nintendo gamers; a product which arguably looked much better than it played. The device was supposed to immerse players like no other controller, but the reality was rather less appealing; the glove was a...
Random Banjo-Kazooie And Conker Are Being Added To The Totaku Collection
Retro-inspired
If you were around during the years of the Nintendo 64, you'll no doubt remember Rare's foul-mouthed squirrel Conker and the beloved bear and bird duo, Banjo-Kazooie. To help you remember the glory days of these iconic characters, the Totaku Collection is adding the characters to its officially licensed figurine line. Both the...
Feature Remembering Super Mario 128, The Groundbreaking Masterpiece That Never Really Existed
When is a game not a game?
The Super Mario series has been responsible for some pretty amazing forward strides in the video game industry; the NES original arguably triggered a 2D platforming goldrush which would dominate the ‘80s and early ‘90s, while Super Mario 64 did the same for 3D gaming in general. Later, Super Mario Galaxy would allow...
News Liquid Media Acquires Acclaim Entertainment Video Game Properties
Retro revival
Candian Studio, Liquid Media Group, has reportedly acquired the rights to 65 Acclaim Entertainment video game properties for $1 million. The fellow Canadian company, Throwback Entertainment, originally bought the collection of titles from Acclaim after its collapse in 2004. Website Geekwire has published the full list of properties...
September2018
News David Wise And More Set To Appear On Video Game Soundtrack Radio Series Diggin' In The Carts
A special eight-part series
Red Bull Radio has today announced the return of Diggin' in the Carts - a show which examines the music, creators, legacy and global impact of video game music. Several well-established guests are set to make an appearance, including none other than Donkey Kong Country composer, David Wise. Hosted by Nick Dwyer, this...
News The Man Behind SNES Star Fox Talks About The Nintendo VR Console That Never Was
"VR gaming could have happened 20 years ago"
No images of the Super Visor exist online, but we'd like to imagine it would have looked like this Argonaut Software founder Jez San has been speaking about a hardware project he worked on with Nintendo that could have given the games industry affordable and effective home VR decades before the Oculus...
Random Fans Ask For A Philips CD-i Classic, Philips Says "We Will Try Our Best"
Is this actually happening?
Philips, the electronics company behind the ill-fated Philips CD-i, has responded to fan requests for a classic, miniature version of the console. Amazingly, it looks like it could actually happen. A system easily forgotten about by fans, and possibly even more so by Nintendo, the Philips CD-i was initially released as a...
News Sega Mega Drive Mini Release Has Been Delayed Until 2019
Now aiming for simultaneous worldwide launch
Gematsu reports Sega has now delayed the Mega Drive Mini originally scheduled to arrive in Japan this year. According to Sega, the response to the announcement in the west was bigger than it expected. There are now plans to give the system a simultaneous release worldwide in 2019. This covers the Genesis...
Random Canadian Actor And Comedian Seth Rogen Shares Mind-Blowing Duck Hunt Secret
Did you know?
The 1984 NES game Duck Hunt might not have been announced for the Nintendo Switch digital service just yet, but that doesn't mean fans of the NES Zapper title have forgotten about it. Out of the blue, Candian actor and comedian Seth Rogen has shared a "hot tip" about the original Duck Hunt game that appears to have surprised many...
Soapbox Why I'm Not Excited About Playing NES Games On The Nintendo Switch
All NES'ed out
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert admits that he's not in the least bit excited about the prospect of playing NES games again in 2018... They say that...
Hardware Classics Exploring Luigi's Debut, The Mario Bros. Game & Watch
Everyone has to start somewhere
Luigi may not be quite as famous as his illustrious sibling, but there's a fair chance that you could stop a random person on the street and they'd still be able to identify him or at the very least acknowledge his association with the Super Mario Bros. series. Keeping this in mind, it's an odd sensation to play the...
Feature As Team17 Launches Its 100th Game, We Look Back On Its First Nintendo Outing
"My monitor did go zipping across the office in a moment of rage"
Recently, UK publisher Team17 passed a significant milestone - it released its 100th game. Since the company was founded in 1990, the firm has gone from being a developer to a fully-fledged publisher and has been behind classic titles such as Alien Breed, Superfrog, Body Blows and -...
"We didn't have time"
The recent release of Marvel's Spider-Man on the PlayStation 4 has ignited many conversations about the video game history of the web-slinger. Gadgets 360 recently spoke to Indiagames alumni Hrishi Oberoi, Srinivasan Veeraraghavan, and Vishal Gondal to discuss the first ever mobile phone Spider-Man game made in Mumbai...
News Pre-Orders For The International Edition SNK Neo Geo Mini Go Live Next Week
First come, first served
We really liked the SNK Neo Geo Mini when we took a look at it recently. This miniature retro arcade packs in 40 classic Neo Geo games and has a lovely 3.5-inch display; it's like a SNES Classic with the added bonus of portability, and it looks super cute on your desk as well. We've just got word from UK retailer...
Video It's The Perfect Time To Remember How Amazing Streets Of Rage Was, And Still Is
Knuckles laid bare
The news that Streets of Rage 4 is happening came rather out of the blue, but the response has been an overwhelmingly positive one. Sega's side-scrolling fighting franchise has gone down as one of its most beloved series, thanks solely to three solid entries on the 16-bit Mega Drive / Genesis. Our friend Tyler over at iRetrogam
August2018
Random Talented Individual Finishes Super Mario 64 With Nintendo 64 Mouse
Crazy as well
If you're not familiar with the Nintendo 64 mouse, after this video you certainly will be. YouTube channel Critbox has managed to complete Super Mario 64 - collecting 70 stars and defeating Bowser - using this rare and official peripheral. Exclusive to Japan, the old-school ball mouse was bundled with the 1999 Nintendo...
News Nintendo Classic Mini Double Pack Releasing In Japan On 15th September
Double the fun!
The NES Classic Mini and SNES Classic Mini have been a roaring success, with sales for both devices temporarily outperforming modern generation video game systems during certain mo
News Use Original Cartridges On Your SNES Mini With This Classic 2 Magic Attachment
Also plays ROMs
One less favourable aspect of Nintendo’s mini line of retro systems is the fixed library of games. As fantastic as the collection is on the SNES Classic Mini, some fans are admittedly disappointed by the closed state of the console - with no ability to update the device or download more nostalgic hits. The Classic 2 Magic...
Random Ever Wondered What's Inside A SNES Controller? Here's A Look
Helpful instructions
If you think back to the glory days of the Super Nintendo, you might recall how there were two versions of the system available. Even now, the unique controllers are still used to debate which one is the best. A recent post on Reddit has brought attention to the fact SNES controllers include assembly instructions on the inside...
Gallery A Closer Look At The Nintendo Snack Pack, The Portable Solution For Retro Gaming
All the old favourites
Earlier this month, we shared the progress of Marcel J. de Haan's 'Snack Pack' - a fan-made portable TV that had been fully customised to play a whole host of NES, SNES, and Sega titles. Since then, more images have been shared online, showing the final result in a little more detail; as you wonderful bunch seemed to fall...
Random Perfect Dark Speedrunner Matches Air Force One World Record
Less than a minute
The speedrunning community is known for supporting classic games over a prolonged period of time. To this day, there are still many people worldwide actively playing older games in a competitive fashion on a daily basis. Twitch speedrunner, Kevin “KevinDDR” Birrell is one of them. Kotaku UK reports h
Feature Wild Gunman And The Unlikely Story Of Sega And Nintendo's Early Coin-Op Alliance
Before they were enemies...
They didn't call it a 'console war' for nothing; the titanic struggle for domination of the living room that took place between Sega and Nintendo in the 1990s has gone down as the stuff of video gaming legend. The two companies fought tooth and nail during the 16-bit era, with the SNES and Mega Drive (Genesis if you're in...
Review Prehistoric Isle 2 (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Fancy-looking retro shmup action
1999’s Prehistoric Isle 2 sees dinosaurs on the rampage because it’s a video game and that’s just the sort of thing that happens. It’s up to you (or you and a friend) to jump into an attack helicopter and fly through six stages, blasting the dinosaurs back to extinction whilst also trying to rescue people...
Random A 1990 TV Interview With Shigeru Miyamoto Talks About Nintendo's Work Culture
A resurfaced treasure
We've seen Shigeru Miyamoto's ever-beaming self quite a lot over recent years, often during big events such as E3 where he's essentially presented as the face of Nintendo and an all-round gaming icon, but we don't often get the chance to see him in his younger days. Thanks to this rediscovered interview with the BBC,...
Video Exploring The Process Behind Mickey Mania's 'Into-The-Screen' Chase
A gaming first
If you cast your minds back to 1994, or allow yourself to simply imagine that time if you weren't born yet, you may remember Mickey Mania on the SNES. Developed by Traveller's Tales, this platformer also arrived on Sega Genesis and Sega CD, with one noteworthy element being its 3D, 'into-the-screen' chase - seemingly a first in...
"It's not worth it for us to risk potentially disastrous consequences"
Recently, we heard the news that Nintendo had filed a lawsuit in the US state of Arizona, calling out two ROM and emulator websites for unfair competition and copyright and trademark infringement. It appears that this has helped spark a new level of fear among such...
Feature What Does Nintendo's Shutdown Of ROM-Sharing Sites Mean For Video Game Preservation?
Is gaming history in danger of being lost?
The recent news that Nintendo is taking legal action against two sites which illegally distributed ROMs has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response, and rightly so. The individuals sharing these files online care little for the intellectual property rights of the developers who slave away to make...
News Meet The Nintendo Snack Pack, A Fan-Made Portable TV With Built-In Retro Games
NES, SNES and Sega titles
For most of us, having dreams of creating an ideal gaming setup is easy - you can probably picture how it would look, and even the various items you'd need - but the dream ends right there and then. There's no way you could actually make it happen, right? Well, that's not the case for everyone as you're about to find out...
Gallery Unboxing Retro-Bit's Incredible R-Type And Holy Diver Limited Editions
Limited to 2,900 copies each
Retro-Bit is doing an excellent job when it comes to keeping the past alive, and has already released a couple of welcome compilations for the NES and SNES. However, the company has really outdone itself with its latest project, which features limited edition versions of Irem's R-Type and Holy Diver, for the SNES and...
News These Are The Most Insanely Gorgeous NES Cartridges You'll Ever See
Hand-made goodness, and they actually work!
Remember Mega Cat Studios? Well, they've joined forces with another major name working in the 'new-retro' biz - Rose Colored Gaming - to create some pretty unique NES cartridges which will no doubt have hardcore collectors reaching for their wallets (or mulling the sale of a kidney). Carts emblazoned with...
News NES Classic Mini Outsold Modern Video Game Hardware In The Month Of June
Retro power
The idea of Nintendo selling miniaturised versions of its classic gaming hardware is still too good to be true. While there’s been plenty of discussion in recent times about how there should be better support for digital retro libraries on modern devices, clearly there is a huge demand for standalone legacy systems. According to the...
July2018
Gallery This Super Mario Board Game From China Looks Too Good To Be True
Because it’s fake
Nintendo struck a deal with Nvidia recently to release its games in China. While this is yet another step in the right direction within the growing market, local operations haven’t always been quite as upfront. As publicised by Chinese Nintendo, back in the day there were unlicensed Mario board games available featuring art...
Feature Meet The Man Who Gave Nintendo Tetris And Got Hiroshi Yamauchi Gaming
"Let me put it this way: we were banned from a Nagoya hotel"
Everyone will know Henk Rogers as the businessman who brokered the Tetris deal for the Nintendo Game Boy. But what you may not realise is how he helped define the RPG genre in Japan; gave a start to Squaresoft's president; battled against sabotage by Koei; fought piracy and smashed...
Random Mexican Speedrunner Completes Turbo Tunnel In Battletoads With Bag Over His Head
Superhuman
The NES classic, Battletoads, is notorious for being a tough game. Despite this, that hasn’t stopped Piotr Delgado “The Mexican Runner” Kusielczuk from becoming an expert at it. He’s previously completed the game with one hand, and for this particular run, his goal was to complete the legendary turbo tunnel with a bag over his...
Review The Super Spy (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Will bore the living daylights out of you
When a factory full of terrorists is discovered by the CIA, they decide to send in a lone agent to put an end to their bomb-building plans. You might expect this person to be a highly skilled operative, able to move quickly and sink into the shadows with ease, or alternatively someone armed to the teeth to...
Random Return To The '90s With This Super Mario All-Stars VHS Released By Nintendo UK
Old school cool
In 1993, Nintendo UK gave out a Super Mario All-Stars promotional video in the form of a VHS. Despite how odd this might sound by modern standards, at the time it was a relatively normal way of marketing video games and various other forms of entertainment to younger audiences. The low-budget and incredibly '90s...
News Nintendo’s Virtual Boy Gets A Revival Thanks To Emulator For Oculus Rift VR Headset
The wonders of today
The Virtual Boy has been predominantly inaccessible to the majority of Nintendo fans since its original release. It was hardware arguably ahead of its time, but also technology that was unable to compete with modern standards of the era. The Nintendo 64 was after all released a year later in 1996 and blew the console industry...
Review Samurai Shodown V (Switch eShop)
Simpler shodown?
Arriving at a time when the company was having financial difficulties, SNK handed development duties of Samurai Shodown V over to Yuki Enterprise. On the surface, it seemed like they’d crafted a typical sequel with all but one of part IV’s sixteen playable fighters making it across - along with a bunch of new characters and some...
Hardware Review The Shōnen Jump 50th Anniversary Famicom Classic Mini Is Gorgeous, But Pointless
Nintendo loves gold, only gold
Nintendo may have fixed the supply issues which plagued the launches of the NES and SNES Classic Editions, but many will still be haunted by the devilish degree of difficulty they exper
Feature This Unreleased SNES Super FX Racer Could Be Getting A Physical Rebirth
Elite's PowerSlide might be coming back from the dead
1994 was the year that 3D gaming truly came of age in the console arena. While both Nintendo and Sega had dabbled in the three-dimensional realm prior to this – with titles such as Star Fox and Virtua Racing – '94 marked the point where real-time 3D visuals were the expected norm, rather than...
Random Admit It, You Need This Sega Pop-Up Book In Your Life
Hang-On! Space Harrier! After Burner! Cardboard!
Sega's classic '80s arcade machines are works of art; they were designed to attract your attention and tempt you to part with your spare change, and as a result were brightly-coloured, exotic creations that even today possess an undeniable aesthetic charm. Sadly, unless you're like Nintendo Life...
News Super Battletoads Is A Cancelled Game Boy Game That Was 100% Finished And Ready To Go
The game that never was
Hearing the name 'Rare' likely makes you instinctively jump towards nostalgic thoughts of games like Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye 007, and Donkey Kong 64; the studio's partnership with Nintendo throughout the '90s generated some truly classic titles that are still adored today. Another iconic franchise from this era is...
News How Sharp Accidentally Copyright Trolled Nintendo Almost 40 Years Ago
Famicom Wars
First, let us kick off this article by saying happy birthday to the Family Computer! Released in July 1983, (July 15th, to be exact) the 8-bit warhorse is turning 35 years old this year. That's quite a milestone for even long forgotten hardware, but Famicom/NES games still live on today, either as part of the Classic Mini line or as...
Review The Last Blade 2 (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Another contender for Switch fighting champion
There are lots of one-on-one fighters on Switch, many of which have been released as part of HAMSTER’s ACA Neo Geo series. The Last Blade 2 is another one, giving you a selection of fighters to pick from as you engage in a series of best of three-round fights en route to a showdown with an overpowered...
Video How Ingenious British Teens Helped Nintendo Fly With Star Fox
The dawn of the Lylat Wars
The story of how a group of ambitious young British programmers gave Nintendo the courage to enter the 3D arena is hardly new; we've covered it on this very site, for example. However, the tale behind the development of Star Fox is one that bears repeating, making this new video from People Make Games well worth a...
Random Remember That Time Sega Almost Put Mario In One Of Its Games?
We're talking pre-Olympic Games here, too
Sega and Nintendo may be firm friends these days, but once upon a time they were the bitterest of enemies, fighting tooth and nail for dominance of the burgeoning home console market. In the 8-bit era it was the NES which achieved the most success globally, but Sega's rival Master System - with its...
News Kickstarter For The Sega Master System Visual Compendium Is Now Live
And it's got Sega's blessing, too
Our pals over at Bitmap Books are at it again, this time focusing their attention on the Sega Master System, the 8-bit console that took on the NES and failed (unless you were in Brazil or Europe, in which case it emerged victorious). The latest entry in the popular Visual Compendium series - which has already...
June2018
Rumour Was Monster Games Working On A Sequel To Diddy Kong Racing?
Even in 2018, the rumour persists
Diddy Kong Racing remains one of the most beloved kart racers of all time - no mean feat considering it shared a platform with Mario Kart 64 - so there's always been rumours and unfounded whispers that the title has a long-gestating sequel in development. One of the most infamous has only just come to our attention...
News New Trademarks Suggest Nintendo Has GameCube On The Brain
GameCube Mini, anyone?
Ah, the humble trademark. Few things get the brain buzzing as fast as a company registering a name or title linked to your favourite game or console. Of course, when it's tied to the GameCube - a console that's very much back in vogue thanks to the arrival of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in December and the announcement that GC...
News This Metroid Space Pirate Cosplay Takes a Different, Retro Approach
*Those noises Space Pirates make in Metroid Prime*
We love a good cosplay here at NL Towers, but it's rare any one cosplay will make us say 'phwoar' in written form. This cosplay of a Space Pirate from Metroid by Dan Cattell shows that you can take a costume idea in any direction you see fit. We're not sure how it all looks from the front, but...
News August Sees Triple Flavoured Kunio Super Famicom Release
Baseball, dodgeball and puzzle variety on a single cartridge
Great news if you're a fan of Kunio and happen to be looking to expand your Super Famicom cartridge collection. A recent Amazon Japan listing has revealed what can be roughly translated as 'Kunio's Triple Play Replica Package', a complete Super Famicom boxed cartridge that brings...
Random This 'Joy Boy' Hardware Concept Could Be The Virtual Console Solution We Need
Shame it's just an idea at the moment
Nintendo has been very clear that the concept of the Virtual Console is a relic of the past; on Switch, it seems that the company has other ideas about how to distribute retro games on its latest console. However, that hasn't stopped Nintendo fan and indie developer JayH from dreaming up this
Feature Freedom Fighter: Paul Cuisset On The Making Of Flashback
As the 16-bit classic comes to Switch, its director reflects
This month sees some potentially special games come out for the Nintendo Switch. From Wolfenstein II to Lumines Remastered via the arcade sports action of Mario Tennis Aces, the console’s not wanting for attractive offerings. Yet perhaps the most interesting of the month’s new releases...
Video Sit Back And Enjoy The Complete History Of F-Zero
A deep look back through the series
F-Zero is one of those poor franchises that can sometimes feel forgotten about; alongside the likes of Star Fox, Wave Race, and Earthbound, fans are left desperately screaming for a return to the series every time a new console is announced. Sometimes dreams are answered - her
News Splatoon Producer Reveals How The Art Style In Yoshi’s Island Was Conceived
“It took quite a bit of time”
Not every game has aged as gracefully as the 1995 Super Nintendo title, Yoshi’s Island. Even by modern standards, the distinctive hand-drawn aesthetics present from start to finish within this release have withstood the test of time. So, how exactly did the art style for one of Yoshi’s earliest outings come...
News The Next Johnny Turbo Game Is Wizard Fire, And You Can Pre-Order It Now
A multiplayer RPG from yesteryear
FTE Games has unveiled the next game coming through its Johnny Turbo's Arcade revival line - the multiplayer action-RPG, Wizard Fire. The sequel to 1990's Gate of Doom - which also received the Switch revival treatment earlier this year - Wizard Fire follows the same formula as its predecessor with all manner of...
News Shoji Mizuno, The Character Artist For Bomberman's Classic Look, Has Passed Away
He was a longtime staffer at Hudson Soft
According to a number of reports, Shoji Mizuno - the man who gave Bomberman the iconic look he sports today - has died. One such report is a blog post written by former Hudson Soft executive and frontman Toshiyuki Takahashi, which memorialises Mizuno's contribution to the company. Mizuno has a decades-long...
News SNK’s Official Neo Geo Mini Pad Will Be Available In Black And White
Inspired by a classic
SNK’s Neo Geo Mini online presentation has finally provided a glimpse of the official controller for the system. Available in black and white, the Neo Geo Mini Pad recreates the classic design of the Neo Geo CD, featuring the same button layout as the Neo Geo Mini system, and a modified stick design. Connecting it...
News These Are The Games Included In SNK’s Neo Geo Mini And Neo Geo Mini International
That’s quite the collection
If you’ve managed to refrain from purchasing classic SNK titles on the Nintendo Switch, your decision may have been a wise one if you plan on picking up the Neo Geo Mini or Neo Geo Mini International. Included are series like King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown, Metal Slug and The Last Blade as well as plenty of...
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