Retro News (Page 2)
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...
Random How Do You Find Out The Best 16-Bit-Era Game? Play Them All, Of Course
This man played and ranked every SNES, Genesis, and TurboGrafx-16 title
Did you know that fishing games make up 1% of the Super NES' entire Western library? Or that sports games made up nearly a fifth of the catalogue? How about that the TG-16 didn’t have one single fishing or soccer game? It's data nuggets like this which make one gamer's...
News Super Smash Bros. N64 Storyboard Artwork Discovered
Depicting the opening movie
The original storyboard documents for Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64 have been discovered online. David V. Kimball, a marketing director and content creator who has previously made videos about Super Smash Bros. Melee, stumbled across the design documents — drawn by Masahiro Sakurai — by using the Wayback...
News Rainbow Island Sequel 'Parasol Stars' Finally Gets Modern Console Release For Bargain Price
And it's out now
ININ Games has brought us a digital release of the third game in TAITO's Bubble Bobble series — Parasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III. The game launched on the Switch eShop yesterday, 11th July 2024, and marks the first time the game has been ported to modern consoles. This modern port of the 1991 classic has many things...
Feature Legendary Starfy 101 - A Brief History Of TOSE's Adorable Platforming Star
Now playable on Nintendo Switch
With all three GBA Starfy games — which were originally released only in Japan — now available to play on Switch with a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription, we're updating and republishing this brief introduction to the little star which originally went live a whopping 15 years ago. Enjoy! Since...
News Obscure '90s Mascot Platformer 'Aero The Acro-Bat' Makes Surprise Return
Coming to Switch in August
It seems like we're in the age of weird, oft-forgotten platforming mascots making a return. We say that because today, Ratalaika Games announced that "the bat is back!" No, not that bat — Aero the Acro-Bat. The circus performer will be making his grand return on Switch (and all other consoles) on 2nd August 2024...
Guide Every Nintendo Switch Online NES Game Ranked
All the NES games, ranked by you
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 change. Enjoy! The collection of NES games available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers continues to grow over time, albeit slowly, and there are now nearly 80...
Guide Atari 50 Game List - Every Playable Game In The Anniversary Celebration, Expanded Edition
All 148 games, DLC included
When Atari and Digital Eclipse launched Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration on 11th November 2022, we honestly thought that the compilation would be left well alone in the coming months. Heck, it already boasted over 100 playable games and five separate timelines providing players with an extensive look at the company's...
Feature 9 'Mature' Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch Online's New N64 App
Rated M for 'MOAAAAAR'
The arrival of Rareware's classic Perfect Dark and Acclaim's Turok: Dinosaur Hunter via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack was a very welcome announcement in the June 2024 Nintendo Direct. Both titles are the first entries in Nintendo's new, separate N64 app with a 'MATURE 17+' label. Following on from the Japanese...
Review Perfect Dark (Nintendo 64) - Perhaps Not Perfect, But Still A Remarkable Achievement
Suck it, Bond
This review was originally published in March 2010. We're updating and republishing it to mark the game's arrival in the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack N64 library. From its debut in 1997, developer Rare and the terrifying digital avatar of Pierce Brosnan ruled over the console shooter space with the Nintendo 64 tie-in of a...
Expansion Pack expanded
As part of the 18th June Nintendo Direct, Nintendo has announced the arrival of four new games for the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Game Boy Advance titles Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords and Metroid: Zero Mission will be available later today as part of the GBA library. And Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and...
Review Glory Hunters (Game Boy) - A Glorious 8-Bit Throwback With Some Rough Edges
Achievement Unlocked: Wait, wrong console
With such a wealth of homebrew and aftermarket games releasing for old Nintendo hardware, we thought we'd check out one of the most promising examples in this neo-retro Game Boy review. To reiterate, Glory Hunters isn't available on Switch, though we'll be sure to let you know if that situation ever changes...
Soapbox Game Boy Tetris' True Genius Was Teaching A Generation How To Play Video Games
Building gaming literacy one tetromino at a time
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Tim thinks back on 35 years of Tetris on the Game Boy and considers how it taught a generation — multiple generations, in fact — how to play...
Video Donkey Kong '94 - The 101-Level Sequel To Arcade DK
It's on like (101 stages of) Donkey Kong
14th June 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of Donkey Kong for the Game Boy's Japanese release. It's one of the finest games on the system and a hybrid arcade port/spin-off that ushered in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series which recently came to Switch. In honour of the occasion, we thought we'd highlight this...
News Homebrew Games Summer Showcase 2024 - Celebrating 120 Titles Across 15 Platforms
NES, SNES, Game Boy and Virtual Boy titles featured
Although the game industry is all about moving forward, there are still many talented individuals and teams out there developing titles for past-generation systems. That's where the 'Homebrew Games Summer Showcase' comes in - celebrating new games on retro consoles and classic handheld devices...
Talking Point How Do You Define 'Retro'?
10 years? 20? Anything older than two console generations?
If you're reading this, you're getting older. Right now, at this moment, you're older than you were when you started reading this sentence. And this one. No, you can't go back and read it again to get younger. Time marches on, so thank you for spending your precious seconds on this silly...
Guide What Is EGGCONSOLE? - Full Game List, PC-88, MSX2 On Nintendo Switch, Best Games To Start
Every EGGCONSOLE game on Switch eShop
The Switch has been a boon for retro gaming enthusiasts for a while. Hamster's huge Arcade Archives series has felt right at home on the console, but late last year, a new retro rerelease series entered the fray EGGCONSOLE is a series of Japanese home computer games that are being ported to Switch by retro...
Random Sakurai's Game Storage Solutions Are A Sight To Behold
Cabinet envy
Masahiro Sakurai's latest YouTube video has us looking at our measly game collections in shame as the legendary designer has given a full rundown of his storage solutions for just about every cartridge/disk size that you can think of. It should come as no surprise that this is a man with a beefy games collection (even if he has said...
Soapbox Paper Mario's Ms. Mowz Taught Me How To Appreciate (And Steal) The Little Things
THIEF
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Kate discusses one of Mario's criminal — and criminally underrated — pals... Sometimes I suspect that, in another life before this one, I was a thief. In this life, I'm a relatively...
Soapbox 'Revenge Of The Sith' On DS Is Still Top-Tier Star Wars Gaming
Heart Palpatinetions
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Jim celebrates Revenge of the Fifth with a DS throwback... You felt it, didn't you? A disturbance in the Force. Over on Coruscant, Darth Sidious has called for the execution...
Poll What's The Best SaGa Game? Rate Your Favourites For Our Upcoming Ranking
Romancing the polls
The SaGa series is one of the most unique franchises to come from RPG behemoth Square Enix. Often known as Final Fantasy's "weird" cousin — though that's a little bit reductive — SaGa was created by Akitoshi Kawazu, one of the game designers on Final Fantasy II, which is often considered the odd one among the Final Fantasy...
Feature 10 Game Boy Deep Cuts That Aren’t On Nintendo Switch Online
And should be
The Game Boy turns 35 years old today, and we've been running features over the past couple of days celebrating the handheld and its games. Today, Nile digs up 10 lesser-known gems in the system's remarkable library. 35 years ago, the Game Boy changed handheld gaming – not because it was powerful, but because it wasn’t. Premised...
Guide 50 Best Game Boy Games Of All Time
Your guide to the Game Boy's greatest games
On Friday 21st April 1989, Nintendo launched the Game Boy in Japan and changed the landscape of video games forever. While modest in the specs department, the Game Boy was just powerful enough to offer deep gaming experiences, with the best examples rivalling those found on home consoles. Our guide to...
Review Kudzu (Switch) A Delightful, Leafy Ode To Link's Awakening And The Game Boy
It'll grow on you
Kudzu came to this reviewer during a significant birthday celebration. The day was filled with echoes of our past. There was the music on the radio – uncanny remixes of early-to-mid-90s techno songs that used to hype up pre-teen candyfloss-fuelled visits to funfairs. And there was Kudzu and its unsubtle similarity to all-time...
Guide Best First-Party Game Boy Games
Nintendo-developed Game Boy games, as ranked by you
Looking for a list of Nintendo's first-party Game Boy games? Wonder what the best first-party Game Boy game is? We're here to help. Our ranked list of the Top 50 Best Game Boy Games Ever covers every game on the system, but here we're looking specifically at Nintendo-developed Game Boy games...
Review F-Zero Maximum Velocity (GBA) - The First Portable F-Zero Still Holds Up
Back to the future
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's Game Boy Advance library via Nintendo Switch Online. Ah, F-Zero. The futuristic racing series that’s so fast that even Nintendo lost track of it for years. Since it released the Japanese exclusive...
Soapbox 30 Years Later, Super Metroid's Foreboding Atmosphere Is Still Unmatched
Zeb-easily the best
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, to celebrate Super Metroid's 30th anniversary, Ollie sings the praises of the game's enduring foreboding atmosphere... The Metroid series is perhaps best known for its...
Feature "The Odds Seemed Just Astronomical" - Reviving Lost Media With Shantae Advance
"Decisions made by younger me created a ton of headaches for modern me"
It's not often that a developer gets to revisit a chapter of their past and pick up where they left off on a project two decades prior, but the revival of Shantae Advance in the form of Risky Revolution has given WayForward creative director Matt Bozon just that opportunity...
Review Mario Tennis (GBC) - Camelot's Ace Little Tennis RPG Is Hard To Fault
Courts of appeal
This review originally went live in 2014, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's Game Boy (Color) library via Nintendo Switch Online. For whatever its name is worth, Mario Tennis doesn’t feature a lot of the red guy — at least at first. That may come as an initial disappointment to...
Guide Best First-Party Super Nintendo (SNES) Games
Nintendo's Super NES games, as ranked by you
Looking for a list of Nintendo's first-party Super NES games? Wondering what the best first-party Super NES game is? Our round-up of every first-party SNES game is, unsurprisingly, a good place to start! Our ranked list of the Top 50 Best Super NES Games Ever covers every game on the system, but here...
Guide Best First-Party NES Games
Nintendo-developed NES games, as ranked by you
Looking for a list of Nintendo's first-party NES games? Wonder what the best first-party NES game is? You've come to the right guide. Our ranked list of the Top 50 Best NES Games Ever covers every game on the system, but here we're looking specifically at Nintendo-developed NES games released in the...
Review Blast Corps - An Absurd, Exhilarating, Explosive Gem From Rare's N64 Days
Time to get moving
This review originally went live in 2013, and we're updating and republishing it to celebrate the game's arrival in Switch's N64 library via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Long before the massive mainstream appeal of video games that exists today, successful developers were surprisingly free from the shackles of big...
News Five More Classic Rareware Games Come To Nintendo Switch Online Today
Blast (Corps) from the past!
As part of today's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Nintendo has announced that five of the now-Microsoft-owned Rare's titles will be available today via Nintendo Switch Online. The games are: NES Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll RC PRO-AM Super Nintendo Battletoads in Battlemaniacs Killer Instinct Nintendo 64 (
Random Up For A Challenge? Try Taking On Mario Wonder With The NES Power Pad
It is possible... just about
When Super Mario Bros. Wonder first launched at the end of last year, we asked you lovely lot what your controller of choice was to take on the latest 2D platformer. We listed the likes of the Joy-Con, Pro Controller and the SNES pad — heck, we even pushed the boat out and included the CRKD Nitro Deck! Basically, we...
Soapbox With Switch Online, It's The Perfect Time To Bring Back These Wii U Gems
An absolute NES-cessity
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Ethan looks back on a pair of Wii U games — and a 3DS sibling — which could help curious gamers navigate the Switch Online retro library if they were given a second...
Guide Best Nintendo Remakes & Remasters Of All Time, Ranked
Harder, better, faster, stronger
Updated with Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Enjoy! When it comes to remaking, remastering, and re-releasing a game, it's easy to assume every publisher out there is plundering its back catalogue to refurbish and resell treasured titles to a nostalgia-laced audience...
News Nintendo's Switch Online Service Spotlights Donkey Kong With New Hub
The DKC series celebrates 30 years in 2024
Nintendo seems to be slowly putting the spotlight back on Donkey Kong with a series of announcements in recent times. He will also star in the upcoming release Mario vs. Donkey Kong, due out on the Switch later this month. With this in mind, Nintendo has now launched a special section in the Switch Online...
News Hamster Corporation Celebrates 400 Arcade Archives Titles On Switch
Here's to many more!
It seems like yesterday Hamster was only celebrating its 100th 'Arcade Archives' release, but it's now actually 400 titles into its retro revival project. Hamster Corporation shared this milestone in a brief post on social media earlier before, noting how Rainbow Islands was its latest game to arrive on the Nintendo Switch and...
Feature 21 Game Boy Advance Games We'd Love To See Added To Nintendo Switch Online
GBA gems we'd dig on Switch
With Golden Sun and The Lost Age making their arrival on Nintendo Switch Online, we've given this list a bit of a spruce up and added a few more dream titles to the service. Plus, we've got a cheeky little poll at the end of the article too — so make sure you vote and let us know what you want to see on NSO. The Game...
