Retro - News
October2020
Feature Best Nintendo 64 Games
The top 50 N64 games ever, as ranked by you
We asked Nintendo Life readers to rate their favourite N64 games, and it's now time to reveal the results! The Nintendo 64 is a console which tends to divide gamers. Launching back in 1996 (or 1997 in PAL regions) as the gaming industry's bread-and-butter switched from sprites to polygons, the console...
PC Engine support also coming to the Analogue Pocket
Boutique hardware maker Analogue is famous for its FPGA-based system and is about to unleash the Analogue Pocket on the world, but that Game Boy-style handheld isn't the only project the company has in development right now; it's just announced that it's creating a new console which replicates the...
Random OK, We Really Need This Pokédex Game Boy Advance Console
The bespoke mod to rule them all?
Nintendo's handhelds have been the focus of fan-made mods for years, with industrious individuals doing everything from fitting better screens to creating entirely new case designs to make their Game Boy, GBA or DS stand out from the crowd. However, Rose Colored Gaming has been doing this for longer than most, and...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #63 - Advance Wars: Dual Strike
What is it good for?
Welcome to Box Art Brawl, the contest which pits regional box art variants from across the globe against each other in a deadly duel to the death. Well, not really — you just vote for your favourite, like. It's a bit of fun, see? Last time we witnessed Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest give itself a sound thrashing as...
Poll Rate Your Favourite Nintendo 64 Games
Help us rank the Top 50 N64 games of all time
The Nintendo 64 is a console which tends to divide gamers. Launching back in 1996 (or 1997 in PAL regions) as the gaming industry's bread-and-butter switched from sprites to polygons, the console represents — from a certain perspective — the first time Nintendo really dropped the ball. Tired of the...
News Sega's Next Micro-Console Could Be The Dreamcast Mini, But Don't Expect It Soon
"We’re considering concepts similar to the Mega Drive Mini"
Yosuke Okunari – the Sega staffer who has been heavily involved with many of the company's recent retro ventures, including the Sega Ages line and the Mega Drive Mini – has hinted that the company may tackle a "Dreamcast M
Video Donkey Kong '94 - The 101 Level Sequel to Arcade DK
It's on like (101 stages of) Donkey Kong
Nintendo's legacy owes so much to the original Donkey Kong; after all, this was the game that introduced the world to Mario. They could have played it safe with a Game Boy conversion – it still would have been impressive to have an arcade game in the palm of your hands – but Nintendo decided that wasn't...
News Beyond Donkey Kong Digs Deep Into Nintendo's Often Overlooked Arcade Heritage
New book sheds light on a coin-op legacy
While Nintendo has long been a major force in the realms of domestic and portable video gaming, it's important to remember that the release that truly put the Japanese firm on the map was an arcade one: 1981's Donkey Kong. Shigeru Miyamoto's first masterpiece transformed Nintendo from a coin-op also-ran into...
PSA It's Diddy's Kong Quest, Not Diddy Kong's Quest
But you already knew this, right?
Towards the end of last month, Nintendo added even more classic games to its Super Nintendo online service. The highlight for most was Rare's 1995 release Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. As happy as Nintendo is to see everyone enjoying this absolute gem once again, the company's official UK Twitter...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #62 - Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
A Kong time ago...
Welcome to Box Art Brawl, the video game cover contest that pits regional variants against each other in a fight for your vote. Last time we observed a thrilling duel between Okamiden North American / European cover and the Japanese variant. Ultimately, it was an easy victory for Japan with over 70% of your votes going to the...
News Taito's 1984 Action Platform Game Ben Bero Beh Joins The Arcade Archives
Save the day
Hamster's latest Arcade Archives release is Taito's 1984 game, Ben Bero Beh. It's filled with plenty of unique characters such as the enemy from Elevator Action and Chack'n from Chack'n Pop (another Taito game). This action platform arcade title requires you (a superhero) to avoid obstacles and put out fires to rescue NAO-Chan (your...
September2020
News Hamster Announces More Than 15 Games For The Arcade Archives Series On Switch
Gradius III and much more
Hamster Corporation is arguably the biggest support of the Nintendo Switch (outside of Nintendo), so far releasing hundreds of retro titles with additional modern enhancements on the hybrid system. There is no sign of it stopping production of these releases, either - with the Japanese publisher announcing another 18 games...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #61 - Okamiden
'Den again
Welcome back to another round of Box Art Brawl, the series that sends two or more regional variants of game covers into an arena to pugilise for your pleasure. Last week we enjoyed the epic duel between the North American / European Metroid: Other M box and the rather lovely Japanese variant. The result was predictable from the start,...
Random Someone's Made A NES Game That Can Track The International Space Station
Interstellar
When Nintendo was putting together the final hardware for what would become the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) back in the '80s, it's unlikely that it would ever have envisioned the humble hardware being used for something like tracking the International Space Station. As the ISS was launched in 1998, that wouldn't have made much...
News Brawler64 Aims To Be The Ultimate Wireless N64 Controller
Retro fighter
We've seen lots of third party controllers pop up for retro systems over the years, including the excellent Hyperkin Admiral for the N64, but we could always use another one, couldn't we? Retro Fighters currently has a Kickstarter on the go which
News This NES-Based Take On Smash Bros. Has A Wi-Fi Chip In The Cart For Online Play
Old-school meets the nu-school
We've seen plenty of games attempt to take on the might of Super Smash Bros. over the years, but few have been as unique as Super Tilt Bro. on the NES. For starters, yes, it's a NES game. Secondly, the cartridge actually has a Wi-Fi chip inside so you can play online with other people. On your NES. This open-source...
News Fangamer's Talking Conker Plush Comes With Brand New Voice Lines, Pre-Orders Now Open
Need a drinking buddy?
Rare's heavy-drinking squirrel is getting his own Fangamer plush with brand new voice lines recorded by Conker himself, Chris Seavor. You can order the Conker Talking Plush right now for $32 USD or your regional equivalent. This official Conker plush, designed by Versiris, is about eight inches tall when seated. It features...
News Relive Nintendo's Glorious Past With This Game Boy: The Box Art Collection Book
Update: Pre-orders open September 28th
Update: Bitmap Books has confirmed that pre-orders will go live on the 28th September at 17:00 BST. Original Story [Wed 15th Jul, 2020 15:30 BST]: If you've been keeping up with our Box Art Brawl series, where we pit various game covers from different regions against each other to see which is the prettiest,...
Feature The Story Of Virtual Tank, A Lost Virtual Boy Successor To Atari's Battlezone
"We were really surprised at the speed that the platform died"
We've pleased to present a chapter from Bitmap Books' excellent The Games That Weren't, which looks at an unreleased Virtual Boy title that aimed to emulate the success of Atari's Battlezone – but sadly never saw the light of day. Nintendo helped rejuvenate the games industry after...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #60 - Metroid: Other M
Another M
Welcome to Box Art Brawl, the weekly series where we pit regional box art variants against each other in a fight for your approval. Last week the fastest thing alive dropped into the brawl with the seminal Sonic 2 for Genesis / Mega Drive. In a close battle between the three regions, it was ultimately North America who triumphed, with...
Poll Did You Know That GoldenEye Had A Dual-Analogue Control Option On N64?
Be honest
It's amazing what random nuggets of trivia fly around the Nintendo Life office on a daily basis. Take yesterday, for example – having hooked up his swanky HDMI-ready N64 console to capture some footage of Super Mario 64 for our Super Mario 3D All-Stars comparison video, Nintendo Life MD Ant Dickens found time for a quick game of...
News Earth Defense Force Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Collection This Week
Save the day
Hamster's weekly Arcade Archives release is Jaleco's 1991 scrolling shooter, Earth Defense Force. This original version of the game allows you to take control of an XA-1 space fighter as you fight to save the earth. Here's the backstory along with some information about the gameplay and some screenshots: Control your XA-1 space...
We can dream, right?
2020 is the 35th birthday of the Super Mario series, and Nintendo is marking that event in a wide range of ways, one of which is the resurrection of its Game & Watch series of handhelds. Ninten
Random Someone Found A Prototype Game Boy Advance In A Yahoo Japan Auction
As part of a job lot, too
Remember back when Nintendo lifted the lid on the Game Boy Advance all those years ago? It showed the system in two colourways which were never officially released, both of which had silver bodies. These 'prototype' models are something of a collector's item, and it turns out one of them has been sold via a Yahoo Auctions...
News Retro-Bit Is Republishing Some Of Toaplan's Best Console Shooters In Physical Form
Update: Pre-orders are live!
Update: pre-orders are live: Toaplan is a name that will be instantly familiar with seasoned retro gamers. The Japanese company was behind some of the best shmups of the '80s and '90s, and when it eventually closed in 1994, studios like Eighting and Cave would rise from its ashes. We're already assured of some superb...
News Bizarre Super Mario Bros. 3 Prototype Cartridge Sells For $31,200 At Auction
Kid Icarus no more
We've seen plenty of expensive Nintendo auctions taking place over the last few years, but not many items have been as interesting as this one. This weekend, a Super Mario Bros. 3 prototype was sold at auction for a whopping $31,200. The listing was a first for Heritage Auctions, being the first time that the auctioneer had ever...
Poll Box Art Brawl #59 - Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic 'Tude-sday
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, the series where multiple regionally variable covers of the same game fight for your vote in a deadly beauty bout to the bitter end. Last time we had a duel between the East and West: two versions of Super Mario All-Stars went head to head following all those Mario 35th anniversary announcements,...
News Nintendo Launches Website For The Original Super Mario Bros. Game
Celebrating 35 years
Mario's 35th anniversary celebrations are well and truly underway. So far Nintendo has announced new games, merchandise, and even events and promotions for other first-party titles like Splatoon 2 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. If that's still not enough Mario-themed goodness for you, Japanese websites for Super Mario Bros...
News Here's Your First Look At The Console Wars TV Series From Seth Rogen And Evan Goldberg
Airs later this month
Blake J. Harris' excellent book Console Wars did a wonderful job of recounting the titanic struggle between Nintendo and Sega for control of the living in room in the early '90s. Mario and Sonic went head-to-head in a battle worth millions of dollars, and the book – filled with
News Mario Kart Live Isn't Nintendo's First Try At Remote Control Cars
Say hello to the Lefty RX
Mario Kart Live caused quite a stir when it was announced recently; it's a new 'toy' from Nintendo which mixes the real world with augmented reality via your Switch console's display, and it launches next month. Nintendo has teamed up with developer Velan Studios to create Mario Kart Live, but it's worth noting that this...
Guide Where To Buy PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 Mini
Small but mighty
Following the shock news that Konami was releasing a PC Engine Mini console (or TurboGrafx-16 for our US readers) we were eager to slam down a pre-order on this classic retro system. We assumed that these would sell out quicker than the original NES Mini due to limited supply at launch. Following a delay due to the COVID-19...
News Evercade's Next Two Cartridges Come Loaded With NES And SNES Titles
Fancy a brawl, bro?
The Evercade handheld console is getting two more cartridges soon, both packed with retro titles from back in the day. If you're a fan of Rival Turf – also known as Rushing Beat – then you're in for a treat. Jaleco Collection 1 is perhaps of most interest; it comes with Bases Loaded, Astynax, Brawl Brothers, City Connection,...
Video Take A Closer Look At The New Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. System
Launches this November
Nintendo has released a new trailer for the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. system that was announced during last week's Super Mario 35th Anniversary Direct. As you might remember from last week, this new system is inspired by the original LCD-based handhelds from the '80s and comes with a modern screen and rechargeable...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #58 - Super Mario All-Stars
Super Mario 2D All-Stars
And welcome back, box art enthusiasts, to the latest entry in Nintendo Life's Box Art Brawl canon. Yes, this week we'll be taking another look at some retro game covers and it'll be up to you to pick the best of them. Last time we took a look at Blue Ninja Shadow of the Kage Dragon as Natsume's variously-named 2D...
News Nintendo Is Resurrecting Its Game & Watch Line To Celebrate 35 Years Of Super Mario
Special handheld arrives later this year
Nintendo has revealed that it is releasing a special Game & Watch system to celebrate 35 years of the Super Mario series. Based on the original LCD-based handhelds from the '80s, this limited edition model will come with a colour display and directional pad, and will include Super Mario Bros., Super...
News Here Are The 37 Games You'll Get On Sega's Astro City Mini Console
Space Harrier! Thunder Force! Alex Kidd!
The final batch of games for Sega's upcoming Astro City Mini console have just been revealed in a livestream, taking the total number of known games up to 36. It was also revealed that the system is getting a full-size arcade stick controller. There will be 36 games on the machine in total, so we're starting...
News This Battery-Free Game Boy Could Be The Future Of Portable Tech
The catch? A tiny display and no sound
The Game Boy was a true revelation when it launched back in 1989, and kickstarted a portable gaming industry which endures to this very day. However, it also meant that players had to have a steady supply of AA batteries to hand if they wanted to make the most of the console, and while we've since moved to...
Random Can You Use The Game Boy Camera As A Webcam In 2020? Absolutely
But it's not exactly easy
Perhaps one of the most impressive accessories Nintendo has ever released is the Game Boy Camera. Back when it arrived on the scene in 1998, camera phones weren't even a thing yet - so to have something like this (especially if you were a bit younger at the time), was pretty neat. Its legacy lives on via the company's...
Hardware Review Believe The Hype, Polymega Is The Ultimate All-In-One Retro Machine
Now updated with Element Module impressions...
This review was originally published on August 11th 2020 and has been updated to factor in our impressions of the EM03 Element Module. Originally announced back in 2017 as the RetroBlox, Polymega has endured a fairly tumultuous journey to market. While the system's objective has always been the same...
August2020
Poll Box Art Brawl #57 - Shadow Of The Ninja / Blue Shadow
Rattling the Kage
Welcome back, one and all, to the latest edition of Box Art Brawl. After a week-long hiatus to charge our hadouken, we're returning with another bout featuring regional box art variants battling for your pleasure (and votes). Last time we took a look at Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door in a particularly close-run duel between...
Quiz How Well Do You Know Rare And Its Nintendo Games?
Rare replay
Veteran developer Rare celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2020. The British studio may be owned by Microsoft these days, but its back catalogue of brilliant games on Nintendo systems mean it will forever be associated with Nintendo in our hearts and minds. The company, a second party Nintendo developer from the mid-'90s, bolstered (and...
Hardware Review Terraonion MODE - The Ultimate Upgrade For Your Saturn And Dreamcast?
Ditch the discs
Following hot on the heels of the GC Loader, Terraonion's MODE – which stands for Multi Optical Disc Emulator, in case you were wondering – looks set to shake things up for Sega collectors as it allows you to supplant the optical drive on either your Saturn or Dreamcast and replace it with solid-state storage, such as Micro SD...
Random Finally, Sonic The Hedgehog Spins Onto The Super Nintendo
To be this good takes AGES!
Ah, the good old playground arguments of the '90s. Which camp were you in? Even if you were a dedicated Super Nintendo owner with all of the wonderful exclusives that the system offered, it was hard not to be a little bit jealous of the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive's impressive library of games. And of course, the Mega Drive...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #56 - Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper-thin premise
Welcome back to another edition of Box Art Brawl, the weekly bout of regional box art variants where you decide which one wins. Last week we looked at Yoshi's Island in the East and the West, and after some deliberation it was decided that the European / North American cover was the best by approximately two votes to one. It's...
News N64 Joins The Roster Of Old Nintendo Consoles Turned Into Fan-Made Switch Docks
Nintendo Switchy-Phwoar
When it comes to custom Switch docks, the fan community has shown some incredible ingenuity over the past three years and come up with many an eye-pleasing alternative to Nintendo's official offering. The fan-made Link's Awakening and Animal Crossing docks (not the official one, although that's pretty too) are particular...
News Commander Keen In Keen Dreams Comes To Switch Again, This Time With New Levels
Additional Definitive Edition incoming
Commander Keen came to Switch back in February last year when Lone Wolf Interactive published the 1991 DOS game Commander Keen in Keen Dreams on your favourite handheld hybrid. Originally programmed by id Software legends John Carmack and John Romero, it's safe to say the game isn't up there with DOOM in the...
Random At One Point, The Triforce May Have Been Collectable In Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
New/old icon uncovered
Back in the olden days when we first played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, there were theories going around that the Triforce--the iconic three-part symbol of Power, Courage and Wisdom from the series--was actually a collectable item in the game. It's one of those gaming myths that has become legend over time, but...
News First Press Games Is Releasing A Brand New Game Boy Color Title
Following on from Tobu Tobu Girl
Fancy a new Game Boy Color game? Did you purchase Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe last year? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then you might just be interested in POWA! - the second Dot Matrix Series physical release by First Press Games. POWA! is a newly-developed action-platform GBC title by Aiguanachein and...
News The SNK Neo Geo MVSX Home Arcade Is Packed With 50 Games, Costs 500 Bucks
Coming to the States this November
Had your fill of micro-consoles based on classic gaming systems? Well, then you might want to step-up to the SNK Neo Geo MVSX Home Arcade, a tabletop system which is due to launch this November for $449.99 (or $500 with a special base, which we'll come to shortly). Developed by the Gstone Group in close...
News GoldenEye 25 Shuts Down After Cease And Desist From 007 IP Holder
"No, Mr Bond, I expect you to stop work immediately"
GoldenEye 25, a fan-made effort to resurrect the classic N64 shooter from Rare, is to shut down following a cease and desist request from MGM/Danjaq, the rights holder for the James Bond media franchise. The aim with the Unreal Engine 4 title – which was inspired by the cancelled XBLA HD remake...
News Analogue Is Retiring Its Amazing Nt Mini After One Final Production Run
Update: More units available tomorrow
Update: Analogue has revealed that a few more Nt Mini units are going up for pre-order tomorrow: Original Story [Fri 28th Feb, 2020 16:45 GMT]: Analogue has announced that it is retiring its Nt Mini system after one final production run. The Nt mini v2 features "a new and perfected NES cartridge slot,...
Feature Rare Turns 35 This Week - We Pick 10 Highlights From The Nintendo Years
Rare talent
Three-and-a-half decades ago this week, British developer Rare was formed. Formerly known as Ultimate Play the Game, the company was created with the express purpose of creating titles for the Nintendo Entertainment System and from the mid-1980s until the early '00s the Twycross-based team would deliver some of the finest video games on...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #55 - Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Crying in a bubble
And we're back for another edition of Box Art Brawl, the weekly poll where you vote for your favourite classic (or sometimes not-so-classic) retro video game box art variant from around the world. Last week we checked in with Dr. Mario on the Game Boy (and NES) 30 years on from
Random Ever Wondered What Halo Infinite Would Look Like On The Nintendo 64?
No, we didn't either, but here it is regardless
If you've been following events in the world of Xbox over at our sister site Pure Xbox, you'll no doubt be aware that Halo Infinite is looming on the horizon – the next chapter in Microsoft's epic sci-fi saga which began with the launch of the original Xbox console almost 20 years ago. Microsoft
News Analogue Pocket Pre-Orders Have Sold Out, But More Are On The Way
"We will do our best to meet demand"
Update: And just like that, the initial batch of pre-orders have sold out (in around 15 minutes, no less). Analogue says that it will be producing more and doing its best to meet demand, and you can sign up to be notified when more consoles are available again here. Original Article (Mon 27th Jul, 2020 16:00...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #54 - Dr. Mario
Doctor who?
Welcome to Box Art Brawl, our weekly bout to find out which regional box art variant is the best, according to you lovely lot. Last week was the inaugural edition of the 'Duel' variant of Box Art Brawl, which saw two versions of Tetris for the Game Boy square off against each other. Despite a rather fetching entry from the East, it was...
July2020
Quiz Can You Name These Nintendo Console Games From Their Box Art?
The devil's in the detail
Over the years there have been some truly iconic covers for games on Nintendo platforms. Often you only need to catch the most fleeting of glimpses to recognise a classic from your collection. Today we're going to put your Nintendo console box art knowledge to the test! We've selected fifteen great games from Nintendo...
Site News We've Got A Polymega, Ask Us Anything
Ahead of our review, let us know your burning questions
After what feels like a lifetime of waiting, the Polymega console is finally a solid reality, and we were lucky enough to be sent a unit as part of the company's ongoing beta testing phase. The system formerly known as RetroBlox has come under fire over the past few years following a series of
News The FunKey S Is A Handheld Console That Fits On Your Keyring
"What is this, a handheld for ants?!"
The impossibly dinky retro handheld FunKey S is close to finishing its Kickstarter run, and has raised an impressive £124,000 so far – and it's easy to see why. This diminutive handheld system is small enough to fit onto your bunch of keys, yet it runs Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, SNES and even PlayStation...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel #53 - Tetris
Block droppin' beats
Welcome one and all to Box Art Brawl, our weekly vote on a bunch of regional box art variants. It's Round #53 which means we've got a year's worth of brawls under our belts - thank you to all you box art critics and voters out there! This week we're introducing an ever-so-minor tweak to the format which will accompany the...
Random Artist Shows Off Totally Rad Cyberpunk 2077 Game Boy Concept
Launching in 2077
CD Projekt Red's new game Cyberpunk 2077 might not be out until November, but it's already established a fanbase. Blender artist, Tomek Dittrich, is such a big fan, he's gone to the extent of creating a "Nightcity Cyber Boy". The full 3D model of this concept even includes a Cyber Boy version of Cyberpunk 2077. In the brief clip...
Quiz Which Years Were These Classic Nintendo Games Released?
The Year of the Cart
After multiple decades in the home console gaming business, Nintendo's library of beloved games are etched in the memories of players across the planet. Most of us will never forget the first time we plugged that shiny new Super Mario World cartridge in the Super Nintendo's slot, or the magical holiday season when we first...
News Street Fighter II's Zangief Was Nerfed Because One Player Was Too Good With Him
"It's your fault Zangief became weaker"
Russian wrestler Zangief has been part of the Street Fighter universe since he made his debut in Street Fighter II, the game which truly turned the franchise into a global phenomenon. He's traditionally been seen as one of the game's expert-level characters, primarily because of his slow speed, lack of...
Feature The 9 Strangest Choices For Licensed Karting Games
The racing tie-ins nobody really asked for
The Switch can’t avoid licensed kart racing games. It’s already seen its fair share of gems (Team Sonic Racing, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled) and stinkers (Hello Kitty Kruisers, Garfield Kart Furiou
Hands On Retro Fighters Follows Up Its Superb Brawler64 Pad With The StrikerDC For Dreamcast
The ultimate upgrade
When Retro Fighters released its Nintendo 64 'Brawler' controller a while back, we thought it was pretty darn good – it's just a shame that so few games on the N64 really take advantage of its amazing D-Pad. However, the company is back with another pad, this time for a system which has plenty of amazing fighting 2D games: the...
Feature Every Virtual Boy Game Ranked
Virtual virtues
Nintendo is an odd company in many ways; deeply conservative in some respects, but also able to swing for the fences and invest money and resources in the pursuit of pure novelty. Time and again it puts out products that no other platform holder would have dreamed of, and more often than not those frivolities turn out to be...
News Finally, Sega Genesis Fans Can Feel Good About Their Version Of Street Fighter II
The "Remastered" edition is here
The console wars of the early '90s weren't just fought on specs alone – software was perhaps the biggest deciding factor when it came to buying either a Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis / Mega Drive. Nintendo had Super Mario World, Zelda and Metroid, while Sega had Sonic, Streets of Rage and
Poll Box Art Brawl #52 - Mega Man 2
Mega 'The Rock' Man returns!
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, our weekly poll to find out which of three regional box art variants whips the behinds of the other two. This week is a rather special edition because we've reached Round #52, which means it's been one year since we began this fun little exercise. We hope you've enjoyed it so far; from...
As ranked by you lovely people
The Nintendo GameCube launched in Japan in September 2001 and a couple of months later in North America. Unlucky Europeans wouldn't get their hands on it until the following year, but the wait was worth it for one of the best-looking video game consoles of all time. The NGC (sorry, GCN) is a beautiful, compact piece of...
Soapbox It's Time For WWE No Mercy To Make A Comeback On Nintendo Switch
The champ deserves a comeback run
In case you haven’t been keeping tabs on the WWE video game scene, it’s currently in a state of complete anarchy. Ever since THQ went bust and 2K Games took over the licence in 2013, the games have been gathering a steady flow of criticism, which has been rapidly gaining in pace as each instalment is released...
Feature Best Nintendo DS Games
As voted for by you
This ranked reader-voted list of the 50 best Nintendo DS games is governed by Nintendo Life User Ratings and can change depending on those scores. Feel free to rate your favourites and, perhaps, rejig the ranking below. Enjoy! One of the joys of Nintendo's Switch is how it marries the company's home console heritage with its...
Black and white brilliance
Friday 21st April 1989 – the day that the Game Boy launched in Japan. Over thirty years ago the video gaming landscape would be forever changed as Nintendo opened up the new frontier of portable gaming to the masses. The company’s Game & Watch line let you take limited gaming experiences on-the-go, but the Game Boy...
News Nintendo Officially Unveils The LEGO NES Console, Launches Next Month
Official images released
Update (Tue 14th Jul, 2020 13:10 BST): It's official! Nintendo has confirmed that the LEGO NES console is indeed the real deal. It will launch on 1st August priced at £209.99 / $229.99, and will remain exclusive to LEGO Retail stores for the remainder of the year. From 2021, it will also be available at other leading...
Poll Box Art Brawl #51 - Super Aleste / Space Megaforce
A Megaforce to be reckoned with
Welcome to Box Art Brawl, our weekly contest that pits three box art variants from around the world against each other in a fight for your vote. Last week observed three versions of ActRaiser 2 locked in combat. While Japan trailed from the very beginning, it was an exceptionally close fight between North America and...
News This Sealed Copy Of Super Mario Bros. Just Sold For $114,000
That's a new world record
Remember when a super rare sticker sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. on NES sold for $100,150 USD last February? Well, another copy of the exact same game (in a similar condition) has now broken this record - going for the sum of $114,000 USD (this roughly equates to £90,000). That makes this particular copy the most...
News New Book Charts The Oral History Of Street Fighter II, And It's On Kickstarter Now
Over 60 people interviewed
UK book publisher Read-Only Memory has announced that it is releasing a book which charts the history of Capcom's Street Fighter II, as told by the people who made it happen. "The culmination of several years of research by acclaimed games writer Matt Leone, Like a Hurricane gathers together over 60 voices, spread across...
Hardware Review Should You Ditch Your GameCube Discs For The GC Loader?
We go hands-on with the system's ODE option
Back when cartridges were the main means of distributing video games on home consoles, the prospect of optical media was a technological revolution of sorts; these shiny discs promised greater storage at a cheaper cost (not that the consumer always saw the latter benefit), and carts were considered to be...
News Polymega Will Launch For Real This November - Or Earlier, If We're Lucky
Famicom carts could get support, too
We've been keeping our eyes on the Polymega for what feels like forever; the console aims to be the only retro gaming device you'll need, offering support for a wide range of systems, including NES, SNES, Mega Drive, Neo Geo CD and even Sony PlayStation. The project has hit a few delays over the past few years,...
Deals The Sega Genesis Mini Is Now On Sale For Just $40
Go! Go! Go!
If you've been holding out on buying the Sega Genesis Mini (or the Mega Drive Mini as we'd call it here in the UK), you'll be pleased to know that there's never been a better time to jump in and grab one. At the time of writing, Amazon is selling the console at a whopping 50% off the regular asking price, meaning you can now snap one up...
Poll Box Art Brawl #50 - ActRaiser 2
Raise your act
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, the weekly contest between box art variants from around the globe to find out which is the best, better than all the rest. Last week Puzzle Bobble, or Bust-a-Move as it's known in North America, graced us with its presence. It wasn't a contest, really - Japan absolutely stormed it with over two thirds...
News GC Loader Ditches The GameCube's DVD Drive So You Can Run Games From An SD Card
DVD drive playing up? This might be what you're after...
A short while back, we reported on a new optical drive emulator option for the Sega Saturn and Sega Dreamcast, and we've since been made aware of another product which does very much the same thing – but for the Nintendo GameCube. The GC Loader is GameCube DVD drive replacement that allows...
News The Super Mario 64 PC Port Just Got A 60fps Patch
Smoother than before
The Super Mario 64 PC mod - that Nintendo tried to take legal action against - has certainly come a long way since its unofficial release in May. When it first arrived it included 4K and ultra-widescreen support and in the following month, modders added in a modern Mario model and some imp
June2020
Random Turns Out NBA Jam Has Been Cheating The Chicago Bulls All This Time
"Make sure you pick the Pistons over the Bulls"
If you're a Netflix subscriber, you'll no doubt have seen the excellent basketball documentary series, The Last Dance. It charts the incredible story of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls during one of the most exciting periods in the history of the sport. It also spends a bit of time covering the...
Update: Available for pre-order now
Update: You can pre-order The Oliver Twins Collection and Xeno Crisis / Tanglewood double-pack now using the links below: <products id="12611"> <products id="12612"> Original Story [Wed 10th Jun, 2020 12:00 BST]: A brand new collection of games has been revealed for the Evercade retro system today,...
News Fan Turns Broken SNES Into A Working Switch Dock
Even the eject button (kind of) works
If you fancy a new project to take on while you're stuck at home, or if you happen to have a broken SNES already lying around, perhaps it's time to turn one into a custom, fully-working Switch dock? Remember last month when we shared Reddit user IMOKRUOK's work on a broken NES, which transformed the faulty...
Poll Box Art Brawl #49 - Bust-A-Move / Puzzle Bobble
Bust-a-Bobble
Welcome once again to Box Art Brawl, our weekly poll to discover which of three regional box art variants sits at the top of the tree. Last week we scrutinised Natsume's Wild Guns on Super NES. Following a classic Western-style gunfight, North America emerged from the smoke victorious, growling at second place Japan and third place...
News Someone Created A Hand-Drawn Guide For The Original Zelda And It's Breathtaking
Puts Navi to shame!
Back in the 1980s, the original Legend of Zelda for the NES was a massive success. People all over the world were journeying into the land of Hyrule for the very first time, figuring out its puzzles and spilling its secrets on the playground, in the breakroom, at the pub, you name it. Many of its riddles were extremely cryptic...
News The RK2020 Is Another Chinese Handheld Which Aims To Play Absolutely Everything
NES! SNES! GBA! Dreamcast!
While it's certainly true that Nintendo rules the roost as far as dedicated handheld games consoles are concerned, the past few years have given us a host of pocket-sized consoles that rely mainly on emulation to grab your hard-earned cash. Over a decade ago we had the Gamepark GP32, then there was the GP2X, Wiz, Pandora...
News Supercade Returns With A Visual History Of Console Gaming's "Golden Age"
From the NES to the Xbox
Fans of video game art books may well be aware of the name Supercade; written by Van Burnham (Wired, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Official US PlayStation Magazine, Retro Gamer), the first volume charted the period between 1971-1984, when arcade gaming drove video games into popular culture. Packed with written history,...
Poll Box Art Brawl #48 - Wild Guns
Wild world
Welcome to Box Art Brawl, our weekly dust-up to find out which of three regional box art variants is the best. Last week it was Shadowrun's turn to battle itself. Japanese Shadowrun obliterated the competition with over 70% of your approval, leaving second-place North America and third-place Europe to mop up the remainder. This week...
Guide How To Fit An IPS Screen To Your Game Boy Advance SP
Take your GBA to the next level of brightness
The Game Boy line of consoles may be old news to Nintendo, but that doesn't mean it isn't still evolving. Fan-made modifications are appearing all of the time which help augment and improve the tech which makes these handhelds tick, and one of the latest upgrades is a new IPS screen for the Game Boy...
News The Super Game Boy Is Now 26 Years Old
Only for Super Nintendo
If you're as old as some of us here are at Nintendo Life, you might have fond memories of the Super Game Boy. It was an adapter cartridge for the Super Nintendo that allowed you to play Game Boy and dual-mode Game Boy Color cartridges on the big screen - aka your television. Some games, like the Pokémon titles, even had...
Poll Box Art Brawl #47 - Shadowrun
What we do in the shadows
Welcome back to the Box Art Brawl, our weekly poll to find out which regional box art variant of an old video game is best. Last week we looked at the three main cover variants for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The North American Genesis version won out in the end, with Japan not too far behind and Europe trailing in third place...
News WayForward Says It's Open To A Remake Of The Original Shantae Game
Yes, please!
The half-genie hero Shantae recently celebrated her 18th Birthday with the release of Shantae and the Seven Sirens on the Nintendo Switch eShop. That obviously means her original outing on the Game Boy Color is now also 18 years old. So, when are we getting a remake or remaster of sorts? Siliconera asking a similar question during a...
News M2's Pac-Man Championship Edition Demake Was Originally Intended For The 3DS
"We’ve been working on this for around nearly five years"
Bandai Namco is about the release Namcot Collection in Japan, which is available either as a complete physical release or as downloadable content, with players given the option to pick and choose which titles they want to buy at 300 yen apiece. As a bonus for downloading all 10 games...
Poll Box Art Brawl #46 - Sonic The Hedgehog 3
2's company
Welcome to Week 46 of Box Art Brawl, the poll to find out your favourite box art from a selection of three regional variants. Last week we looked at SNES shmup Phalanx. Surprisingly, the infamous North American cover picked up over 50% of the vote for an easy victory. Japan came in second and Europe trailed in a distant third pl
Poll Rate Your Favourite Nintendo Switch Online SNES Games
Help us rank the 29 SNES games on Nintendo's online sub service
They might have taken a while to arrive, but the library of 29 SNES games available as part of Nintendo's Switch Online subscription service adds considerable value to Switch's online offering for many retro gaming fans. Throw in authentic-feeling wireless controllers that mimic the...
Hardware Classics Sega Game Gear - The System Which Spawned The Game Gear Micro
Getting into Gear
With the announcement of the Game Gear Micro, we thought you might like to revisit our Hardware Classics feature – originally published in 2016 – on the real deal. Enjoy! It's easy to see the thinking behind the Game Gear, the machine Sega positioned as a Game Boy-beater in the early '90s. The firm's
News Sega's Game Gear Micro Was Originally Going To Be Even More Stingy
So be thankful, we guess?
If you've already been checking out our home page this morning, you'll have seen that Sega has revealed a series of Game Gear Micro consoles. Four (very tiny) systems are set to be available in total, each coming with four games. At ¥4,980 a pop - roughly $50 / €50 - a mini console with just four games on it sounds...
News Sega Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary With A Micro Version Of The Game Gear
Four colours with four games each
Sega has just announced the Game Gear Micro. As the name suggests, this is a micro version of its original 1990 handheld. This smaller system will launch in Japan on 6th October for ¥4,980 - which is expected to equate to about $50 / €50 locally. It will be available in black, blue, yellow and red, and each...
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