Retro - News
December2021
Random An Unused Alternate Version Of Mega Man 3's Box Art Has Sold On Ebay
The NA version, that is
Early Mega Man box art — specifically the North American versions of Mega Man box art — are infamous for being a bit, well, off. And we're being exceptionally generous when we say 'a bit'; the NA cover used for the original game is renowned for being one of the worst examples of video game box art ever created and even C
News Sega's Astro City Mini Is Getting A 'TATE' Version Packed With Shmup Goodness
Batsugun! Battle Bakraid! Armed Police Batrider!
Sega's Astro City Mini is getting a new version that features a vertically-oriented screen, it has been revealed. The Astro City Mini V looks much like the original, but its screen is tilted 90 degrees to accommodate 'TATE' games. Taito is taking a similar route with its similar Egret II Mini, which...
News Scalpers Are Already Reselling Analogue Pocket Systems For Insane Prices Online
Colour us surprised
After a painful delay related to the ongoing global pandemic, the Analogue Pocket finally launched this week, with those who pre-ordered many moons ago getting the chance to sample the company's latest FPGA-powered creation. Pre-orders for the console also re-opened this week too, but buyers are being told that they might have...
News Commodore 64 Games Are Being Teased For Nintendo Switch
"We listened"
If you have fond memories of the Commodore 64 generation, oh boy - have we got some news for you! The retro-focused indie developer and publisher Thalamus Digital is teasing C64 games for Nintendo's Switch hardware. According to a vague tweet, the team has apparently "listened" and more will be revealed at some point in 2022. There's...
Random In An Alternate Reality, Sega Published Pokémon
And the seeds were sown 40 years ago this month...
Satoshi Tajiri, as we all know, is one of the key figures behind the incredibly successful Pokémon series. However, it's important to remember that Tajiri's interest in game development began long before he had the idea of linking two Game Boy consoles together in order to share fictional monsters...
News Almost 30 Years Later, This Super Mario Kart Player Has Achieved An "Impossible" Record
From legend to Myth+
Super Mario Kart may have launched way back in 1993 and spawned several sequels since then, but it has lost none of its power when it comes to attracting record-breaking attempts. We've covered the likes of Sami Cetin on Nintendo Life in the past, as well as Guillaume "Antistar" Leviach – two of the world's best Super Mario...
News Yes, This Is Stunt Race FX Running On The Game Boy
Seriously impressive stuff
Stunt Race FX (known in Japan as Wild Trax) was quite an impressive feat when it launched. Sure, it looks hopelessly crude by modern standards, but back in the early '90s when 3D visuals were still in their infancy, it really turned heads – lest we forget, consoles like the SNES simply were not designed for this kind of...
News Out Of Bounds Discovery In Super Mario Bros. 3 Lets You Tag In Luigi
Now that's winning
Super Mario Bros. 3 is an all-time classic, and particularly impressive when you consider the technology it relied upon. The 16-bit SEGA Genesis was right around the corner in Japan by the time the Famicom version launched in Japan, for example, yet Nintendo delivered what was a huge step up for its flagship series. The overworld...
News Toki Tori For Game Boy Color Is Being Re-Released, 20 Years Later
Super cheep for a Game Boy Color game
When Toki Tori was released back in 2001, the adorable puzzle-platforming game was well-received, becoming a cult classic among its fans — but, being released towards the end of the Game Boy Color's lifecycle, it only had one run of physical copies. Until now! Limited Run Games and Two Tribes have teamed up...
News 2021's Game Boy RPG 'Dragonborne' Is Getting A Fancy DX Version For Game Boy Color
Here's your first look at Dragonborne DX
Retro fans may well remember Dragonborne, a new RPG that was released for the good old Game Boy earlier this year. From indie studio Spacebot Interactive, the game features a turn-based combat system, upgrades to collect, and plenty of enemies to defeat – and the best part for collectors was that it came on...
Guide 50 Best Wii Games Of All Time
As ranked by you
It's been many years now since Nintendo changed the game with Wii, the little motion-controlled console which broke away from the competition and started a revolution. Its brilliantly compact design (the size of three DVD boxes, remember?) and approachable and accessible controller helped it open up gaming to a whole new audience,...
Mini Review WinBack: Covert Operations - Omega Force's Overlooked And Influential Cover Shooter
WinBack, baby WinBack, that's where it's at
It’d be easy to dismiss Winback without a second thought. Developed by Omega Force — nowadays famous for the long-running Dynasty Warriors series and associated Musou spin-offs/crossovers — and released for N64 back in 1999, it’s probably the least well-known of the Switch Online service’s...
Video The GameCube Is Over 20 Years Old, And Blimey Do We Have Memories Of It
It's not even a cube
2021 marks the GameCube's 20th anniversary, which means it's already been hitting pubs in the UK for two years by now, but being the old group of sods on the video team that we are, we remember it when it was merely a proverbial babe in Nintendo's proverbial (thankfully) arms. At 20 Nintendo's cuboid console hasn't even been...
November2021
News Gamers Vote Nintendo DS As The Console They'd Most Like To See Make A Modern Comeback
Do you agree?
If you could see the return of any classic video games console, what would you choose? That was the question put to 1,000 UK gamers in a recent study by Hyperoptic, all in a bid to see which system holds the highest nostalgia value. Sitting right at the very top of the votes is Nintendo's own DS, closely followed by both the...
News NES Classic Battletoads Is Getting A Physical Re-Release, But Only In Japan
Columbus Circle is launching a new version today
Battletoads is one of Rare's most beloved games from the NES era. An attempt to create a media brand that could rival the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Battletoads mixed platforming with side-scrolling combat, and is famous for its unforgiving difficulty level. It spawned several sequels (including a...
News Fans Have Created A Playable Ocarina of Time - Space World '97 Experience
Attempts to recreate the three 'tours' of the original demo
Nintendo's history is full of moments that have taken on a near mythological status, ranging from stories of game and hardware development to various demos and builds that are either rare or long lost. One such example is a demo for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that appeared at...
News Square Enix Is Releasing A Jazz Album For The Incredible Chrono Trigger Soundtrack
Nice
Chrono Trigger is held up as a truly iconic RPG, critically acclaimed and with an ardent fanbase even today. Its soundtrack is held in equally high regard, so an announcement out of Square Enix Japan has certainly got our attention. As reported by Siliconera, Square Enix is releasing a Chrono Trigger jazz arrangement album, the fifth in that...
News Analogue Confirms Pocket Pre-Orders Will Begin Shipping Mid-December
Update: Confirmation emails are being deployed
Update: Good news! Analogue Pocket pre-orders will begin shipping on December 13th: Original Story [Sat 11th Sep, 2021 16:55 BST]: The Analogue Pocket - a portable FPGA-based device compatible with the entire Game Boy library and other systems via adapters - has been delayed yet again. Following...
Mini Review Dr. Mario 64 - Diagnosis: A Bit Rubbish
One to strike from the Medical Register
There's a sort of... B-tier of Nintendo puzzlers, isn't there? Stuff like Yoshi's Cookie and Wario's Woods. We'd argue, perhaps fruitlessly, that Dr. Mario slots into this little group rather better than the truly A-grade stuff. On Switch, in particular, there's an embarrassment of puzzling riches that we'd...
Random Forget Sealed Retro Games, It's Empty Boxes That Are The Hot Ticket Item Now
"Flat GoldenEye boxes could be the next form of currency"
There's been a lot of drama surrounding graded retro game sales recently, with many people claiming the whole thing is an elaborate scam. However, it would seem th
Talking Point Is There A Better-Looking 20-Year-Old Game Than Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II?
Rogue Leader standing by
Feel old, everyone — Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is now two decades old. The GameCube-exclusive title launched alongside the console itself in the US and was something of a show-stopper in the visuals department. Developer Factor 5 had turned in an excellent arcade-style X-Wing action game with the original...
News There's A $5,000 Reward For Anyone Who Can Find These 'Lost' F-Zero Tracks
"More like a lottery at this point"
Long before DLC become a regular part of our gaming lives, Nintendo broke new ground with its Satellaview service for the Super Famicom. Using satellite broadcasts, this system allowed players to download and store games on special rewritable BS-X memory packs – and preserving these titles has become a serious...
News Another Taito Game Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives Collection On Switch
A blast from the past
If you're looking for some more retro action on your Switch, then why not check out Raimais when it arrives on the Switch eShop later this week. It's the latest addition to Hamster's Arcade Archives collection and is an action game released by Taito back in 1988. Here's a brief rundown, along with some screenshots:...
News The GBA's Unreleased 'Dune' Game Is Being Revived On Kickstarter, Minus The IP Rights
A little less spice
Update: The Kickstarter campaign is now live here, and strong early momentum means it's not far off its target with 59 days still to go. Original Article: If you happen to have Nintendo's retro handhelds in your collection, there are still multiple interesting releases and projects emerging. The latest to pop up is Elland: The...
Random Fancy Some 'Sew-per' Mario? Marvel At The Game Boy Sewing Machine
It was actually quite clever
We live in an age of quirky Nintendo peripherals; Ring Fit Adventure is an example where Nintendo took a relatively standard Yoga ring and cleverly turned it into a huge sales success. Third-parties join in too, of course, and let's not forget Nintendo's own Labo range that made cardboard cool. For those with a retro...
Random Good Lord, This 3-Screened Mutant Game Boy Is Utterly Cursed
Plays GB, GBC, GBA and DS games
Retrofitting Game Boys with better screens and superior batteries isn't a new thing, but prolific modder HaihaiSB isn't content with simply making these vintage systems better – he wants to take things to extremes, as is evidenced by his latest, twisted creation: the DMG-105Z. Using the o
Random Want A Live Band In Zelda: A Link To The Past? The Game Brass Has You Covered
Yes, it's called A Link to the Brass
It's a big anniversary year with The Legend of Zelda turning 35, but it's also notable that 21st November brings us the 30th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past arriving in Japan. It's one of the greatest games in the series, and indeed gaming history, and of course fans will be celebrating in...
News Hamster Adds Another Namco Title To Arcade Archives On Nintendo Switch
More retro goodness
Hamster has been slowly bolstering the Namco Arcade Archives offerings and the latest game to be added to the collection is the 1983 action-puzzle game, Libble Rabble. Here's a bit about it and some screenshots: “LIBBLE RABBLE” is an action puzzle game released by NAMCO in 1983. Control Libble and Rabble to “bashishi”...
"We just talked about music as we shared some beers together"
Shigeru Miyamoto might be famous to anyone who knows their Mario from their Sonic, but it's easy to forget this wasn't always the case – and even today, there are people who might not be aware of the great man's legacy. So, when non-gamer Tony LeCroix had a chance meeting with the...
Video Everyone Should Play Sin & Punishment
The Wii sequel is darn good, too
Sin & Punishment is a Nintendo 64 game well known among Nintendo enthusiasts, but there are also likely to be a number of Switch owners that see the logo for the game in the N64 app (for those that opt to get the Expansion Pass) and won't have that flash of familiarity. It's no wonder, too, as despite Nintendo...
News HBO's '8-Bit Christmas' Is Giving The NES Power Glove Another Shot At Movie Glory
"How far would you go to score the ultimate gift?"
Remember the Power Glove? It was a mostly awkward means of interacting with games back during the NES era, and was immortalised in the 1989 Hollywood flick The Wizard. It's since become something of a cult object in the world of gaming, inspiring adoration with older gamers (
News The Machine Is A New Dystopian Game Boy Title
With multiple endings promised
The Game Boy is getting quite a few new releases, though admittedly some are re-releases / reskins of retro games. Some are brand new projects, though, and another on the way is The Machine. Published by Incube8 Games, it seems to be the result of a development partnership between Spacebot Interactive and solo...
Random "Roadkill NES" Found By The Side Of Texas Freeway Restored To Working Condition
Impressive work
They sure don't make 'em like they used to, right? Well, that's certainly the case when it comes to this poor, unloved NES that was rescued from the side of a freeway in Texas. Spotted by Rob Ivy (AKA: The Obsolete Geek), the NES had seemingly been abandoned, and despite Ivy's helpful pinpointing of the location of the console on...
Random Check Out Emora Kart, A Macintosh-Exclusive Super Mario Kart Clone From 1994
Complete with mouse controls!
We're all used to seeing kart racers copying the tried and trusted Mario Kart formula these days, but here's a quick blast to the past that proves game developers were busy mimicking Nintendo's style right from the off. Emora Kart is a mouse-controlled Super Mario Kart clone that was developed exclusively for Macintosh...
News This Crazy Mod Turns The Game Boy Advance SP Into 2003's Nintendo Switch
Joy-Con support! A dock! TV-out!
We've covered the incredible work of Macho Nacho Productions before on this site, but the channel's latest project is one of its most ambitious yet. This new mod turns the Game Boy Advance SP into a Switch-style system complete with Joy-Con support, a 3D-printed dock and even the ability to play on your TV. Using a...
PSA Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda Will Let You Enjoy Both Japanese And 'Western' Versions
Spot the differences
Though it's been right there on the official website for Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda, a few of us in the NL team hadn't clocked the fact that the nifty little device will give us access to multiple versions of each game. In terms of the three mainline games -
Review Blazing Rangers - A New NES Game In 2021? Youbetcha, And It's A Good 'Un
Toasty!
Gaming is not short of NES-like experiences these days; titles filled with 8-bit-style blocky pixels, beepy music, and some controllable character for you to take from the left side of the screen to the right. These games tend to chase the past from a comfortable distance, the harsh technical restrictions of almost 40 years ago something to...
October2021
News F-Zero Climax For GBA Now Has A "Complete" Fan-Made Translation Patch
The Japan exclusive with "everything" localised in English
You might remember F-Zero Climax, hmm...perhaps not! It was a game released on Nintendo's Game Boy Advance way back in 2004 and has never been localised outside of Japan. It also happens to be the most recent entry in the series, which is now over 17 years ago. While an official...
News N64 Classic GoldenEye 007 No Longer "Banned" In Germany, Could A Re-Release Be Coming?
Review process actively requested by "one of Nintendo's European partners"
Rare's legendary Nintendo 64 shooter GoldenEye 007 is believed to be stuck in licensing hell, but there's been a very exciting development in Germany that has now got fans wondering if it could finally be making a return. According to a number of sources, the game is no...
Video Learn More About Sonic The Hedgehog's 8-Bit History
It's not all about the Mega Drive / Genesis classics
It's been a notable anniversary year for Sonic the Hedgehog, giving plenty of opportunities to look back nostalgically at the classic - and not-so-classic - games in the series. Yet an aspect of Sonic that gets little attention is the 8-bit era, which funnily enough happened alongside the 16-bit...
News This Zelda II ROM Hack Removes All The Annoying Stuff To Present A Totally New Adventure
"The game has been rebuilt from the ground up"
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is beloved by many – so much so that it's often mentioned whenever 'Zelda remakes' are discussed – but only the most diehard fan would try to argue that it doesn't have its fair share of problems. There's a lot of (sometimes tedious) side-scrolling combat and the
Update: Now available in the UK!
Update: Our friends over at Games Connection now have these shells in stock: Original Story [Mon 15th Mar, 2021 09:35 GMT]: Back in the '80s and '90s, demand for "see-through" technology arguably hit its peak. While the '70s had been about attaching bits of wood to consumer electronics to make them fit more...
Random Game Boy That Was Snapped Clean In Two Comes Back From The Dead
A perfect Halloween story
Halloween is this weekend, so what better time to report on a piece of gaming hardware rising from the grave? The man responsible for this amazing resurrection is Solderking (AKA: Taylor Burley), who you might recall from a story we ran a while back about dunking Zelda carts in orange juice (basically, don't do it)...
Poll N64 And Sega Genesis Nintendo Switch Online Games Launch Today - Which Will You Play First?
Will you be grabbing the Expansion Pack?
Today sees the launch of the Expansion Pack for Nintendo Switch Online, an extension of the current subscription service that adds a library of Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive titles, as well as the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise DLC. Op
News The Mega Drive Mini Is Getting Another Accessory Which Does Absolutely Nothing
Well, apart from look nice, that is
Update: Well, our Mega Drive Tower Mini Zero unit has arrived from Japan, and guess what? Yup, it does nothing. But gosh darn it, it sure looks gorgeous at the same time. The Mega Drive Tower Mini Zero comes with a bunch of plastic cartridges (that do nothing) as well as a Sega Card (that does nothing, too). It...
News Hamster Adds Another Namco Classic To Arcade Archives On Nintendo Switch
Mappy is back
In recent times, Hamster has been releasing Bandai Namco games for its Arcade Archives collection on the Nintendo Switch. This week, the trend continues with the release of the 1983 action title, Mappy. "Players control MAPPY, an enthusiastic, committed police officer on a mission to reclaim stolen goods from a mansion. Avoid getting...
"It's all for the love of video games"
The creators of the Analogue Pocket - a portable FPGA-based device compatible with the entire Game library and other systems via adapters - have announced Analogue OS. It's designed to be the "definitive scholarly operating system" for playing and experiencing the entire video game medium. With Analogue OS...
News Arcade Archives Publisher Hamster Has Filed A Trademark For 'Console Archives'
Is even more retro goodness on the way?
Hamster Corporation has been pumping out enhanced arcade releases since the Nintendo Switch arrived on the scene in 2017, but it might finally be time for it to take the next big step in retro preservation. According to a story over on Gematsu, the Japanese company filed a trademark for "Console Archives" in...
News Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda Gets A Snazzy New Trailer
Hoping for one in your stocking?
After its Super Mario Bros. Game & Watch proved to be a bit of a must-have festive gift, Nintendo is hoping to hit the mark again when it releases Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda to celebrate the IP's anniversary. Now Nintendo has released a snazzy new trailer to showcase its charms ahead of the 12th...
Gallery Breaking The Seal On Retro-Bit's 'Undercover Cops' Reissue
One of the rarest Super Famicom games lives again
Irem's Undercover Cops is one of the most expensive Super Famicom titles, regularly changing hands for $200 just for the loose cartridge. However, Retro-Bit has come to our rescue with a reissue of the game which comes with a bunch of other goodies that collectors will want to check out. Retro-Bit...
Random Please Don't Submerge Your Zelda Game Boy Cartridges In Orange Juice
A cautionary tale
It seems obvious, but dunking your old video game cartridges in orange juice isn't a good idea. That's the lesson that Solderking (AKA: Taylor Burley) is preaching at the moment – in case you didn't know, Burley often asks his viewers to send in items that are no longer working, and his latest case was a copy of The Legend of...
News Pineapple Kid Is A New Game Boy Game Launching In Time For Christmas
Pre-orders go live tomorrow
The Game Boy might be more than 30 years old at this point, but Nintendo's sturdy brick of wonder is enjoying something of a resurgence just lately. We've seen several studios try their luck with new releases for the system over the past year or so –Infinity,
News Hackers Have Cracked Open A Sega Saturn Emulator Inside A Commercial Switch Release
And it's surprisingly good
If you're a fan of retro shooters, you'll no doubt be aware that last week saw the arrival of Cotton 2, Cotton Boomerang and Guardian Force on Switch – three games by the Japanese company Success which were originally available on the 32-bit Se
News Another Classic Namco Title Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
Rally-X returns
This week's arcade archives release from Hamster Corporation is the 1980 Namco "maze chase" classic, Rally-X. Here's some PR and screens: “RALLY-X” is an action game released by NAMCO in 1980. Players control a car and dodge pursuing red cars while collecting flags. Stall the red cars using a smokescreen when they get too...
Video Get Over Here And Watch The Creation Of Scorpion's Iconic Spear Move For Mortal Kombat
Ed Boon begins the 30th anniversary celebrations
There are a lot of major video game anniversaries taking place right now, and next year will be no different. One of the bigger celebrations will be 30 years of the famous brutal, bloody and violent western fighting game, Mortal Kombat. Ahead of its anniversary milestone, the series' co-creator, Ed...
News Namco's Hack & Slash 'The Genji And The Heike Clans' Joins The Arcade Archives
Out now!
This week's arcade archives release from Hamster Corporation is the 1986 Namco side-scrolling hack 'n slash game, The Genji and the Heike Clans. Here's some PR and screens: "Players control the hero Taira no Kagekiyo on a mission to the capital city of Kamakura, to defeat the Demon Genji Clan's king Yoritomo. The player will face attacks...
September2021
Random Wait A Sec, That Sure Looks Like Mario In Sonic The Hedgehog's Marble Zone
Or lions, apparently
Sonic's had one heck of a journey over the last 30 years, and while he and Mario are the best of buds these days with their regular Olympic outings, the two were the largest of rivals in the gaming industry once upon a time. It's that particular fact that makes this little discovery all the more interesting, though, and all the...
Hardware GB Operator Lets You Switch Between Game Boy And PC With Ease
Back up and play your Game Boy carts on PC
Casual readers would be forgiven for seeing the maker's name on the box of the GB Operator — a neat little device that lets you play your Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance carts on your PC — and confusing the company with Analogue, the producer of such quality retro-playing consoles as the...
News The 'Book4Games' Range Is Expanding To Include Metroid, Zelda And Game Boy Designs
Store your games in style
Not so long ago, we went hands-on with Book4Games' SNES cartridge storage cases – essentially a means of securely housing your loose games in fancy, book-style units. While we weren't totally convinced they were a must-have item, Book4Games clearly found some degree of success, as it's back with more designs – this time...
News Taito Beat 'Em Up Typhoon Gal Joins Hamster's Arcade Archives On Switch
Available from the eShop
This week's Arcade Archives release from Hamster is Typhoon Gal / Onna Sanshirou. It was originally an action beat 'em up game released by Taito in 1985. Here's some PR and screenshots: "Players control martial-arts challenger Yuki as she faces off with the toughest opponents at rival martial arts schools. Yuki can use...
The top 50 N64 games ever, as ranked by you
As with all our Top 50 library lists, this ranking is based on User Ratings in the Nintendo Life games database and is subject to fluctuation, even after publication. So, if you haven't rated your favourite N64 games, feel free to exert your influence and potentially switch up the order of the games...
News Two Namco Classics Join Hamster's Arcade Archives This Week
A double serve of retro games
Hamster Corporation joined in on the Nintendo Direct celebrations earlier this week, with not one but two Namco game releases on the Switch eShop. First up we've got the original PAC-MAN title, released in arcades in 1980. The same rules apply here - players must clear stages by eating all the dots in each round...
News 'WATA Certified' Copy Of Sonic The Hedgehog Sells For Record Price
Update: "Our customers trust us" says auction company founder, responding to Yuji Naka
Update (Thu 23rd Sep, 2021 10:30 BST): PR firm Goldin Solutions—representatives of both Goldin Auctions (the seller of this Sonic game) and grading company WATA—has contacted us to highlight the replies of Goldin Auctions founder Ken Goldin to Yuji Naka in a...
Random This Tiny Game Boy Is Probably The World's Smallest Game Console
The Thumby is about as niche as it gets
New mods and takes on classic hardware are a fun part of the gaming scene, as those with nostalgia for the good old days mess around with old systems to make them better or - sometimes - just sillier. A little while ago we shared the creation of a wide Game Boy Advance by YouTube channel / website The Retro...
Random Luigi Has Been Found Inside The Dreamcast Prototype Of Sega GT
L is real!
Over the course of the '90s, Sega and Nintendo were obviously direct competitors - we've seen this documented in texts like the 'Console Wars' by Blake J. Harris. Despite this, it seems there was some rather incredibly weird stuff going on behind the scenes at one of these video game companies - so weird actually, that it was "borrowing"...
News Retro Shooter ExZeus Has Been Polished Up For A September Switch Re-Release
Go ahead, mech my day
Ziggurat are on a roll with resurrecting games from decades ago — yesterday, we had the news that cult vampire classic Bloodrayne was getting "ReVamped" for the Switch, and today, Ziggurat have announced a September 30th release date for ExZeus: The Complete Collection on consoles and PC. ExZeus (AKA Counter Force) was an...
Gallery Is The Panasonic Q The Most Goshdarn Beautiful Nintendo Console Of All Time?
Shine get
This week, the Nintendo GameCube turns 20. This eye-catching system may have struggled against the incredible might of the PlayStation 2, but few would argue that Sony's machine was more attractive on a purely physical level. The boxy GameCube, complete with its unusual travel handle, is a true design icon and its appealing aesthetics are...
Random Check Out This Game Boy Color And Nintendo DS Mash-Up
Two-in-one
We've seen plenty of cool retro mods over the years, but this latest effort from Game Boy Custom really stands out – mainly because it's fusing together a Game Boy Color with a Game Boy Advance and the internals of a Nintendo DS. Still with us? Good. The Aussie modder has sent a proof-of-concept prototype to our friends at Retro Dodo,...
News Retailer Appears To Have Uncovered New And Sealed '90s SNES Games, And They're Up For Sale
What a find!
It's not often you stumble across brand new stock of games released in the '90s when browsing your favourite game store, but here we are with one of the most intriguing retail listings you're likely to see all year. German retailer Galeria Kaufhof has today added a brand new listing for Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals, known simply as...
Random These Gaming Shoe Concepts Are So Good We Wish They Were Real
We'll take the Nintendo 64 pair, thanks
Companies like Puma may well be launching all sorts of official Nintendo shoes these days – have you seen their Animal Crossing and Mario designs? – but that won't stop us from dreaming of having an entire wardrobe of the things. You know, for different days of the week or something... Exacerbating our...
Random Xbox's Phil Spencer Reveals His Favourite GameCube Game
In an insane world, it was the sanest choice
As you may have noticed, today marks 20 years since the Nintendo GameCube launched in Japan and we (along with the rest of the internet) have been getting all nostalgic for Nintendo's purple box. As is customary on these significant anniversaries (or any anniversary when it comes to social media —...
Hardware Classics Nintendo GameCube
Indigo, Spice and all things nice
In many ways, the GameCube was a console out of time, arguably arriving too late (or perhaps too early) to realise its true potential. We can look back now and appreciate its quirks, admire its design and excellent software library, and lust after the variants that never made it to western shores, but in the early...
News Unavailability Of Classic Titles Is "Holding Game Culture Back", Says Platinum's Hideki Kamiya
Games should be available to "everyone who wants to play them"
The way we play and consume classic video games has become a hot topic of late, thanks largely to some rather shady practices being employed by collectors to boost the value of certain titles. While some people are keen to increase the value of their collection while it sits on the...
Anniversary Goodness Me, Is The GameCube Really 20 Years Old?
Time is the enemy
You know how it is. One minute you're a youthful, exuberant 20-something, looking forward to being unleashed into the world and making your way; forging new relationships, getting a job, perhaps renting your first home. Your whole life is ahead of you! Then – BOOM – you're suddenly past 40, the last two decades have been a blur...
News 'The Year After' Is The Latest Game Headed To Game Boy, Physical Pre-Orders Now Live
Or play free online
It may well be 2021, but we really are swimming in new Game Boy games just lately. Joining the likes of new Game Boy titles Infinity and Tales of Monsterland is The Year After, a short narrative experience developed by Hadrian Lin. The game, which can be played to completion in around half an hour, is
News The 'Thicc Boi SP' GBA Mod Offers Bluetooth Audio, Better Stamina And Wireless Charging
Update: Plans afoot to sell as a DIY kit
Update: Macho Nacho Productions – the outfit behind the amazing 'Thicc Boi SP' mod we covered in August – have revealed that it has not only improved the design to include a better battery (4,500 mAh lithium polymer), but it's also going to sell it as an upgrade kit so that people can install it...
Random This Amateur Coder Is Creating The 'GBA Remix' Nintendo Should Have Given Us
Minigame mash-up
Remember NES Remix and NES Remix 2? These two minigame-focused mash-ups took famous scenes or sections from popular NES titles and gave them a WarioWare-style spin, and both went down rather well in terms of critical response. Sadly, it seems they didn't go down well enough for Nintendo to give us more in the 'Remix' line, with the...
Random Nintendo Fan Collects Every Game Boy Game In Just Two Years
"I haven’t added up how much I spent..."
Several members of the Nintendo Life team would consider ourselves to be collectors, but none of us have ever managed to achieve anything quite like this. Twitter user Shouta, who lives in Japan, has managed to get his hands on every single Game Boy game ever released, completing the set in just two years...
News "Lost" Game Boy Color RPG Infinity Adds Switch Port Stretch Goal On Kickstarter
Update: Has passed $300,000 Canadian Dollars raised
Update #3: Infinity's continued success in its Kickstarter campaign has now led to a rather interesting new stretch goal, for an 'enhanced' Switch version (which would also come to Steam). If it reaches $350,000 Canadian Dollars (it's just over $300,000 at the time of writing) it'll make its way to...
Feature Game Boy Games We Probably Won’t See On Nintendo Switch Online
Custom cart complications
Rumours abound that Game Boy games are finally coming to Nintendo Switch Online and we’ve been busy daydreaming about all the classic games we might be able to play again — and all the ones we won’t too. The record-shattering dominance of
News Co-Founder Of Game Grading Service WATA Accused Of Selling Company's Games On eBay
Company policy doesn't allow this
A co-founder of retro game grading service WATA is now being accused of running a side business on eBay. Further investigations by Proof journalist, Seth Abramson, suggest WATA's Mark Haspel is selling graded games under an alias. Abramson was recently reviewing some of his previous purchases and
Video The History Of The 'Silhouette' Super Nintendo Emulator Might Be An "Elaborate Hoax"
MVG takes a closer look
The Switch generation has seen Nintendo call on emulation for games such as the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection, but long before this, there was apparently an official emulator that could run Super Nintendo titles. Starting out life as 'Mirage', project 'Silhouette' was a SNES emulator for MacOS and Power PC that...
News Tales Of Monsterland Is Yet Another New Game Boy Game, And It's Getting A Fancy Limited Edition
Unleash the monster
With rumblings that Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles are headed to Switch soon, now's the perfect time to report on the fact that we're getting another new Game Boy title. Bitmap Soft has teamed up with developer JJ Games to release Tales of Monsterland, a platform title that seems to take inspiration from Sega's Wonder Boy...
News Hand-Drawn Game Guide Kickstarter Taken Down Following "Legal Trouble"
Update #2: "We did not receive a cease and desist"
Cor, look at 'em Update #2: Phillip Summers has taken to Twitter to clarify some reporting around the cancellation of the Hand-Drawn Game Guide Kickstarter campaign. He states that "the party involved has been polite and I'm hopeful something can get worked out. They have every right to act as they...
Gallery These Framed Game Boys Are Truly Works Of Art
Where old consoles go to die
Handheld games consoles are more than just a means of playing things on the move – as objects we hold and stare at for hours on end, they need to be aesthetically pleasing as well as comfortable to use, and that can certainly be said of the Game Boy line. We've always felt that the Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Color and...
News A Game Boy Productivity Suite Has Been Fully Funded On Kickstarter
"The future's about to get more productive"
Have you ever wanted a comprehensive set of productive apps for the original Game Boy? Then this Kickstarter might be for you. Introducing the Game Boy Productivity Suite... an "all-in-one" cartridge with apps like a clock, a note pad, and a calculator. It apparently offers a level of "privacy and...
"[Jeremy] insisted I make a cave level with waterfalls like Yoshi"
Last week a Kickstarter campaign went live for Goodboy Galaxy, the first brand new, commercial release for the Game Boy Advance for 13 years. A colourful 2D platformer with running, gunning and a space-faring good boy called Maxwell, it's a beautifully animated and incredibly...
News 'Beyond A Steel Sky' Is A Spiritual Successor To A Beloved 1994 2D Adventure Classic
Secure the Steel Sky Steelbook on Switch!
Every now and again, it pays off to be a fan of a cult classic, and today is that day for anyone who was hoping for a sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky, Revolution Software's dystopian point-and-click adventure game from 1994. You held out for almost 30 years, and finally, you're about to get your just deserts...
News Two Classic '90s Games Are Being Reprinted On SNES, And Pre-Orders Are Open
Sega Mega Drive and NES options also available
Stone Protectors Piko Interactive, which you'll likely know for its strategy of hoovering up old gaming IPs to re-release them on old hardware, has two more titles for your retro-loving consideration. Both Jim Power: The Lost Dimension and Stone Protectors, two games that were first brought to life in...
August2021
Talking Point If Nintendo Switch Online Adds Game Boy, Why Not Throw In GBA, Too?
Imagine the entire 2D Metroid timeline playable before Dread...
Nintendo Switch Online has been relatively static, as a service, for quite some time. We have had some turnover of free online games, most recently with Pac-Man 99, and a slow and steady influx of NES and SNES titles, but generally it's been a quiet time. Aside from some oft-demanded...
Random SNES Title HyperZone's Hidden 3D Mode Can Be Played With 3D Glasses
Anyone got a spare Famicom 3D System they don't need?
HAL's HyperZone is one of those SNES titles which didn't set the world alight at the time of release but has nonetheless built up a cult following in the years following its release. Much of the game's appeal is down to its innovative use of Mode 7 effects to present a realistic impression of 3D...
News Possible Retro Game Grading Inconsistencies Come To Light Following Fraud Allegations
Update: WATA responds with a statement
Update [Wed 25th Aug, 2021 16:35 BST]: A PR firm representing WATA Games has contacted us with a statement from the company regarding Karl Jobst's video. It is presented in full at the bottom of the page. Over the past couple of days, investigations by both Proof journalist Seth Abramson and YouTuber Karl...
Feature The Inside Story Of Mockumentary Sequel 'Bringing Back Golden Eye'
And it's all for a good cause
Rare's seminal N64 shooter GoldenEye 007 is coming up to its 25th birthday, and for a whole generation of players, it remains a pivotal experience in their gaming lives – a fact that was playfully acknowledged by Jim Miskell's 2017 'mockumentary' Going For Golden Eye, which focused on the fictional Golden Eye World...
Talking Point How Much Would You Pay For A Mint Copy Of Super Mario Bros.?
6 golden coins? 8 red coins?
Following on from the recent record-breaking sales for retro games, including $2 million USD for a copy of Super Mario Bros. and $870K USD for The Legend of Zelda on NES — not to mention the unf
News The Shapeshifter 2 Will Have An 'Original Mechanic' And Two Game Boy Cartridges
Intriguing...
We're seeing a rather fun surge in new retro games, with the Game Boy being a platform that certainly draws in some enthusiastic developers. One of these is GreenBoy Games, which we highlighted earlier in the year in relation to a Kickstarter campaign for their game The Shapeshifter. Now it's announced The Sha
Says it strongly refutes any accusation
Following on from yesterday's accusations about "fraud and deception" in the retro video game market, a Heritage Auctions spokesperson has now issued a statement. It "strongly refutes" allegations of its involvement in shill bidding, market manipulation, or any other illegal or unethical practices and wishes...
Talking Point Million-Dollar Retro Game Auctions Help Remind Us What Matters Most
Passion and preservation
As you've no doubt seen over the past couple of years, there have been some high profile and eye-watering sales of retro games which have reached hundreds of thousands of US dollars, and now more than $2 million. It's been rather baffling to onlookers; these are copies of extremely common games, after all, and the downside...
News Accusations Of Foul Play Surface Around Record-Breaking Graded NES Game Auctions
What the grading companies and auction houses "didn't want us to see"
Update [Wed 25th Aug, 2021 14:20 BST]: A PR firm representing WATA Games has contacted us with a statement from the company regarding Karl Jobst's video. It is presented in full at the bottom of the page. Original story [Tue 24th Aug, 2021 04:05 BST]: In July, just days after a...
Guide Best Super Nintendo (SNES) Games
As rated by you
Remember, this list is dynamic and based on the User Ratings for each game submitted in the Nintendo Life games database. It is, therefore, subject to fluctuation, even now! If you haven't rated any of the games below, simply tap the star on the corresponding entry and rate the game out of 10 to exert your personal influence on the...
News How A Tragic Murder Inspired The Epic Retelling Of GBA Classic Golden Sun
"I decided to honour his memory by keeping our promise alive"
The Golden Sun series may have been dormant since the release of Dark Dawn on the Nintendo DS, but it's a franchise which nonetheless has a passionate fanbase – and one man's love of the original GBA game has resulted in a very special tribute. Bryson Elam – known online as Wing...
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