Retro - News
December2019
Random Rare Forgot To Remove A Shotgun From Donkey Kong 64 Before Showing Miyamoto
There was a "look of horror" on his face
Last month, Donkey Kong 64 turned 20 years old. Since then, the development team behind the game has been doing the press rounds to celebrate the anniversary. During a recent interview with Games Radar, one of the creative leads George Andreas recalled a horrifying moment when Rare was showing the game to...
News The Amazing Story Of How One Man's Fib Created A Nintendo Empire
The lie that gave birth to Bergsala
If you're a Scandinavian resident then there's an excellent chance that the name Bergsala will mean a great deal to you. This company has been instrumental in distributing and marketing Nintendo's products in countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Finland, and, more recently, became an investor in SteamWorld...
Random Remembering When One Company Ruined Christmas For Some NES Owners
A chastity belt, but for your console
This Christmas, we'd imagine plenty of Switch consoles are going to make their way under trees all over the world, promising a legion of new players a pretty incredible holiday season. However, let's spare a thought for the kids back in 1989 who got a NES from Santa, only to find that their parents had also...
News Polymega Slips Into Early 2020, But It's Bringing Some Cool Stuff With It
Intelligent patches! New screen filters! Impressive compatibility!
Polymega's been in the oven for quite some time now, and, like so many new hardware projects, has been subject to a few growing pains. This ambitious system is aiming to be the ultimate retro box, allowing you to not only use your original games and controllers but also download your...
Poll Box Art Brawl #20 - Super Smash Bros.
A real brawler
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, the series where we pit regional variations of video game box covers from back in the day against each other in a savage fight to the death. Okay, it isn't that dramatic - it's just a poll - but let's get into the spirit and pretend that the stakes are incredibly high this lovely Sunday afternoon, hmm?...
News Introducing The 64Mate, A New All-In-One N64 Storage Add-On "Launching Soon" On Kickstarter
Who needs the 64DD?
If you know your way around a Nintendo 64, you’ll know the base of the console can be connected to peripherals such as the 64DD. If you never got your hands on this hardware, it means you’ve probably never attached your legendary 64-bit system to anything in the past. Well, soon you might finally have a reason to lift up the...
Video Legend Of Zelda Fan Spends 24 Hours In Ocarina Of Time VR
Living in Hyrule
We've seen 24-hour gaming marathons before, but this particular story is slightly different. A YouTuber by the name of SwankyBox, who is said to be a "huge" fan of the Nintendo 64 classic, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, recently cut himself off from the real world and spent hours exploring the 64-bit land of Hyrule - while...
Feature Jason Brookes Talks Super Famicom, Import Gaming And Super Play
"The feeling of being part of a club was endemic in Super Play"
Earlier this week, former Super Play, EDGE and Famitsu staffer Jason Brookes passed away after a long battle with cancer at the age of 52. We're running a proper tribute to the great man soon, but in the meantime, here's an exclusive interview conducted with Jason back in 2017, but...
News Hey Nintendo, Can We Please Have Famicom Wars?
You know, the original Advance Wars game
After months of waiting, Nintendo has finally announced the next batch of SNES and NES titles will be added to the Switch Online service next week. There are a total of six titles coming to the libraries in America and Europe, but as usual, the line-up is slightly different in Japan. This time around, it's...
Gallery This Gorgeous SNES Pixel Art Book Will Make The Perfect Christmas Gift
272 pages of pixel-perfect goodness
Award-winning specialist publisher Bitmap Books has just announced an English-language version of Robert Bannert and Christine Bauer's Unofficial SNES Pixel Book – and you can order it today. Translated from the original German in collaboration with Elektrospieler, this 272-page tome is packed full of lovely...
Feature Jez San On Star Fox, Super FX And Teaching Nintendo How To Fly
"They’d never trusted a western company in that way before"
Jez San occupies a pretty unique place in the world of video games. He founded his company, Argonaut Software, while he was still a teenage schoolkid, and his free-roaming 3D shooter Starglider would become a critical and commercial smash-hit, paving the way for a relationship with...
November2019
News The SNES PlayStation Was Going To Have A Super FX Chip Built-In
"Then Sony and Nintendo fell out"
The Super FX chip was a groundbreaking piece of tech; a "console on a chip" which massively enhanced the SNES, allowing it to push polygons with aplomb. Created by Argonaut Software, a small UK-based firm, the chip was created when Nintendo enlisted the help of Argonaut's Jez San to assist the company in making 3D...
Poll Box Art Brawl #19 - Contra III: The Alien Wars
You mean Super Probotector: Alien Rebels, no?
And we're back for another edition of Box Art Brawl, our series of bloody bouts between video game box covers from video game territories across the globe. Konami up to its old tricks. Last week North America was deemed to have the best Donkey Kong 64 cover, winning the day with its brazen boldness...
News Old Japanese Magazine Reveals "New" Details About Nintendo's Axed Project, EarthBound 64
Step back in time
Nintendo's cancelled project EarthBound 64 – also known as Mother 3 – began its life in the mid-'90s as an N64 title, and was eventually released as a Game Boy Advance game in 2006. Although the Nintendo 64 title never saw the light of day, there's still a lot of interest in this axed project. In June this year, new footage of...
News Yo-Yo Shuriken Is A Brand New Action Game That's Just Released For The SNES
What year is it?
We're positively swimming in new Nintendo Switch releases every week at this point - our constantly overflowing inbox serves as a regular, major indicator of this (send help) - but we don't expect to see new games arrive for the nearly-30-years-old SNES. That's exactly what we've been treated to today, however, with the launch of...
News This 1985 Promotional Flyer Reminds Us That The NES Almost Looked Very Different
R.O.B. had a different name, too
While the NES is famous for being the console that established Nintendo as a world-leader in the realm of video games, it's vital to remember that when it was initially pitched to US retailers, success was by no means a sure thing. The Video Game Crash of 1983 had knocked retail confidence in games consoles and...
Feature The Game-Changing Nintendo VR Headset That Never Was
"We had cool stuff working"
Argonaut Software is a name that long-time Nintendo fans will be intimately familiar with; the UK-based firm worked with Nintendo on its Super FX chip, the cartridge-based hardware that made titles like Star Fox, Stunt Race FX and Yoshi's Island possible. However, Argonaut's interest in tech didn't end there; the company...
Hardware Review How Does The Carby GameCube Component Cable Compare To The Real Deal?
Component or HDMI, that is the question
If you're of a certain age you'll understand the struggles we went through to get the absolute best picture quality out of our consoles back in the day. The GameCube was no different; in fact, we remember paying well over the odds for a modified Component-to-RGB Scart cable in order to get our NTSC GameCube...
Feature Hands-On With Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe, A Challenging New Game Boy Title With A Cute Look
You go, girl
Making a new Game Boy game in the modern era takes a lot of guts, but Tangram Games has done just that with Tobu Tobu Girl Deluxe. Successfully crowdfunded to the tune of €40,972, this is a simplistic yet challenging action title which tasks you with getting to the top of the screen using a wide range of skills while avoiding hazards...
Poll Box Art Brawl #18 - Donkey Kong 64
Walnuts, peanuts, pineapple smells
He-he-here we go! It's time for Box Art Brawl, our weekly look at which region got the best box art of a particular retro release. Last week the North American version of Ninja Gaiden on the NES absolutely trounced the competition, with the Japanese variant a distant second and Europe left stumbling in a daze...
News Playtonic's Steve Mayles Releases Special Donkey Kong Country Artwork To Mark Its 25th Birthday
As other staffers share mementoes from the period
Donkey Kong Country turned 25 yesterday, an event which is sure to have made many of us feel very old indeed. To celebrate the anniversary, Playtonic's Steve Mayles – who worked on the game during his tenure at Rare – has posted a special piece of artwork showcasing the game's heroes: Mayles...
News Hamster Is Bringing Konami's Hyper Sports To The Switch eShop Next Week
On your marks, get set, go!
Hamster is next week releasing Konami's 1984 title Hyper Sports on the Switch eShop for $7.99 / £6.29. The title arrives on 28th November and will allow up to four players to participate in seven events. These sports include swimming, skeet shooting, long horse, archery, triple jump, weight lifting, and pole vaulting...
Hardware Review Hyperkin Admiral - Wireless N64 Controller Goodness
Cut the cord
Anyone who's ever crammed around a TV with a Nintendo 64, GoldenEye 007 and a few friends will know the struggles that the short cord on the N64's controller caused. Few companies have tried to remedy this in the past with controller extensions – and controllers that just don't hit the mark – but no one has really succeeded...
Anniversary Feel Old Everyone, Donkey Kong Country Turns 25 Today
And the birthdays keep on comin'!
Hmm. It's almost like video games themselves are conspiring to make us feel our age recently. Earlier this week Super Smash Bros. turned 20 in the PAL region, and today we posted about Pokémon Gold and Silver re
Random Super Mario Land Has Been Ported To The SNES, And It Looks Amazing
If only it were official
Super Mario Land is one of the most beloved entries in the early Mario canon, despite the fact you can finish it in an evening and it has rather crude visuals, even by Game Boy standards. Still, it was, for many gamers, their first taste of 'Mario-on-the-move', and its gloriously oddball shooter levels, engaging soundtrack...
News Samurai Shodown Is Still On Course For 2019 Release In Japan, Pre-Load Now Available
While the western version is scheduled for early 2020
Update (Wed 20th Nov, 2019 18:00 GMT): The news that the western launch of Samurai Shodown wouldn't be happening until 2020 had some people assuming the that the Japanese version – pencilled in for 12th December – would also be impacted. However, that's not the case and you can pre-load the...
Anniversary Super Smash Bros. For Nintendo 64 Is Now 20 Years Old In Europe
Smashin' it mate
It's time for the birthday bumps! Yes, with time moving irrevocably and irritatingly forward, the original Super Smash Bros. turned 20 today - or a version of it did. Having had its Japanese launch in January 1999 and its North American debut in April, Europe finally received the N64 crossover brawler on 19th November exactly two...
Random So, Someone Made A Portable SNES Out Of... A SNES
Because why not?
Over the past few years, we've seen hackers and modders create some pretty impressive pieces of hardware based on existing classic systems. Portable N64s, GameCubes and even Wii Us have come and gone, each one trying to turn a beloved platform into something subtly different.
Poll Box Art Brawl #17 - Ninja Gaiden
Or Shadow Warriors to us and our PALs
Roll up, roll up for Box Art Brawl, the contest where regionally different covers of the same game battle each other to see which one stands up to the scrutiny and discerning eyes of the modern era. Last week 49% of you decreed that the Japanese cover of Banjo-Tooie was better than the rest, with the North...
News Nintendo 64 Sales Have Seen A Dramatic Rise On eBay This Year
Nostalgia's a powerful thing
eBay has released its 'Most Wanted' holiday shopping guide, highlighting the most popular products that are trending in shopper's wish lists this holiday season. Surprisingly, the 23-year-old Nintendo 64 seems to be having something of a resurgence. In a press release covering some additional insights from the guide, it...
News Konami Hasn't Completely Forgotten About Its Mystical Ninja Goemon
Is he making a return?
It has been a while since we heard from Konami's Goemon series. In fact, the last proper game he starred in dates back to 2005 during the Nintendo DS generation. Since then, the mystical ninja has resurfaced here and there, and most recently showed up in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as Mii Fighter costume in September. Now,...
News Go Retro With The 8BitDo N30, A Wireless Mouse Inspired By The NES Controller
Just don't try to play Super Mario with it
Remember the Super Nintendo mouse? It was originally designed for the 1992 release Mario Paint and was eventually made compatible with multiple other games on the system. The system's predecessor – the NES – didn't ever receive an official accessory like this, but now, after 34 years, there's at least a...
Feature The Story Of Blizzard's Diablo Junior, The Game Boy Epic That Never Was
“A Diablo-lite game with a town and lots of dungeons? I'd eat that up”
Modern-day Nintendo fans may be able to enjoy the thrills of Diablo III on the move in 2019, but at the turn of the millennium, options for Nintendo-loving dungeon explorers were far more limited – although the outlook could have been quite different. Following Diablo II's...
Poll Box Art Brawl #16 - Banjo-Tooie
Bear-and-Bird-based brawling
Come one, come all - we're about to begin the Box Art Brawl! Yes, welcome back to the weekly battle where we throw three versions of box art from the same game into a ring to determine which one wins the beauty pageant and which one(s) deserves to be boxed up forever. Last week Super Mario took on his continental...
PSA Make Sure You're Buying The Right Mega Drive Mini This Holiday Season
Nostalgia hit
Rejoice! The Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis to our American friends) is back in business this holiday season. As you'll know if you read our review of the gorgeous little thing, the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Mini finally does justice to a console and catalogue that has suffered some appalling treatment over the years, with a variety of...
Poll Box Art Brawl #15 - Super Mario Bros.
Obscure Japanese platformer
Welcome back to Box Art Brawl, the ongoing series where we examine three video game cover variants from across the globe and vote to find out which won is the toppermost of the poppermost. Last week we looked deep into the eyes of cinematic sci-fi platformer Flashback. It was decided that the Japanese variant, with its...
October2019
Feature The Most Memorable Ghosts In Nintendo Games
Spooks, spectres and ghosts that stuck around
It's close to midnight, and something evil's lurking in the dark... Well, perhaps. Yes, Nintendo Switch has its fair share of true horrors, but there's a fair chance that any ghost you happen across on Nintendo platforms could be a Casper-like friendly phantom. With Halloween almost upon us and Luigi up...
Feature 25 Years Ago, Nintendo Took On The Might Of Street Fighter With Killer Instinct
Ultra combo!
The technological sands may have been shifting dramatically back in 1994, but the ripples from the groundbreaking impact of Capcom’s Street Fighter II were still being felt in the games industry. While the 32-bit era was looming and sophisticated new games machines were introducing players to the immersive thrills of 3D worlds, the...
Feature Luigi And Video Gaming's Other Palette Swap Heroes
Clones that became stars
Luigi’s Mansion 3 releases in just a couple of days and rounds out a trilogy of excellent games featuring gaming's most famous sidekick in the starring role. Over the years Luigi has grown from mere clone to become a beloved Nintendo character and developed something of a cult following along the way. Perhaps his cowardice...
Video We Almost Had A 2D Banjo-Kazooie Platformer On Game Boy Color
Original design documents tell the tale
With the bear and bird now perfectly playable in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the love for Banjo-Kazooie has felt particularly strong as of late. You'll no doubt be aware of the original N64 game, its sequel Banjo-Tooie and more, but did you know that the series almost received a 2D platformer on the Game Boy...
News DMG Deals Damage Is A Game Boy Game Where You Smash Up Old Tech As A Game Boy
Celebrating Game Boy's 30th anniversary
Forget the fact that it's 2019 for just a moment and allow yourself to enjoy the idea of popping a brand new Game Boy game into your beloved childhood console. If this sounds like a dream come true, you might want to check out DMG Deals Damage. Released earlier this year by Ludoscience, DMG Deals Damage has...
Poll Box Art Brawl #14 - Flashback
Look into my eyes
And we're back once again for a Box Art Brawl! This is the series where we look deeply at three video game cover variants (yep, games used to always come in physical boxes, kids!) and use some good old fashioned democracy to decide which one is best. Last week we looked at three versions of Goemon's Great Adventure on Nintendo 64...
Video The Original Luigi's Mansion Might Have Been Spookier On The NES
Just in time for Halloween
Unless you've been living under a rock, you have probably heard by now a new entry in the Luigi's Mansion series is on the way to the Switch later this month. Nintendo's even gone as far as making October 2019 the month of Luigi. Also lining up with the arrival of Luigi's Mansion 3 is the release of the above video by the...
News Unreleased Super NES Prototype Tarzan: Lord Of The Jungle Emerges After 25 Years
Me Tarzan, you game
A playable prototype for a planned Super Nintendo game called Tarzan: Lord of the Jungle has been unearthed by Gaming Alexandria and a collection of assets and documents have also been made available on the site alongside an article detailing the game's history. The side-scrolling platformer was originally scheduled for release...
News Retro And Legacy Editions Announced For Aladdin And The Lion King
Pre-orders open later today
Retro video game lovers are in for a treat later this month when Aladdin and The Lion King arrives on the Switch. As part of this launch, multiple physical editions have been announced. The first two are Switch-exclusive Retro Editions for $49.99 each. Both of these come with an exclusive poster, a retro-style manual and...
News Dentist Snaps Up Collection Of Ultra Rare Retro Video Games For US$1.02 Million
A "watershed moment"
A video game fan named Eric Naierman, who also happens to be a dentist, recently forked out $US1.02 million for a bunch of first-edition sticker-sealed video games. While he's not the first person to do something like this, it's a reminder of the inflating retro market prices. So, what do you get for parting with this amount of...
News Earthbound Creator Shigesato Itoi Felt 'Indebted' To Nintendo When Pitching Mother
"I owe a lot to Mario"
In a wide-ranging interview with GameCenter CX the creator of the Mother series, known as Earthbound in the west, has shared a trove of gaming memories and tidbits about the series' development with the show's presenter 'Arino Kacho'. As you may well already know, the Japanese show features comedian Shinya Arino in the role...
Feature How Switch Brings Back Game Boy Multiplayer Memories
A link (cable) to the past
Quite apart from the huge number of great games coming to the system every week, one result of Switch’s success that we’ve really enjoyed is how it has brought back a focus on local multiplayer gaming not seen since the N64 days. Online is still king, of course, but we’d argue there’s nothing quite like the rush of...
Anniversary The Game Boy Color Turns 21 Today
They grow up so fast
Nintendo's Game Boy Color was first released in Japan 21 years ago today on 21st October 1998. A successor to the original beast that was the Game Boy, the Game Boy Color unsurprisingly featured a colour screen, giving Nintendo's handheld games a whole new lease of life. While we sadly don't have exact figures for each of the...
Poll Box Art Brawl #13 - Goemon's Great Adventure
Mystical Ninja 2, x3
Smell that? Yes, that aroma of blood, sweat and tears can only mean one thing: it's time for Box Art Brawl, the series where we lock box art variants of the same game in a cage and see which one survives to the bitter end according to votes from you bloodthirsty lot. Last week North American Trevor Belmont triumphed over his...
Feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rescue-Palooza! Is The Turtles Game You've Always Wanted
"I’ve wanted to see every NES and Game Boy game get a SNES do-over"
From the silver screen to the small screen to the even smaller screen on your Game Boy, the world’s favourite comic book pizza-lovers have featured on displays of all dimensions. But, while the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originated in pen and ink, many people remember them...
News Who Needs A Game Boy Classic Edition When You've Got The Analogue Pocket?
The maker of the Super Nt and Mega Sg is back
Hardware specialist Analogue is famous for its reference-quality clones of retro systems and has already made a name for itself with products like the Super Nt and Mega Sg, both of which harness FPGA technology to replicate the performance of classic systems on a hardware level. The company has today...
News Castlevania's Harder Arcade Version Is Coming To Nintendo Switch Tomorrow
VS. Castlevania
Hamster has revealed that the next Arcade Archives release to launch on Switch is none other than VS. Castlevania. You'll be able to get your hands on it starting from tomorrow, 17th October. The game was originally released as an arcade title back in 1986 and is very similar to the NES game which launched the year after. Retro...
News Relive The Glory Days Of Podracing With This Re-Release Of Star Wars Episode 1: Racer For N64
Available later this week
Limited Run Games is at it again, re-releasing old Star Wars games on classic systems. This time around it's the Nintendo 64 version of Star Wars Episode 1: Racer getting the special treatment. It'll be available from the LRG website on 18th October for $89.99. Here's what you can expect: Star Wars™: Episode 1 Racer...
News Classic Nintendo Mini Game Released In 1974 Found After 20-Year Search
49 down, one to go
Before becoming a juggernaut in the video game industry, Nintendo got its start manufacturing and distributing hanafuda cards. There was also a period between 1971 - 1976 when the company created a mini game toy series, comprised of 50 different games in total. One of these is supposedly called "Driving Shot"...
Poll Box Art Brawl #12 - Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Another crack of the whip from Konami
And we're back with Box Art Brawl, the series where box art variants from other sides of the planet meet up and fail to work out their differences without resorting to physical violence. Last week was a particularly bloodthirsty bout with Final Fight taking itself down to Chinatown. Despite flaws in each of the...
Feature "Nintendo Killed My Son!" - Pulling Apart A Tragic Headline More Than Two Decades On
How a single story rocked the games industry
Video games have often been blamed for many of society's ills, and only this week has the news broken that a Canadian family intends to take Epic Games to court over the addictive nature of Fortnite, which, they claim, has "ruined" the lives of their children. The case cites the classification of 'video...
Poll Box Art Brawl #11 - Final Fight
Almost certainly NOT the final fight
Welcome to this week's Box Art Brawl, the ongoing series where box art variants from around the world face off against one another to find out which is the fairest of them all. Who wins? You decide. Last week we featured GoldenEye 007 and the world's best known (and therefore presumably worst) secret agent...
Video This Stunning Trailer Turns The Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Sequel Into A N64 Game
"Not in development"
When Nintendo revealed a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was officially in development at this year's E3, the darker tone was immediately noticeable. In fact, we sort of got Majora's Mask vibes, as there was so much doom and gloom present within the teaser trailer. With this in mind, a modeler and animator...
Guide Where To Buy Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Mini
Get your retro Sega fix
It feels like it has taken an eternity for Sega to get around to releasing its own answer to the NES and Super NES Classic Editions. While the much-disliked AtGames has plopped out wonky Genesis / Mega Drive clones for years now, this new venture promised to be something different – and
News Train Up And Compete In Hamster's Latest Arcade Archives Release Karate Champ
Or wrestle cows on the beach
After being announced much earlier this year, Karate Champ is now finally being added to Hamster's Arcade Archives series this week on the Nintendo Switch. This is an action game that was originally released by Data East in 1984. Here's some additional information about it, courtesy of the official press release:...
Random Game Freak Had Plans For A Virtual Boy Title But Never Got Around To Making It
Pokémon Red?
Whenever the developer Game Freak is mentioned, you probably think about the mainline Pokémon video game series. That's not the only series it has worked on over the years, though. Little Town Hero is coming to the Switch later this month and there was a point in the Japanese company's history when it had an idea for a Virtual Boy...
Video Ever Wondered What An 8-Bit Ni no Kuni Would Look Like?
New trailer gives Level-5's JRPG a retro makeover
With software coming thick and fast to Switch these days, it's never been easier for a game - even a damn fine one - to get lost in the crowd. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch released on Switch way back on 20th September, but we wouldn't be surprised if it passed you by in the rush of great...
News Cripes, That SNES PlayStation Prototype Is Up For Sale Now
Time to remortgage the house, then
A few years back, a pretty incredible event occurred: a SNES PlayStation prototype was discovered in the wild. Owned by Terry Diebold (and discovered by his son in a box of junk that was about to be thrown out) the unit is the only known example outside of Sony's archives and dates back to the time when
September2019
News This Super Mario Bros. Fan Game Will Fire Up Your Super Show Nostalgia
Do the Mario again
We seem to be riding a fashionable wave of '90s nostalgia at the moment and when you combine that with Nintendo nostalgia (which we'd argue is always in vogue), you get a wistful blast so potent that it's sure to turn your Hypercolor t-shirt entirely orange or green or whatever colour your underarms went when it got a bit toasty...
Poll Box Art Brawl #10 - GoldenEye 007
You can never unsee it
Welcome, one and all, to Box Art Brawl! We’ve reached the tenth round in the series where we present a bunch of box art variants and then put it to you lovely people to see which one prevails in the ensuing bout. In an effort to showcase some of the dross that will never make it to this hallowed arena, we took a midweek look...
News Australia's National Film And Sound Archive To Preserve Locally Made Games
Game saver
Now that the digital age has arrived, video game preservation is arguably more important than ever. Fortunately, steps are slowly being taken around the world to ensure this industry's rich history lives on for the benefit of future generations. Down under, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia has announced it will begin to...
Feature 10 Of The Worst Nintendo Game Covers Ever
Our picks for the lowest of the low
You may be familiar with our weekend Box Art Brawl series where we pit regional versions of the same game against each other in a gladiatorial poll to find out which has the best cover art. That's all well and good, but there are a great many terrible examples that will never experience the glory of combat in our...
Hardware Review Should You Import The Japanese Mega Drive Mini?
Better pads and the Tower of Power, but is that enough?
The Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Mini is pretty special – as you'll know if you've already consulted our exhaustive review. Packed full of retro goodness and blessed with a lineup that contains some of the system's most desirable titles, it's proof that Sega is finally taking the 'micro-console'...
News Just How Much Can Your Sealed Retro Games Sell For?
UK research uncovers some shocking prices
If you're a passionate collector of retro games, and particularly of retro Nintendo games, you'll probably be painfully aware of just how costly old sealed copies can be. It isn't unusual to see sealed NES and SNES games be listed for hundreds of pounds, whether potential buyers are willing to spend quite...
Poll Box Art Brawl #9 - The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
A remake on Switch, you say?
Welcome to round number 9 of Box Art Brawl, the series where box art variants from different regions go through a rigorous training montage before cracking their knuckles and duking it out under the watchful eyes of you lovely people. Last week Michael Biehn made a very much uncredited appearance on the three covers of...
Video How The CPU Used To Cheat In Street Fighter II
You lose!
Sometimes in fighting games, CPU opponents reach God-like levels. They get to a point where they are seemingly unstoppable - executing combos flawless and taking absolutely no damage, while the player struggles to register a single hit. Although there are a number of retro fighting games that behave like this, one of the biggest offenders...
Fancy listening?
Reflect on the glory days of Rare and a few names you might remember include graphic designer Kevin Bayliss and composer David Wise. Both of these talented individuals helped shape a number of the developer's titles over the years. While they've both moved on, it appears they'll be collaborating on an "exciting new project" that...
Feature 10 Strangest Moments In Captain N: The Game Master
Celebrating the cult Saturday morning Nintendo cartoon’s 30th birthday
Super Smash Bros.? Pffft, garbage. The Marvel Cinematic Universe? Complete trash. Project X Zone? Hmmm, we appreciate your thinking but even so, nope. The greatest crossover of all time turned 30 years old this month and none of you selfish sods even noticed. We’re talking,...
News SNK's New Neo Geo Might Not Be What You Were Expecting
Update: All pre-loaded games revealed!
Update (20th Sep, 16:15 BST): SNK has now revealed the 20 games that will be pre-loaded on the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro. Here's the full list: The King of Fighters '95 The King of Fighters '97 The King of Fighters '98 The King of Fighters '99 The King of Fighters 2000 The King of Fighters 2002 Fatal Fury...
Feature Getting Reacquainted With Zelda: Link's Awakening, An Irreverent And Silly Classic
"It was like we were making a parody of Zelda"
We originally published this piece back in February, and have decided to give it another push now, to mark the launch of Link's Awakening on Switch. The Switch is getting its second Zelda game, but it perhaps wasn't one that people were expecting. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was the...
News The Wizard Is Getting A 30th Anniversary Blu-Ray Release
Thanks "to every fan who kept screaming"
When The Wizard made its original debut in-cinemas, it was widely panned by critics for being nothing more than a lengthy commercial for Nintendo and Universal Studios. Despite this, it still managed to develop a cult following over the years. Now, as we near the film's 30th anniversary, the movie's director...
Feature Uncovering The Unlikely Story Of The World's Worst Controller In The Power Of Glove
"It's so bad"
To a complete outsider, the notion of creating a documentary about a failed video game peripheral from 30 years ago might seem pointless, if not downright silly. But the Power Glove is so much more than a device which simply struggled to find its audience and meekly withdrew into the night; it has become an iconic piece of gaming...
Feature Nintendo Hardware Refreshes Through The Ages
Switch Lite is just the latest in a long line of updates
Mid-cycle hardware refreshes may sometimes feel like a relatively recent development, but console manufacturers have been releasing revised versions of their consoles since video gaming first entered the home. You might associate Nintendo hardware refreshes mostly with handheld consoles thanks...
Video Sega's Genesis Mini Gets The Tower Of Power Treatment
Super stack
Back in June, when Sega revealed the Sega Genesis Mini / Mega Drive Mini and its library of games during a Famitsu live stream in Japan, it continued to surprise viewers by showing off additional non-functioning components for the device. This included miniature-sized versions of the Sega CD / Mega CD, 32X add-on, a Sonic &...
Poll Box Art Brawl #8 - Metal Gear
Not yet on Solids
Welcome to the eighth round of Box Art Brawl, the series where we throw a trio of regional retro box arts into a weapon-filled pit to see which one scrambles out victorious, though covered in blood and spittle. This chap looks familiar... Last time we saw three Star Foxes dogfighting over Corneria and a week later we can confirm...
Hardware Classics Nintendo GameCube
Indigo, Spice and all things nice
To celebrate its 18th birthday, we take a look back at Nintendo’s little box of tricks... 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...
Hardware Review The Genesis / Mega Drive Mini Finally Does Sega's History Justice
Mega Drive me to the store
Miniaturized consoles are nothing new to Sega as it was releasing them long before Nintendo’s Classic NES and SNES consoles took the spotlight. The plug-and-play systems it produced in collaboration with AtGames usually car
Feature 20 Dreamcast Games We'd Love To See On Nintendo Switch
20 games to mark 20 years
The Dreamcast turns 20 in North America today - yes, 9/9/99 was now two decades ago - and in honour of the occasion we're republishing this article from last November when the console reached the same milestone in its homeland. Enjoy! The Sega Dreamcast turns 20 today – it launched on November 27th, 1998 in Japan – and...
Poll Box Art Brawl #7 - Star Fox
Barrel roll with the punches
Oh, hello there! We were so involved with the freshly released Super NES games on Switch we almost forgot about the big bout. Of course it's time for Box Art Brawl, the weekly showdown where three regional retro boxes battle to find out which was the fairest of them all. Last week Mega Man 3 gave itself a sound...
Reminder Rate Your Favourite GameCube Games
The Dolphin turns 18 in September, and we need your help
Update: Thanks to everyone who's rated their favourites so far. This is just a wee reminder if you missed this last week. Remember, you're scoring games - as many as you like - out of 10, not picking a top 10. Very good. Carry on! The Nintendo GameCube launched in Japan in September 2001 and...
News Pre-Orders Go Live For The Evercade Retro Handheld System
More than 100 games already confirmed
As promised, pre-orders for the upcoming Evercade console have now gone live. If you're looking to get your hands on one, keep reading! With an expanding library of cartridges that already includes the likes of Namco Museum (Pac-Man, Dig-Dug and Galaxian), Atari (Asteroids, Centipede and Pong), Interplay...
News Bethesda Brings Hell To Switch This November With The Release Of DOOM 64
Suprise, surprise
After being listed on multiple classification boards around the world over the past few months, Bethesda has now confirmed DOOM 64 for will be coming to the Nintendo Switch on 22nd November. If the title itself wasn't already enough of an indication, this classic first-person shooter started out life way back in 1997 on the...
Poll Box Art Brawl #6 - Mega Man 3
Blue on blue
Ding ding! Round 6! Welcome once again to Box Art Brawl, the series where regional retro box art variations duke it out to discover which one rules the roost. Last week we saw Super Mario Kart race itself ragged until just one version took the chequered flag. The winner? Super Mario Kart, followed closely by Super Mario Kart, with poor...
August2019
News DOOM 64 Rated By The Australian Classification Board
The armies of Hell are returning
It seems like DOOM 64 really is making a comeback in some way or form. During the weekend of QuakeCon, a PEGI rating for the game surfaced online and now – roughly a month later – one has popped up on the Australian Classification Board
News This Exclusive Evercade Console Is Looking Pretty In Black
Pre-orders go live next week
UK-based online retailer Funstock is selling an exclusive black edition of the upcoming Evercade console - perfect for any dark mode fans out there. Releasing on the same day as the standard model (20th March, 2020), the black edition will be available in a Premium Edition bundle or in an All-In Edition bundle. The...
News Retro Beat 'Em Up Jay And Silent Bob: Mall Brawl Gets A Limited Run For NES
Oldschool
Jay and Silent Bob fans are in for a treat next week, with Limited Run Games announcing the 8-bit companion brawler Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl is receiving a Limited Run for the NES, on 6th September. Snooch to the nooch! Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl, the 8-bit companion brawler to Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch from the...
Feature Has A Decades-Old Super Mario 64 Mystery Finally Been Cleared Up?
L is NOT and was never real, according to new sources
There's something about the very best video games which inspires obsession over the smallest details. Whether it involves (over)analysing a blurry texture, trying to decipher a muffled audio clip or simply experim
Poll Box Art Brawl #5 - Super Mario Kart
Before the big blue shell
Welcome to Round 5 of Box Art Brawl, where we take a gander at the box art of a certain retro game and crown one regional variant as champion. Last week the classic NES brawler River City Ransom duked it out with its counterparts until the Japanese version emerged bloody-nosed but victorious, beating down the North American...
Random Reimagining The Famicom As An Apple-Style Home Computer
Introducing the Family Computer PVM System
The classic Nintendo Famicom was a design masterpiece compared to the boxier version which regions outside of Japan got in the form of the NES. Around the time of its release, there was a bit of a trend for having combined CRT monitors incorporated into a gaming device, such as the Vectrex from 1982. Later,...
News SEGA's Yu Suzuki Would Like To Revisit Out Run And Virtua Fighter
Splash wave
Good old Yu Suzuki, the legendary SEGA designer has been responsible for some of the great arcade franchises of all time such as Out Run, After Burner, Space Harrier and Virtua Fighter. Suzuki-san is currently putting the final touches on to Shenmue III, but this hasn't stopped him dreaming of revisiting some of the classics which he...
Poll Box Art Brawl #4 - River City Ransom / Street Gangs
Vote for your favourite box art
Welcome to the fourth round of Box Art Brawl, the series where a classic retro game takes on its doppelgängers from other territories to see which has the greatest cover art. Last week we saw GameCube titan Resident Evil 4 knock itself sideways as its moody European self won a very comfortable victory over its North...
Feature Super Nintendo Games We’d Like To See On Nintendo Switch Online
You can never have enough ways to play SNES games
The discovery of an FCC filing showing a SNES controller with the model number ‘HAC-042’ (indicating it’s part of the Switch’s library of peripherals) has all but confirmed that Super Nintendo games are finally on their way to the Nintendo Switch Online service alongside their NES-based...
Poll Box Art Brawl #3 - Resident Evil 4
What'll it be, stranger?
And we're back! Welcome to the third edition of Box Art Brawl, the series where we ask you lovely people to decide which lucky territory got the best box art of a certain retro classic. Last week we looked at Contra (or Probotector as it was known in Europe) and it was decided that the North American muscle-bound variant was...
News Collector Uncovers Nearly 200 Animation Cels From Classic Super Mario Bros. Cartoons
Jackpot!
A self-proclaimed collector who goes by the Twitter handle @max6464646464 has acquired a box of nearly 200 animation cels from the original Super Mario Bros. Super Show and Super Mario Bros. 3 cartoon. Here's what this individual had to say about his lucky finding, along with some photos: The secrets out. I have aquired a box close to...
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