Tag: NES - Page 11
Video The Incredible Tale Of The $50 Nintendo World Championships Cartridge
Stranger than fiction
Last year Nintendo resurrected the Nintendo World Championships, an event it first held back in 1990. As a result, interest in the special competition cartridges - handed out to winners
News Super Russian Roulette Is The Deer Hunter Video Game You Never Knew You Wanted
"I gotta get more bullets in the gun"
Michael Cimino's seminal 1978 drama The Deer Hunter may feature mesmerising performances from the likes of Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and the late (and criminally underrated) John Cazale, but perhaps its most famous contribution to modern cinema is that scene where De Niro, Walken and John Savage's...
Chipping away
In the world of music vinyl is currently enjoying something of a resurgence, with the antiquated audio format coming back from the dead to take pride of place in any self-respecting hipster's living room. While it's unlikely that this trend has anything to do with the release of RIKI's 8Bit Music Power, parallels can nevertheless be...
Video Travel Back To 1990 For This Nintendo-Filled Birthday Event
Batman! DuckTales! Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom?!
Close friend and occasional Nintendo Life contributor Tyler Esposito is at it again - he's followed up on the Christmas video which saw him tearing off the wrapping to his shiny new NES back in 1989 with a birthday clip which shows just how popular Tim Burton's Batman movie wa
News New NES Game "Germ Squashers" Aims to Benefit Children's Miracle Network
Making everyone feel better
It's not every day that you see a new game release for an old console, but it does happen from time to time. Though these releases will typically launch on a modern digital storefront simultaneously with the physical cartridge, it's still a great way to make a new game as retro as it can possibly get. The next new NES...
News Get Ready for Light Gun Action in This Week's North American Nintendo Download Update
The Adventures of Bayou Billy! Wild Gunman! Hogan's Alley!
Starting with Duck Hunt in late 2014, Nintendo has been retrofitting and re-releasing - along with third-party partners - some iconic NES light gun / Zapper games for the Wii U eShop. They naturally utilise the Wii Remote pointer to recreate that old-fashioned practice of zapping pixels on...
Video Ghostbusters, Batman, Police Academy Toys And Nintendo - Say Hello To Christmas, 1989 Style
iretrogamer.com's Tyler Esposito shares another home movie
1989 was a vintage year. Not only did it give the world Tim Burton's Batman and Ghostbusters II, it saw the release of the Sega Genesis and Game Boy in North America. It was also a big year for iretrogamer.com founder and occassional Nintendo Life contributor Tyler Esposito - then a...
Review Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (Wii U eShop / NES)
Nice videogame, shame about the plot
After dealing with that dark sword business Ryu Hayabusa might have hoped to put his feet up, but more evil schemes are in motion and so he must do his ninja thing once more. The powerup from the previous game that could provide duplicates to help in his quest has gone, but it turns out there is still another Ryu...
Video Your Washed-Up Parent Can't Handle Modern Games So Get Them A NES This Christmas, Says eBay
"THIS is a video game!"
eBay may primarily be about the buying and selling of second hand goods, but that doesn't mean the company is going to sit back and miss out on the retailing frenzy that is Christmas. With that in mind, the firm has published a commercial which focuses on how it can enliven the festive period of gamers, but in our eyes it's a...
Review Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (Wii U eShop / NES)
Tough but fun Ninja action - Part 2
For the first NES Ninja Gaiden game, Tecmo created a tough but fun action platformer. It was very different to the scrolling beat 'em up action of the arcade game, but people liked it; sales must have been good too, because Ryu Hayabusa returned for a second NES outing. Gameplay in Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword...
Video Take A Trip Through The Magical Kingdom In Capcom's Most Underrated NES Disney Outing
But what's Donald Duck's middle name?
Capcom produced plenty of amazing games for the NES, and many of those were based on popular Disney properties such as DuckTales, Chip 'n Dale and TaleSpin. However, one such game never seems to get much attention, despite the fact that it offers a pretty unique concept which sets it apart from its licenced...
Random Disney Engineers Play NES Classics In Innovative Fashion
8-bit, 8-player, 8-projector madness!
Disney has always been known for its innovative flare, including within the videogame industry through its licenses and Disney Infinity titles. However, Disney Infinity is not the topic of discussion here, for the Disney Research team has revolutionised a way of revisiting NES classics in the form of...
Review Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones (Wii U eShop / NES)
A tough but enjoyable adventure for Bimmy and friends
Bimmy. If there's one thing people know about Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones, it's Bimmy – a typo during the game's (multiplayer) intro that humorously renames the main protagonist. There's more to this third NES entry in the Double Dragon series than a small chuckle however. There's a...
Review The Adventures of Bayou Billy (Wii U eShop / NES)
Billy's swampland slog
In 2014 Nintendo suddenly realised that it could recreate the experience of a light gun game by using the pointer controls of the Wii Remote. Duck Hunt arrived on the Wii U eShop that Christmas and a few other NES Zapper games have followed since. Now we have Konami's The Adventures of Bayou Billy, although it should be noted...
News 8 Bit Music Power is a New Famicom Release, Due Out 31st January
The first release in 21 years
The Famicom was a trailblazing console in many ways, virtually paving the way for a successful game industry after many thought it would fade away. Nonetheless, the console is a product of the early 80's and has since been succeeded by numerous consoles that have gone on to achieve bigger and better things. Although the...
News Fangamer Launches Legends Of Localization Book 1: The Legend Of Zelda
It's dangerous to read alone
Fangamer is publishing a book all about the localisation (or localization, if you prefer) of the very first Legend of Zelda title on the NES, and it looks set to be an essential purchase for truly hardcore fans of the series. Written by professional translator Clyde "Tomato" Mandelin, whose credits include Attack on...
News Chief NES Designer Describes Nintendo as an Indie Studio
"Nintendo has always been like that, we are like indies"
In a game industry that's increasingly becoming larger and more monetized, Nintendo arguably stands as an oasis. While it may be that the company plays it safe a fair amount, it's nonetheless notable for its implementation of creative or innovative ideas. After all, how many other AAA...
News The NES Joins The High Definition Era With This Awesome HDMI Mod
Back to the future
A HDMI mod is already in the works for the N64, and allows you to get the best possible picture out of the vintage system. However, that's not the only modification which brings retro hardware bang up to date - there's a similar mod available for the older NES which performs the same trick. Available via Game-Tech, the Hi-Def NES...
"Oh, what, Mega Man 3's out? Yeah, we don't have that one yet."
Before the internet came along and made sure that every possible hint, tip and cheat was just a Google search away, players relied on magazines and telephone lines for their gaming wisdom. In North America, Nintendo's Powerline game play counselors became almost God-like thanks to their...
Retro Classic NES, SNES And N64 Controllers Get Stripped Down For Inspection
The evolution of play
Nintendo's story could be seen as the story of the games industry as a whole, certainly from an interface perspective. The company's NES console introduced domestic players to the D-Pad (first used on the 1982 Game & Watch Donkey Kong) and more than one action button, while the SNES a
Review Stinger (Wii U eShop / NES)
Cute, creative and cruel
Most shmups ask you to shoot your way through hordes of enemy ships while dodging gunfire. Stinger asks you to do this while juggling. The cute, goofy exterior of the game hides just how challenging it can be, as while it may be hard to take smiling shoes, flying phones and whirling donuts seriously, they're all highly...
News 1993 Kirby's Adventure Interview Reveals Cut Content, Alternative Names And Why Kirby Is Pink
"Normally a character like Kirby would have been yellow"
Kirby is now a firmly-established member in Nintendo's vast catalogue of intellectual properties, but back in 1993 he was very much a newcomer looking to prove himself - as this fascinating interview from the period attests. Freshly translated by Shumplations.com, the feature originally...
Review Zoda's Revenge: StarTropics II (Wii U eShop / NES)
Time for Mike to make his return
For banana fans and island hoppers alike, the original StarTropics stands to this day as an under-appreciated classic of the NES library. It's the kind of imperfect gem that sadly went a little under the radar at the time of its release, but has endured as a cult favourite thanks in large part to its distinctive...
News Lost NES Title Wonderland Dizzy Made Available For Free
My head is spinning
Famous games dev siblings The Oliver Twins have just released a NES title which was assumed lost many years ago. Wonderland Dizzy - an entry in the beloved platforming series the brothers originally created for the likes of the ZX Spectrum and C64 - was produced during the early '90s but never saw the light of day on Nintendo's...
Review Dig Dug II (Wii U eShop / NES)
Dig in
The original Dig Dug was fairly popular, so naturally a sequel had to follow eventually. Dig Dug II ended up being not nearly as widespread as its predecessor, only seeing release in arcades and on the NES, so you'd be forgiven for not even knowing it existed! Dig Dug II takes a massive departure from the first game. True to its title that...
News Nintendo Marks Back To The Future's 30th By Releasing Wild Gunman On The Virtual Console
"You mean you have to use your hands? That's like a baby's toy"
The NES isn't the only thing that hits the big Three-O this year - the legendary Hollywood movie series Back to the Future also began 30 years ago, and in a neat bit of anniversary fusion, Nintendo is acknowledging the fact by releasing Wild Gunman on the Wii U Virtual Console. As any...
News Sony Wishes The NES A Happy 30th Via Twitter
"Thanks for paving the way"
As we reported yesterday, the NES is now 30 years old. Nintendo's 8-bit console is arguably one of the most important video game hardware releases of all time, as it laid down the third party software licensing framework that still exists today and resorted consumer faith in a console market which had been all but...
News The NES is Now 30 Years Old
The game changer
The NES is 30 years old today, at least based on its widely agreed - albeit historically debatable - North American release date. Not to be mistaken with the Famicom release - which is way back in 1983 - it was nevertheless the Nintendo Entertainment System rebranding and a certain Super Mario Bros. that catapulted Nintendo further...
News NES Designer Explains the History of the Console's Release in North America
The one that started it all
The game industry was a very different place back in the early 80's, teetering just on the edge of extinction. Market saturation and poor quality games were major contributing factors to this, leading many to believe that video games were just another passing fad that would vanish as quickly as they appeared. It got to...
News These Limited Edition Analogue Nt Consoles Will Make Your Bank Account Weep
Gold LE and Famicom LE limited to 50 units each
We've been keeping a keen eye on the Analogue Nt since it was first announced as we're massive fans of the Analogue Interactive CMVS systems released in the past. By the sound of things this highly-refined NES system has been a real hit with fans, as the first production run is totally sold out...
Review Tecmo Bowl (Wii U eShop / NES)
Move over Madden 16, Tecmo Bowl is back and stealing the NFL spotlight
1989 wasn't just an amazing year because that's when this writer was born. It's an also amazing year because that's when Tecmo Bowl received its home console release on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Boasting an impressive roster from the 1988 NFL season, players could now...
Weirdness Japanese Company Wants To Bring NES Games To Smartphones Via A Tiny Cartridge
Small device plugs into into your headphone socket
Modern gaming is becoming increasingly focused on digital distribution, with publishers making use of online stores such as the Wii U and 3DS eShops to deliver games directly to consumers without having to produce physical media. With rumours that Nintendo's next console could abandon physical...
Video Watch Miyamoto And Tezuka Pick Apart The Iconic Opening Level Of Super Mario Bros.
World 1-1 walkthrough by the guys who made it happen
As you may well have seen, Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka recently visited the UK and were kind enough to spend some time not only with us, but also with our friends over at Eurogamer. While we decided to have a good old-fashioned music session with the two legends, Eurogamer spent its time...
Retro Float Back In Time With This Gallery Of Nostalgic NES Packaging
Cardboard cool
Old-school game packaging was pretty incredible. Sure, some 8-bit releases have terrible box art and were clearly designed in the space of a single evening, but there's a charm to their rough and ready nature - they hark back to a more primitive, innocent age. Engadget's Sean Buckley knows this all too well, and has kindly posted a...
News Quest Forge: By Order Of Kings Mixes Zelda And Secret Of Mana, But You'll Need A NES To Play It
A brand new old RPG
Homebrew developer Ludocity has just released a new RPG, but there's a catch - you'll have to take a trip up to the loft and dust off your old NES in order to play it. Quest Forge: By Order Of Kings is a top-down role-player which, according to the developer, combines elements of The Legend of Zelda and Secret of Mana. The game...
Weirdness Blizzard's Heroes Of The Storm Features A Nintendo-Themed Easter Egg
Duck and cover
Blizzard's popular MOBA Heroes of the Storm recently got a substantial update which updated existing characters and introduced the Dialbo III's Monk, who naturally has his own menu screen to reside in outside of the game itself. It's in this menu screen that Blizzard has chosen to hide a special Duck Hunt Easter Egg. Spotted by...
Gallery This NES Console Mod Is The Ultimate Metroid Tribute
Worth hunting for
This year marks 29 years since Metroid was released in North America, and to celebrate the occasion fans are paying tribute to the NES classic in a wide range of ways. Modder Platinumfungi has collaborated with airbrush artist Noel McEwen to craft a one-of-a-kind NES console complete with a Samus sprite which lights up when the...
News This Controller Wants to Bring the 'Next Gen' to NES
Works on the 8-bit system or PC
Plenty of companies tackle the surprisingly complex challenge of producing a high quality game controller, and not all pull it off successfully. We somewhat admire the effort from Retro Fighters, then, which is aiming to crowdfund a 'next gen' NES pad. The main pitch for this pad is that it has both usb and a NES...
Ninterview Meet The Man Who Makes Hip-Hop Music From Classic Nintendo Hardware
"The controller we have created is like wearing my childhood round my neck"
We recently came across a UK based hip-hop producer and DJ by the name of Imperial, who makes quite a striking impression with a strange musical instrument strapped around his neck, which has parts that might seem very familiar to our readers. This musical instrument is...
News The Classic NES Lives On As An Awesome PC Case Mod
Pimp my NES
The iconic Nintendo Entertainment System was hardly a design classic back in 1985, but it holds special memories for many of us. What better way to keep the spirit of the humble NES alive than with a custom PC case mod? A PC Gamer reader gutted an old NES which he had lying around, went to work with a dremel and sandpaper and gave the...
News Analogue Nt Starts Shipping To Buyers, Pitched As "The Leica Of Home Consoles"
"We've always looked up to the standards of companies like Leica"
Analogue Interactive's Analogue Nt has completed its initial production run and is now shipping out to consumers. The aluminium-cased console - which plays NES and Famicom carts - comes from the same company which gave us the wooden SNK Neo Geo AES and features a wide range of AV...
Weirdness Drink Back Your Childhood With This “Bartendo" Line From Ink Whiskey
Drunk on nostalgia
Think back to 2013 and you may or may not remember the release of the Ink Whiskey Entertainment Flask, which was an alcoholic take on classic NES games of the past, with titles such as, “Legend of Drink" and “Drunk Hunt." It might not have been one of the classiest ideas, but it had a strong Kickstarter campaign and was...
Video Latest Teens React Episode Proves Age Has Done Little To Dull Contra's Insane Difficulty Level
Co-op for experts
We're keen followers of the excellent React YouTube channel, especially the retro videos which show gamers young and old struggling to come to terms with some of the most famous titles in the business. This time up, it's Konami's hard-as-nails run-and-gun shooter Contra (or Probotector if you're in Europe). Contra is considered to...
News Final Fantasy Wasn't Named For The Reason You Think
Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi sets the record straight
Final Fantasy is arguably the most important release in the entire history of Square Enix - or Squaresoft, if you'd prefer - and one of the biggest names in the video game business. For many years it was said that the game was so named because it represented the last throw of the dice for the...
Video Get The Best Picture From Your NES With This Comprehensive Guide
Retro refinement
Whether you're hoping to dig into some more obscure titles, or want to fully relive the days of flickering tv screens and boxy controllers, there's still plenty to be said for hooking up the original NES and getting a properly authentic experience. Unfortunately, Nintendo's first home console isn't the easiest to work with if you're...
News Unofficial Metroid Prequel Uses The Original NES Hardware To Impressive Effect
Metroid: Rogue Dawn is coming later this year
Will we see a new Metroid game at this year's E3? Fans will certainly hope so, but in the meantime we can all get excited about a fan-made prequel which uses the original NES hardware for that extra degree of authenticity. Metroid: Rogue Dawn takes the original title and hacks it apart, building an...
Video Teenagers React To Duck Hunt And The Iconic NES Zapper
“I feel the power within me”
Not everyone was around to experience the iconic NES Zapper when it was originally released in 1984, so that’s why the latest Teens React video is showcasing Nintendo’s accurate light gun and the all-time NES classic, Duck Hunt. Watch as teens come to the consensus the electronic light gun accessory is actually...
News Say Hello To Star Fox's NES-Based Forerunner, NesGlider
The prototype which started a profitable friendship
Star Fox is one of the most technically impressive games on the SNES, and was a collaboration between Nintendo and UK-based Argonaut Software. We've covered the making of the game in the past, but Unseen64 has an excelle
News Pirate Bay Co-Founder Unable To Experience The Joys Of NES Behind Bars
Game over
In November last year, The Pirate Bay co-founder, Fredrik Neij, was arrested after five years on the run. Since then, he’s been experiencing life behind bars. Now, according to the latest reports from Swedish news magazine, Expressen.se, Neij has recently been denied the use of a Nintendo Entertainment System to play video games while...
News Nintendo Submits Trademark for NES Controller
We weren't aware it was still required
The legal world of trademarks and rights can be slightly baffling at the best of times, so a Nintendo of America trademark for the NES controller, essentially, is certainly one to raise eyebrows. The application is most certainly for the design of the iconic controller, with the image above being included...
