Retro Gaming
Ongoing coverage on Retro Gaming.
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Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article discusses five video games from the early 2000s that have aged remarkably well. It highlights titles that have stood the test of time in terms of gameplay, graphics, or overall design, defying expectations for their era.
Gladmort
Gladmort is an action platformer developed by Chipsonsteroids and published by Pixel Heart SAS, designed to emulate the challenging gameplay of Neo Geo classics like Ghouls 'n Ghosts. While it captures the aesthetic and core mechanics, the game suffers from frustrating level design and "gotcha" moments, particularly in its later stages. Despite strong boss battles, the overall execution falls short of its inspirations, making it a difficult experience for players.
City Hunter Review – Does The World NEED More City Hunter? - Pixel Byte
The review of City Hunter for Nintendo Switch notes that while its availability in English on modern platforms and the addition of new modes by Red Art Games are positive, the game itself is too brief, disorienting, and repetitive to be truly enjoyable. It is considered an interesting artifact from the PC Engine era.
THE MESSENGER - Ninja Gaiden Demastered
The Messenger, a new pixel art ninja platformer from Sabotage Studio and Devolver Digital, is set to release on August 30, 2018, for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The game features a unique mechanic allowing players to switch between 8-bit and 16-bit aesthetics and gameplay styles, paying homage to classic NES and Super NES titles like Ninja Gaiden.
Hazelnut Bastille: first trailer and a playable demo of this action-RPG inspired by Zelda: A Link to the Past!
Aloft Studio has released the first trailer and a playable demo for their upcoming action-RPG, Hazelnut Bastille, which draws heavy inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The game features a 90s-style pixel art aesthetic, a soundtrack by Hiroki Kikuta, and is being developed in Unity. A release was initially planned for 2019.
Nintendo’s March Gift: More Classic Mario Magic Coming to Switch Online
Nintendo has announced new classic Mario games will be added to Nintendo Switch Online in March 2026. While specific titles have not been revealed, the announcement has generated excitement among fans for potential additions from various eras of the franchise. This move is seen as a way to add value to the subscription service and appeal to both nostalgic players and new generations.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Preview – Electrifying!
The Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection will bring seven titles from the series to modern platforms, including the original trilogy and its variants. This collection features an isometric RPG-style gameplay with a unique Battle Card system, quality-of-life updates like adjustable screen settings and assist controls, and bonus gallery content. It is set to launch on March 27, 2026, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
PLUMP POP Joins The Arcade Archives 2 Lineup
HAMSTER Corporation has released the 1987 arcade classic PLUMP POP on Xbox Series X|S as part of its Arcade Archives line. The game features a unique premise where players use a trampoline to launch a child character to defeat airborne enemies. This release includes modern conveniences like rewind functionality and a new Time Attack Mode.
Nintendo Switch Online Is Getting Its First New Virtual Boy Games This Month
Nintendo is adding three new games to its Nintendo Switch Online service in March, including two Virtual Boy titles: Mario's Tennis and Mario Clash. A Game Boy Advance puzzle platformer, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, is also being added. All three games will be available on March 10th for users with the Expansion Pack subscription.
Three retro Mario titles are coming to Nintendo Switch Online on Mario Day
Nintendo is adding three retro Mario titles to its Nintendo Switch Online service on March 10th, also known as MAR10 Day. Mario's Tennis and Mario Clash will be available on the Virtual Boy app, while Mario vs. Donkey Kong will join the Game Boy Advance library. Access to these games requires the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen on Switch is the nostalgia hit I needed
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004, hold up surprisingly well today, offering a significant dose of nostalgia for players who grew up with them. While the games retain their original charm and gameplay, some dated mechanics and the lack of modern quality-of-life features, such as online trading and a sortable item bag, are noticeable. Despite these drawbacks, the games are considered a worthwhile purchase for fans seeking a trip down memory lane, especially when compared to the cost of original cartridges.
Nintendo Switch Online's March update to the Classics library is all about Mario, and one new game is particularly surprising
Nintendo is adding new retro games to its Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service in March, focusing on Mario titles. The update includes Mario's Tennis and Mario Clash for the Virtual Boy library, and the original Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Game Boy Advance library, with the latter being a surprising addition shortly after its remake.
Mario Day This Year Means Three New Switch Online + Expansion Pack Games
Nintendo is adding three classic games to its Switch Online + Expansion Pack service on March 10: Mario Vs. Donkey Kong for Game Boy Advance, and Virtual Boy titles Mario Clash and Mario's Tennis. These additions coincide with Mario Day and continue Nintendo's celebration of the character's 40th anniversary.
Review: Scott Pilgrim EX (Switch 2) - A Gloriously Entertaining, Fan-Service-Filled Retro Brawler
Scott Pilgrim EX is a gloriously entertaining retro brawler that continues the story of the Netflix series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, developed by Tribute Games. It features a free-roaming design with branching levels, a wealth of fan-service, and fluid animation, offering a delightful experience for fans of the genre and the Scott Pilgrim franchise. The game supports up to four players locally and online, with a variety of playable characters and upgradeable stats.
Super Bomberman Collection Review — Nostalgia Bombs | Console Creatures
Super Bomberman Collection is a nostalgic compilation that faithfully recreates seven classic Bomberman titles from the 1990s, including Japan-exclusive entries. Developed by Red Art Studios under Konami, the collection enhances the original games with modern quality-of-life features like save states, rewind, and CRT filters, while preserving the core gameplay. Despite the lack of online multiplayer, it offers a satisfying digital experience for fans of the series.
Castlevania is still coming to the Sega Master System and here's some cool footage and a demo!
Xfixium is continuing development on a Sega Master System port of Castlevania, aiming to be faithful to the NES version while incorporating aesthetics from Castlevania Chronicles and potentially Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. New footage and a playable demo have been released for the homebrew project.
Kaboomania - A bomberman clone is coming to the Amiga and PC, Kickstarter soon! [DEMO UPDATE]
Kaboomania, a Bomberman-inspired game developed by Axel Friedrich's Fancy Factory, is preparing for a Kickstarter launch. The game features retro pixel art, a new soundtrack by Chris Huelsbeck, and will be available on Amiga (including Amiga 1200 and 4000) and PC. A demo featuring the first 10 levels of the single-player campaign is now available.
Oil Panic - A 1982 Nintendo Game & Watch game appears on the C64
A new Commodore 64 game titled 'Oil Panic' has been released as a tribute to the 1982 Nintendo Game & Watch title. The creator's mission for players is to catch dripping oil and fill a drum without spilling. The game features customizable controls and local high score tracking.
Ghosts'n Goblins as a Commodore Amiga AGA edition! [UPDATE]
A new AGA edition of Ghosts'n Goblins has been released for the Commodore Amiga, specifically targeting Amiga 1200 and above. Developed by JOTD, this enhanced version features 64 colors, arcade-accurate gameplay, and new music by IM76, improving upon the original OCS release. An update to version 0.93 has also fixed bugs and improved NTSC performance for smoother scrolling.
Creepy Crawlers Goliath:Reloaded - An arcade inspired shoot em up for the Amiga by Digilicious Nibbles
Digilicious Nibbles has released Creepy Crawlers Goliath:Reloaded, an arcade-inspired shoot 'em up for the Amiga. The game, which was entered into the AmiGameJam2025 competition, features 10 levels, various enemy types and movement patterns, weapon upgrades, and high-quality sound. It was developed using Blitz Basic 2.1 and Deluxe Paint V, with all graphics being hand-pixeled.
