👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0138

A bumper 52 stories coming your way this week, including 30 years of Ristar, more GTA for the Dreamcast, Terminator 2 is back and 100 years of Pokemon?

News

⚽ Super Soccer Exits Switch Online in Japan, Nintendo is removing Super Soccer from the Switch Online SNES library in Japan on March 5, 2025, marking a rare case of a game being delisted from the service. Retroshell

💰 Rare Pokémon Game Sells for Over $80,000, A sealed copy of Pokémon Red (1996) set a new auction record, fetching more than $80,000 due to its rarity and pristine condition. JustCollecting

🎸 Gibson & CRKD Unveil New Guitar Controllers, Gibson has partnered with CRKD to launch officially licensed Guitar Hero-style controllers, designed for modern and retro gaming platforms. Retroshell

🎮 Retroid Pocket Flip 2: Specs and Colors Revealed, The upcoming Retroid Pocket Flip 2 handheld will feature a clamshell design, improved hardware, and multiple color options, appealing to retro gaming enthusiasts. Retrododo

🦎 Gex Trilogy Set for Summer 2025 Release, Limited Run Games confirms the Gex Trilogy will launch in Summer 2025, bringing the cult-classic platformer series to modern consoles. Retroshell

🚀 Sigma Star Saga Gets Enhanced DX Cartridge Release, The cult-classic GBA title Sigma Star Saga is receiving an upgraded physical release with new features, celebrating its 20th anniversary. Time Extension

🤖 Terminator 2D: No Fate Brings Retro Action to Modern Consoles, Terminator 2D: No Fate is set to deliver classic side-scrolling action with modern enhancements, launching on current platforms. Retroshell

📥 Anbernic Pulls Controversial Firmware Update, Anbernic has removed a firmware update that allowed direct ROM downloads, following backlash over potential legal issues. Time Extension

🕹 Old Towers Expands to Atari Jaguar, The indie puzzle platformer Old Towers is making its way to the Atari Jaguar, continuing the trend of modern games arriving on retro hardware. Retroshell

🎶 Sega Rally 30th Anniversary Soundtrack Now Streaming, The official Sega Rally soundtrack is available to stream for the first time, celebrating 30 years of the arcade racing classic. Time Extension

🎮 8BitDo Unveils Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller, 8BitDo’s new Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller blends modern technology with retro gaming appeal, supporting multiple platforms. Retroshell

🧱 Breakout: Beyond Coming to PC & Consoles in March, The former Amico-exclusive game Breakout: Beyondis set to release on PC and modern consoles next month. Time Extension

🟨 Tetris Forever Update Brings MS-DOS Classics to Modern Players, The latest Tetris Forever update adds MS-DOS game support, expanding its retro gaming library. Retroshell

🕹 GamesCare Unveils New Dev Cart for Sega Genesis, A new development cartridge for the Sega Genesis promises enhanced functionality for homebrew and prototype game creators. Retroshell

🔥 King of Fighters ‘98 Leads Arcade Archives 2 on PS5 & Xbox, King of Fighters ‘98 is the first Arcade Archives 2 Neo Geo title launching for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Retroshell

🐺 Wolfenstein RPG Gets Unofficial PC Port, The rare Wolfenstein RPG from 2008 has been ported to PC by fans, making the mobile-exclusive title more accessible. Retroshell

👊 Final Vendetta Neo Geo Release Delayed for Quality Enhancements, The Final Vendetta Neo Geo version has been delayed, with developers promising improved features and performance. Retroshell

🚀 Fan-Made Genesis R-Type Port Expands with New Content, A homebrew R-Type port for the Sega Genesis is receiving exclusive levels and enhancements. Retroshell

🌙 Sonic’s Lunar Adventure: Unfinished Fan Game Released, An incomplete Sonic fan game, Sonic’s Lunar Adventure, has unexpectedly surfaced online. Retroshell

🎮 Hyperkin Confirms PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 Clone, Hyperkin has officially announced a new clone console that will support PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 games. Retroshell

🌍 English Translation of Dreamcast RPG Segagaga in Progress, The fan translation of Sega’s cult-classic Segagaga is making steady progress toward completion. Time Extension

🥷 Justice Ninja Casey Brings SNES Classic to the West, The 1994 SNES game Justice Ninja Casey is finally getting an official Western release this week. Retroshell

💖 ToHeart Remake Launching in Japan on June 26, 2025, The ToHeart visual novel remake is set to release in Japan with updated visuals and gameplay enhancements. Retroshell

🎥 ToHeart Remake Opening Movie Compared to PS1 Version, A side-by-side comparison showcases the graphical improvements in the upcoming ToHeart remake. Siliconera

Features

📖 Metroid Prime’s Legacy Celebrated in New Visual Retrospective, A new book explores the artistic and historical impact of Metroid Prime, offering fans a detailed look at the franchise’s evolution. Retroshell

🕹 Unreleased Popeye Game for Sega Genesis Resurfaces After 31 Years, A long-lost Popeye beat-’em-up from the makers of Double Dragon has been discovered, shedding light on a canceled 16-bit project. Time Extension

🏆 BAFTA Calls for Votes on Gaming’s Most Influential Title, The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is inviting gamers to vote on the most influential video game of all time. Retroshell

💻 Developer Ports x86 Linux to the NES, A developer has successfully ported a version of x86 Linux to the Nintendo Entertainment System, demonstrating the console’s unexpected capabilities. Research Snipers

🎮 Pokémon Boss Aims for a Century-Long Gaming Legacy, Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara discusses the franchise’s long-term vision, aiming for a lasting impact over the next 100 years. Retroshell

🎮 Battle of the Handhelds: Which Portable Console Reigns Supreme?, A deep dive into the best handheld consoles, comparing classic and modern devices in the ever-evolving portable gaming landscape. Nerdbot

🕹 AYANEO Clarifies Production and Future of Flip Handheld, AYANEO has addressed concerns about the production status of its Flip handheld, reaffirming its commitment to upcoming releases. Retroshell

🐴 Link’s Iconic Horse Was Almost a Moose, Reveals Miyamoto Interview, Newly unearthed insights from Shigeru Miyamoto reveal that The Legend of Zelda nearly featured a moose instead of Epona. Creative Bloq

⚔ BioWare Co-Founder Reflects on Jade Empire’s Lost Potential, A BioWare co-founder looks back on Jade Empire, expressing regret over the studio not expanding the franchise further. Retroshell

🤼 Play Classic WCW Games with New Mods for N64, Modders have recreated WCW Saturday Night using Virtual Pro Wrestling on the Nintendo 64, offering a fresh way to experience classic wrestling games. TheSportster

📟 The Unused Terminal of the NES Disk System, A look into a forgotten feature of the NES Disk System, revealing an unused terminal mode that was never fully implemented. Retroshell

🎰 All the Classic Sega Games Featured in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (aka Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii) includes numerous classic Sega titles as playable minigames. Siliconera

🎨 Collector Digitally Preserves Iconic Street Fighter II Figures, A gaming historian has scanned and preserved rare Street Fighter II action figures, ensuring their legacy in digital form. Retroshell

🎵 Streets of Rage Composer Disappointed by Lack of Recognition, Yuzo Koshiro, the legendary Streets of Ragecomposer, expresses disappointment that his influential work isn’t more widely recognized. Time Extension

🌟 Ristar at 30: A Cult Classic Fans Want Revived, As Ristar turns 30, fans are calling for a modern revival of the beloved Sega platformer. CBR

⭐ Ristar Turns 30, Fans Demand a New Game, The 1995 Sega platformer Ristar reaches its 30th anniversary, reigniting discussions about a potential sequel. Metro

🕹 Tokyo Arcade Shares Update on Post-COVID Recovery, A famous Tokyo arcade has provided an update on its business performance after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Time Extension

🦇 Castlevania: Dracula X, Better Than You Remember?, A fresh look at Castlevania: Dracula X argues that the game deserves more appreciation than it originally received. CBR

🔗 The PlayStation Had a Hidden Multiplayer Mode Using Game Boy Cables, A forgotten multiplayer feature on the original PlayStation allowed link-cable gaming using Game Boy peripherals. Ruetir

🏈 Classic NFL Game Gets Online Multiplayer Mode via Fan Mod, Modders have introduced online multiplayer functionality to a classic NFL video game, reviving it for modern players. AppTrigger

Lists & Rankings

🎮 The Rarest NES Games and Their Prices, A look at some of the rarest and most valuable NES games, with prices reflecting their rarity and collector demand. CBR

🦔 Sonic’s Surprisingly Weak Characters, A ranking of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise’s weakest characters, highlighting those who fall short in terms of power and impact. GameRant

⚔ Best 32-Bit Tactical RPGs, Ranked, A list of the top tactical RPGs from the 32-bit era, showcasing strategic gameplay and memorable stories. GameRant

🕹 The Best Arcade Games of All Time, A curated selection of the greatest arcade games ever, celebrating their lasting influence on gaming history. Digital Trends

🎮 Best Third-Party GameCube Games, Ranked, A ranking of the best third-party titles on the GameCube, spotlighting hidden gems and fan favorites. CBR