👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0167
Welcome to issue number 167 of our weekly retro gaming roundup.
In this weeks edition we have gaming at 100, the mysteries of console expansion slots, Super Mario Bros remastered (again), what would of gaming looked like if Sega won the console wars - and a ton more.
Thanks as always for reading, liking, commenting each week - subscribers have started to grow and this make the endeavour well worth while each week.
News
🎮 Sunsoft is reviving one of its classic Famicom titles as a cooperative Overcooked-style game adaptation Time Extension.
📹 Magnin & Associates released a video exploring the development of Arthur’s Absolutely Fun Day in honor of its 25th anniversary Everything Lubbock.
🎨 Sir Noggin, a colorful platformer inspired by Sega Master System and 8-bit classics, has been announced Time Extension.
🕹️ Two cult-favorite Bandai Namco GBA games will join Nintendo Switch Online next week VGC.
📜 Fans have translated Undercover Cops: Hades Project Zeus, a handheld spin-off, into English for the first time Time Extension.
👵 A developer created a video game honoring his grandmother’s legacy Daily Dot.
🐬 A new Dolphin Emulator update improves game stability and adds enhanced controller support Retro Dodo.
📟 The Pokémon Mini now supports Game Boy emulation with rumble functionality Time Extension.
🦔 A new ROM hack combines Crash Bandicoot gameplay with Super Mario World Retro Dodo.
💻 A fan remake of Super Mario Bros. has been released for PC, offering an upgraded remastered experience TweakTown.
🧱 A homebrew NES title is getting a Mario Maker-style spiritual successor Time Extension.
📼 Four 16-bit Nickelodeon games have been compiled into a new collection Games Asylum.
✨ New SNES ROM hacks adjust the Super Star Wars trilogy to make gameplay more balanced Time Extension.
🎮 Anbernic unveiled the RG476H, a new retro handheld device Technet Books.
📱 AYA Neo introduced the Pocket Air Mini, a compact handheld console TechnoSports.
🕹️ Retro Fighters announced the Brawler64 Pro, returning to its original N64 controller design Time Extension.
🎮 A ROM hack merges 1990s Sega and Nintendo aesthetics into a crossover experience Retro Dodo.
🚗 A new Sonic Racing advertisement pays tribute to 1990s Sega nostalgia (below) Dark Horizons.
🚀 Earthion, a retro-inspired 16-bit shooter, launched on PS5 and PS4 Yardbarker.
📀 Earnest Evans Collection will release in Japan on December 25 Gematsu.
📚 The cult Sega Saturn RPG Baroque is receiving a collection, still without an official translation Escapist Magazine.
🕹️ A classic arcade cabinet is returning to the U.S., this time with a Bubble Bobble theme GamesRadar.
🎨 The Neo Geo Pocket Color has received a new demake release Retro Dodo.
📦 Four Evercade cartridges will be discontinued and removed from circulation Time Extension.
🦔 A second ROM hack combining Crash Bandicoot with Super Mario World has been released Retro Dodo.
🎵 Rare MSX music recordings from 1984, titled The CX5 Tapes, have been uncovered Sonic State.
💿 The Sega Dreamcast has received a brand-new game release in 2025 Retro Dodo.
Features
👵 A 100-year-old woman in Japan continues to play her Super Nintendo almost daily, sometimes joined by her great-grandchild (SoraNews24).
🕹️ A fan project is remaking The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in Unreal Engine 5 with modern visuals (GamingBible).
💾 The developer of a Sega Saturn FPGA core disputed claims that it is fully hardware accurate, clarifying its limitations (Time Extension).
📜 A fan feature explored an alternate history where Sega beat Nintendo, speculating on how the industry might have changed (Metro).
🎮 A former PS1 horror game programmer admitted avoiding Virtual Boy development, believing the PlayStation was the superior platform (Se7en).
🔒 Super Smash Bros. 64 included a hidden anti-piracy measure that trapped players inside a stage as Mario (GoNintendo).
🔫 A minor mystery surrounding Duke Nukem’s development has been clarified after years of speculation (Time Extension).
📑 A rejected applicant revealed details of Nintendo’s notoriously difficult hiring exam (Dexerto).
🦁 A developer recounted the struggles of working on The Lion King for the Sega Genesis, describing it as an exhausting project (DualShockers).
🕵️ Atari expressed interest in remastering Snatcher, Hideo Kojima’s cyberpunk graphic adventure (GeekTyrant).
🩸 Spine Lasher, a new gothic action-platformer, is described as a “Megavania” instead of a Metroidvania due to its inspirations (Time Extension).
👻 Artwork used in a dubious Atari 2600 Ghostbusters game has been identified decades later (Ghostbusters News).
🪐 A new indie Metroidvania based on an old Atari 2600 title launched the same day as Silksong, offering a lighter alternative to Hornet’s adventure (PC Gamer).
🎮 Atari’s long-awaited Retro Pocket Portable has officially launched, offering a handheld retro gaming experience (BoingBoing).
🫧 The classic arcade title Bubble Bobble is returning to the U.S., this time with a new themed machine (GamesRadar).
🐾 A GameCube hack turns Animal Crossing villagers into rebellious AI characters, changing how the town functions (Technology.org).
📀 A new tool for Unreal Engine 5 allows developers to easily create PS1-style projects with authentic retro visuals (80 Level).
🤕 A member of the Jackass cast was featured in a notable PS2 game, remembered as a standout role (Operation Sports).
🚗 A Burnout-era PS2 racing game is highlighted as a must-play for fans of the franchise’s peak years (Operation Sports).
💻 A developer has successfully hosted a Minecraft server on Sega’s Dreamcast, showcasing the console’s modding potential (RetroDodo).
Lists & Rankings
🎥 Several classic video games utilised stop-motion animation to achieve unique and memorable visual styles, setting them apart from other titles of their time (Game Rant).
🎮 The cult-favorite PS1 RPG Baroque is receiving a Nintendo Switch port, bringing the dark, surreal dungeon crawler to a modern audience (CBR).
🖥️ A look back at console expansion slots highlights how many offered little practical use despite being marketed as major hardware features (How-To Geek).
🕹️ Several SNES titles are remembered for being ahead of their time, introducing innovative mechanics that influenced future game design (Game Rant).
🎯 Some of the best SNES games available through Nintendo Switch Online remain compelling experiences that justify the subscription service (DualShockers).
📼 Fifteen facts about 1990s video games highlight key moments, trends, and industry shifts that shaped gaming history (Go2Tutors).
⭐ A breakdown of some of the greatest throwback platformers showcases titles that are still regarded as masterpieces today (CBR).
⚔️ A list of overlooked JRPGs highlights underrated titles that many players may have missed despite their quality storytelling and gameplay (Game Rant).
📊 The best-selling video game titles of all time are ranked, showing which franchises continue to dominate the global market (TheGWW).
💿 Rare Dreamcast games are examined alongside their current market values, showing how collectible and expensive some have become (DualShockers).
🇺🇸 A ranking of the best-selling Dreamcast games in the U.S. highlights which titles defined the console’s limited but impactful lifespan (Time Extension).
📖 A list of underrated and often overlooked GameCube RPGs explores hidden gems that deserve more recognition from players (Game Rant).
