👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0147
This week’s letter is being written from Tokyo, where I spent a hard day walking and retro game price charting. I have another 10 days here. By the time you read this, I will be in Okinawa, and then off to Osaka to visit Super Mario World. So far, I have purchased a NEOGEO game, a Twin Famicom and some Japanese first edition gaming mags; more to come.
This week’s news includes a list of the best PS1 horror stories, dodgy GBA carts, the best emulators for your iPhone, the secrets of WCW/NWO, and much more.
News
🎮 Customers report issues with defective cartridges in Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution for Game Boy Advance, citing problems with physical quality and compatibility – GoNintendo
🚀 Metal Cancer is an upcoming NES shoot-’em-up that innovatively lets players grab and throw enemies as part of its core mechanics – Time Extension
🕵️ A newly released ROM hack of the SNES Inspector Gadget game enhances gameplay by adjusting mechanics and fixing longstanding issues – Time Extension
🐻 Hopes for a new Banjo-Kazooie game remain slim as Microsoft shows no signs of reviving the classic platformer series – Game Rant
📦 8BitDo halts U.S. shipments due to incoming Trump-era tariffs, affecting availability of popular retro gaming accessories – Polygon
🏁 A fan-made PC port of Diddy Kong Racing is in the works, enabling native play outside of emulation – Time Extension
🛍️ Sega opens its first physical store, aiming to create a branded retail experience for fans of its gaming legacy – GameSpot
🧟 A dedicated fan is developing a sequel to Altered Beast, filling the void left by Sega’s absence of an official follow-up – Time Extension
💿 The Sega Saturn “Wuxi Mod” dramatically improves how the console boots software, offering new functionality for retro enthusiasts – Time Extension
🌸 A full English fan translation of Sakura Wars 2 for the Sega Saturn has been released after years of development – Time Extension
💸 Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese imports are pushing up prices of Atari 2600 cartridges, with collectors and sellers feeling the impact – Kotaku
Features
🕹️ A gamer inherited a pristine PS1 collection from his grandfather, featuring hundreds of rare and valuable titles – Game Rant
🧱 Metal Gear Solid for Game Boy Colour, released 25 years ago, remains a standout stealth experience with unique gameplay distinct from its console counterparts – Inverse
🚗 Fan-made Dreamcast ports of GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas are outperforming PS2 originals in performance and features, thanks to extensive mods – Time Extension
📉 Japan’s retro gaming market is shrinking due to high prices and ageing collectors, according to new reports – The Mainichi
🎨 An in-depth look explores why pixel art is becoming less common in modern games despite its ongoing appeal – Power Up Gaming
💰 A list of the most valuable retro video games highlights titles worth thousands, including Stadium Events and Nintendo World Championships – Editorialge
📱 A guide to the top 10 emulators lets users legally play retro games on iPhones using apps like Delta and RetroArch – Geeky Gadgets
🎮 Masahiro Sakurai revealed he often worked on Smash Bros. characters he didn’t enjoy playing, putting gameplay balance first – EventHubs
⏳ The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is revisited 25 years later as a bold sequel that redefined storytelling and time-based mechanics – CBR
🏎️ Sega traces the evolution of its Sonic Racing games from Sonic R to Team Sonic Racing, reflecting changing gameplay trends – Nintendo Insider
🕹️ The fan-made Sega Neptune console is getting a limited-edition DOOM-themed variant, blending retro hardware with modern modding culture – Time Extension
🖋️ The iconic “You Wouldn’t Steal a Car” anti-piracy PSA font was allegedly pirated itself, raising questions about its true origin – 404 Media
🎮 Retro-Bit’s new Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller earns high marks for responsiveness and design suited for modern and legacy play – TechRadar
Lists & Rankings
👻 A ranking of PS1 horror games with the best storylines highlights narrative-driven classics like Silent Hill and Parasite Eve – Game Rant
🎮 The hardest PS2 games of all time are ranked by difficulty, featuring brutal challenges like God Hand and Devil May Cry 3 – CBR
🕹️ A definitive ranking of the best Sega Game Gear games celebrates titles like Sonic Chaos and Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya – CBR
📀 A list of overlooked PlayStation 2 games draws attention to hidden gems that flew under the radar during the console’s peak – Game Rant
🤼 Behind-the-scenes details from WCW’s N64 wrestling games reveal secrets about character designs, unused content, and masked identities – The Sportster
🔍 A rundown of underrated PS1 titles showcases lesser-known classics that deserve more attention, such as Tomba! and Fear Effect – Game Rant
📉 A retrospective on underrated consoles discusses overlooked systems like the Sega Saturn and Wii U that failed to reach mainstream success – TheGamer
