👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0148
Welcome to issue number 148 of our weekly news update on all things retro. I am coming to you from Osaka, where I have clocked 15k steps on the hunt for all things retro while checking and comparing prices to Tokyo. I am headed off to Super Nintendo World in a couple of days, which should be a lot of fun.
This week’s newsletter features stories about the resurrection of a legendary dolphin, Sega Saturn emulation gets an upgrade, a review of Farming Simulator on the Megadrive/Genesis, the hardest Nintendo 64 games and much, much more.
News
🎮 Nintendo Switch Online adds new SNES and N64 games including Super R-Type, Wrecking Crew ’98, and Harvest Moon 64 as free content for subscribers — ComicBook
🏆 GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64 has been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame for its lasting impact on the FPS genre — TheGamer
🦖 Rare’s cancelled Nintendo 64 title Dinosaur Planet is being revived through a fan-led recompilation project — Time Extension
🛠️ A fan-made PC port of Zelda: Majora’s Mask now supports mods, adding features like Doom gameplay, quality-of-life improvements, and new characters — GamesRadar
🧩 Retro developers express concern over Nintendo’s use of physical “Game Key Cards,” calling it disheartening for preservation and fan projects — XDA Developers
🕹️ The Nintendo Switch 2 is rumoured to support more N64 games and enhance Nintendo Switch Online features — TheGamer
🧱 Polymega’s next modular gaming component is reportedly nearing release, expanding its retro console support — Time Extension
🌊 A new Ecco the Dolphin game is in development, reviving the classic SEGA Mega Drive series — Eurogamer
🌀 A previously Japan-only Puyo Puyo dungeon crawler for SEGA Saturn has received an English fan translation — Time Extension
📱 The Delta emulator’s new update makes it easier to join its Patreon — The Verge
🕹️ A new SEGA Saturn emulator has launched, aiming to improve preservation and accessibility for the console’s library — Time Extension
🥊 A new fighting game titled Ultravore is coming to Atari Lynx, developed by Songbird Productions — The Verge
🚗 Footage of Vertexer, a cancelled futuristic racing game by Taito, has surfaced online — Time Extension
📦 The Waterford Collection, a newly uncovered trove of rare retro games and consoles, is gaining attention from collectors — Yahoo Sports
🎭 The full Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy may be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, according to reports — Digital Trends
🧶 The full list of games included in Bubsy in The Purrfect Collection has been revealed — Gematsu
📟 1990s devices like Game Boy and Tamagotchi are making a comeback with modern enhancements — Jason Deegan
⌚ A Nintendo smartwatch concept dubbed “Niino” imagines gaming features on a wearable device — TechEBlog
🚀 Earthion, a retro-inspired shoot ‘em up, is heading to Nintendo Switch — Nintendo Insider
🎮 One of the rarest GameCubes ever made is up for auction again after failing to sell for $100,000 — GamesRadar
🧩 A new device called “Game Bub” lets users play ROMs on original cartridges with working link cable support — XDA Developers
Features
🏁 A detailed look at the evolution of Mario Kart, from the SNES original to the anticipated Switch 2 entry, highlights its innovation and cultural impact — Nintendo Life
🕹️ Masahiro Sakurai reveals that Super Smash Bros. was initially met with scepticism before becoming a global phenomenon — EventHubs
🌾 Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition brings agriculture gameplay to the Sega Mega Drive with authentic retro presentation — Time Extension
🎮 The Retro-Bit wireless Mega Drive controller receives praise for its build quality and authentic feel — Gaming Respawn
💡 A retrospective highlights the innovative design and enduring appeal of the Sega Dreamcast’s controller — Time Extension
⚙️ A Panasonic 3DO has been modified with CPU overclocking, significantly boosting its performance (below) — TechEBlog
🚗 A fan has successfully ported SEGA’s arcade classic OutRun to the Game Boy Colour — TechEBlog
🛍️ This retro game store stands out so much in its community that it has inspired a video game of its own — Time Extension
🕹️ The Anbernic RG34XX SP, a new handheld modelled after the GBA SP, adds dual joysticks and 3x GBA integer scaling — NotebookCheck
💰 A massive retro console haul discovered at a yard sale includes rare hardware and games, sparking collector excitement — Game Rant
Lists & Rankings
🎯 A ranking of the hardest Nintendo 64 games highlights titles like Blast Corps, Jet Force Gemini, and Perfect Dark for their intense difficulty — CBR
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🕹️ The best Neo Geo arcade games include classics like Metal Slug, King of Fighters, and Samurai Shodown for their enduring gameplay and design — TheGamer
🍄 Super Mario fans rank characters like Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser Jr. among the most beloved in the franchise — Game Rant
🐢 A look at the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games spans hits from the arcade era to modern releases like Shredder’s Revenge — DualShockers
🎨 The Mario series’ top art styles include standouts from Yoshi’s Island, Paper Mario, and Super Mario Odyssey — TheGamer
