๐พ 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 weekโs 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
๐ฎ Nintendo Switch Online adds new SNES and N64 games including Super R-Type, Wrecking Crew โ98, and Harvest Moon 64 as free content for subscribers โ ComicBook
๐ GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64 has been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame for its lasting impact on the FPS genre โ TheGamer

๐ฆ Rareโs cancelled Nintendo 64 title Dinosaur Planet is being revived through a fan-led recompilation project โ Time Extension

๐ ๏ธ A fan-made PC port of Zelda: Majoraโs Mask now supports mods, adding features like Doom gameplay, quality-of-life improvements, and new characters โ GamesRadar
๐งฉ Retro developers express concern over Nintendoโs use of physical โGame Key Cards,โ calling it disheartening for preservation and fan projects โ XDA Developers
๐น๏ธ The Nintendo Switch 2 is rumoured to support more N64 games and enhance Nintendo Switch Online features โ TheGamer
๐งฑ Polymegaโs next modular gaming component is reportedly nearing release, expanding its retro console support โ Time Extension
๐ A new Ecco the Dolphin game is in development, reviving the classic SEGA Mega Drive series โ Eurogamer
๐ A previously Japan-only Puyo Puyo dungeon crawler for SEGA Saturn has received an English fan translation โ Time Extension
๐ฑ The Delta emulatorโs new update makes it easier to join its Patreon โ The Verge
๐น๏ธ A new SEGA Saturn emulator has launched, aiming to improve preservation and accessibility for the consoleโs library โ Time Extension
๐ฅ A new fighting game titled Ultravore is coming to Atari Lynx, developed by Songbird Productions โ The Verge
๐ Footage of Vertexer, a cancelled futuristic racing game by Taito, has surfaced online โ Time Extension
๐ฆ The Waterford Collection, a newly uncovered trove of rare retro games and consoles, is gaining attention from collectors โ Yahoo Sports
๐ญ The full Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy may be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, according to reports โ Digital Trends
๐งถ The full list of games included in Bubsy in The Purrfect Collection has been revealed โ Gematsu

๐ 1990s devices like Game Boy and Tamagotchi are making a comeback with modern enhancements โ Jason Deegan
โ A Nintendo smartwatch concept dubbed โNiinoโ imagines gaming features on a wearable device โ TechEBlog
๐ Earthion, a retro-inspired shoot โem up, is heading to Nintendo Switch โ Nintendo Insider
๐ฎ One of the rarest GameCubes ever made is up for auction again after failing to sell for $100,000 โ GamesRadar
๐งฉ A new device called โGame Bubโ lets users play ROMs on original cartridges with working link cable support โ XDA Developers

Features
๐ 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 โ Nintendo Life

๐น๏ธ Masahiro Sakurai reveals that Super Smash Bros. was initially met with scepticism before becoming a global phenomenon โ EventHubs
๐พ Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition brings agriculture gameplay to the Sega Mega Drive with authentic retro presentation โ Time Extension
๐ฎ The Retro-Bit wireless Mega Drive controller receives praise for its build quality and authentic feel โ Gaming Respawn
๐ก A retrospective highlights the innovative design and enduring appeal of the Sega Dreamcastโs controller โ Time Extension
โ๏ธ A Panasonic 3DO has been modified with CPU overclocking, significantly boosting its performance (below) โ TechEBlog
๐ A fan has successfully ported SEGAโs arcade classic OutRun to the Game Boy Colour โ TechEBlog
๐๏ธ This retro game store stands out so much in its community that it has inspired a video game of its own โ Time Extension
๐น๏ธ The Anbernic RG34XX SP, a new handheld modelled after the GBA SP, adds dual joysticks and 3x GBA integer scaling โ NotebookCheck
๐ฐ A massive retro console haul discovered at a yard sale includes rare hardware and games, sparking collector excitement โ Game Rant

Lists & Rankings
๐ฏ A ranking of the hardest Nintendo 64 games highlights titles like Blast Corps, Jet Force Gemini, and Perfect Dark for their intense difficulty โ CBR
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๐น๏ธ The best Neo Geo arcade games include classics like Metal Slug, King of Fighters, and Samurai Shodown for their enduring gameplay and design โ TheGamer
๐ Super Mario fans rank characters like Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser Jr. among the most beloved in the franchise โ Game Rant
๐ข A look at the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles video games spans hits from the arcade era to modern releases like Shredderโs Revenge โ DualShockers
๐จ The Mario seriesโ top art styles include standouts from Yoshiโs Island, Paper Mario, and Super Mario Odyssey โ TheGamer