👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0178
Welcome to issue number 178. Im still playing a lot of Arc Raiders and Marvel Snap, going to hopefully test my Analogue 3D with a job lot of N64 games I picked up earlier in the year.
In this weeks edition we feature stories including using AI to decompile N64 games fast, another retro Lego handheld, Stranger Things in retro mess up and a load more (lots of lists this week).
Thanks to all of you that read, like and spread the word each week - you all rock. ❤️
News
🧟 A cancelled Splatterhouse RPG titled Splatter World is now fully playable in English thanks to a fan translation patch — Time Extension
🕹️ AYANEO has unveiled a silver limited edition of its Game Boy-inspired handheld, the Pocket DMG — YugaTech
📦 Edia is releasing a new Nintendo Switch collection based on Wolf Team’s Zan series, a set of historical strategy games from the ’90s — Time Extension
🎃 The Game Boy Color RPG Gumball in Trick-Or-Treat Land is set to launch in February 2026 — Forbes
🧱 LEGO is preparing to release another buildable retro handheld kit, continuing its series of nostalgic tech replicas — Retro Handhelds
🌱 A fan is working on an early-stage project to recreate Secret of Mana on the PC Engine, despite technical and memory limitations — Time Extension
🧠 A new AI-powered tool enables rapid one-shot decompilation of N64 games, significantly accelerating reverse engineering efforts — WebProNews
🎮 A Banjo-Kazooie-style fan game has appeared on PlayStation’s Dreams platform, showcasing familiar characters in a new setting — Inverse
🚗 Cult-favorite N64 game Body Harvest — a spiritual precursor to GTA — is now available on an emulation-based console, though it comes at a high cost — GamesRadar
🦖 Multiple Turok games are reportedly in development for a 2026 release on modern platforms — ComicBook
⚔️ Queen’s Domain is a newly announced action RPG that draws inspiration from FromSoftware’s classic King’s Fieldseries — Time Extension
🌀 A fan-made Dreamcast port of Star Fox 64 is now available, unofficially bringing the Nintendo classic to Sega’s console — Time Extension
Features
🕹️ A British collector has spent over £2,000 on retro video games since 2020 and insists he will never sell his prized collection, including rare Japanese titles – The Telegraph
🎮 The Llamasoft Collection for Evercade highlights Jeff Minter’s unique contributions to gaming history, featuring titles like Gridrunner and Attack of the Mutant Camels – Time Extension
🧱 The NES is named the most important gaming console of all time for revolutionizing home entertainment and shaping the modern gaming industry – CBR
👻 Stranger Things Season 5 features a Ghosts ‘n Goblins arcade cabinet on set, continuing the show’s tradition of 1980s gaming references – Kotaku
💼 A community poll reveals the best retro handheld consoles at different price tiers, reflecting broad user preferences across budget and performance – Retro Handhelds
🧩 A console modder has created the smallest known PlayStation motherboard using advanced miniaturization techniques – TechSpot
🎭 Trey Parker and Matt Stone say they despise South Park 64, despite its cult following among fans – Cracked
🌱 PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny describes playing Pikmin on GameCube as a transformative moment that deepened his appreciation for storytelling in games – GamesRadar
🕹️ A recently surfaced pitch reveals Sega nearly launched a handheld to compete with the Game Boy, with analysts believing it could have been a major success – Time Extension
✨ Square Enix hints at potential HD-2D remakes for classic titles like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI, following success with past remakes – Polygon
💾 A developer has successfully run Sonic the Hedgehog on the Amiga, merging two iconic 16-bit gaming legacies – Hackaday
💸 The voice actor behind NBA Jam’s iconic “Boomshakalaka!” catchphrase reveals he was paid only $800, despite the game generating over $1 billion in revenue – NotebookCheck
📉 Xbox lost its lead in the console war due to strategic missteps in game development, hardware perception, and ecosystem limitations – GamingBolt
📰 Nintendo’s dominance in the handheld gaming market persists even amid rising competition and shifting industry dynamics – National Post
🕹️ Atari is re-releasing the 1981 version of Pac-Man for the 2600 as part of its ongoing retro revival strategy – AV Club
📱 Anbernic announces the RG 477V, a new vertical-format retro handheld with upgraded specs and compatibility – Android Authority
🔤 A fan translation patch is being developed for Gunslinger Girl, a PS2 rail shooter based on the anime series, which was previously Japan-only – Time Extension
Lists & Rankings
🕹️ A look back at several obscure 1985 arcade games reveals how many once-prominent titles have faded from public memory, despite their historical significance in gaming. SVG
🎮 A ranked list spotlights the 10 best Super Nintendo games, highlighting iconic titles that defined the SNES era. ComicBook.com
🕹️ Several 1987 video games are revisited for their innovation and quality, despite being underrated or overlooked at the time. SVG
🧢 Nintendo is called out for sidelining 15 notable franchises that once played a key role in its legacy. EarlyGame
👾 A curated list celebrates some of the best video games from the 1980s, praising their enduring influence and gameplay excellence. CBR
🎮 A ranked list spotlights the 10 best Super Nintendo games, highlighting iconic titles that defined the SNES era. ComicBook.com
🎨 A collection of visually stunning GameCube games is highlighted for their artistic direction and technical achievements. TheGamer
🕹️ All Sega Genesis launch titles are ranked, providing a retrospective on how each game contributed to the system’s early identity. CBR
🔥 A ranking of the top 10 Sega Genesis games features standout titles that helped define the 16-bit generation. ComicBook.com
💥 The 10 best Neo Geo games are ranked, showcasing the platform’s arcade legacy and technical prowess. ComicBook.com
