👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0188
Welcome to issue 188! This week’s edition being written from the airport bus as I am on route headed back the the UK.
In this weeks newsletter we feature stories including the return of Rayman, as is Belmont, Temco Bowl - the film, playing BOTW on the Virtual Boy(?!), and the PS2 and N64 Mario coop plus a stack more.
Thanks for reading, and double thanks if you take a second to like share or tell a friend ❤️
News
🎉 Ubisoft and Digital Eclipse released Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, bundling multiple classic versions alongside 120+ extra levels and an exclusive documentary. MixVale
🧛 FilmoGaz reports Sony revealed a new 2D entry, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, during a State of Play presentation. FilmoGaz
🦖 Limited Run Games’ Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection is set to be delisted a little over two years after launch, with the publisher saying it’s providing advance notice this time. GamesRadar+
🎲 Square Enix and KessCo announced Final Fantasy: The Board Game, starting with content based on Final Fantasy I–III and targeting a Q3 2026 release. Vijesti
🎲 ScreenRant says Square Enix and KessCo are launching a cooperative Final Fantasy board game inspired by the Pixel Remaster era, planned for 2026. ScreenRant
🎬 A Tecmo Bowl movie is in development at Tongal, with reporting describing it as a hybrid live-action/animated project. Final Weapon
🎮 Konami confirmed Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 is coming to Switch and Switch 2 on August 27, 2026, including MGS4, Peace Walker, and Ghost Babel. My Nintendo News
🕹️ Wheeze! is a newly announced Game Boy game drawing inspiration from Super Mario Land and James Pond. Retro Dodo
📟 Hyperkin’s long-delayed portable Genesis/Mega Drive device, the Mega95, is reportedly nearing release as the company shares updated progress. Time Extension
🥽 A new Virtual Boy-style headset accessory is reported to support Switch VR-enabled titles like Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. TheGamer
🧑🤝🧑 A modder connected a Nintendo 64 and a PlayStation 2 online so two players could run through Super Mario 64 in synchronized co-op. TechEBlog
🕹️ Hamster’s latest Arcade Archives release is Konami’s 1984 tank shooter Mega Zone, credited to staff who later worked on series like Contra and Ghosts ’n Goblins. Time Extension
🕯️ Sega hardware figure Hideki Sato, described as a key engineer behind systems from the SG-1000 through the Dreamcast, has died at 77. Kotaku
🚀 A fan-made Parodius port for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive continues to progress, with new updates showing the project’s ongoing improvements. Time Extension
🌀 CBR argues Sonic Adventure 2 is the standout Dreamcast title, highlighting its story setup and broader appeal on the platform. CBR
🗝️ A playable beta of Rogue 7800, a new roguelike homebrew for the Atari 7800, is now available. Time Extension
⌚ Sega is marking its 65th anniversary with two limited-edition Seiko collaboration watches featuring Sonic-themed details. Dexerto
🏐 The PS1 puzzle game Kula World is being unofficially ported to the Sega 32X, according to a new fan project update. Time Extension
⛏️ Craft Mines has been demonstrated running on Sega Saturn hardware, highlighting another modern-style fan project on the console. Retro Handhelds
📼 Rare footage of a Space Channel 5 and MTV crossover segment has resurfaced online after roughly 25 years. Time Extension
🧩 A fully reverse-engineered, commented source code release for Atari 2600’s Raiders of the Lost Ark has been published on GitHub. Adafruit
🃏 A new fan translation patch makes the Japan-only bonus board game mode bundled with Project Justice: Rival Schools 2 playable in English. Time Extension
Features
🎮 A historical look at how Nintendo’s NES helped revive the U.S. console market after the early-’80s crash through tight licensing control, smart rebranding, and flagship games that established long-running franchises. TechSpot
🗿 A rare four-foot 1990s Super Mario N64 promotional statue—one of roughly 400 produced by Dutchland Plastics—is being auctioned, highlighting the scarcity of surviving retail marketing displays from the era. Retro Dodo
🕹️ A Twin Galaxies feature spotlights “Aquarius Master System,” a project focused on playing Sega Master System games on the modern Aquarius Plus (AQ+) retro computer platform. Twin Galaxies
🌀 CBR revisits Sonic 3D Blast, framing it as an unconventional Genesis-era Sonic entry that still holds up better than many expect years later. CBR
📼 Twin Galaxies highlights the launch of SegaLordX’s “Sega Game Gear Spotlight” series, starting with a Part One overview focused on lesser-known Game Gear titles. Twin Galaxies
💎 A roundup explains why certain retro games command intense collector demand, pointing to factors like tiny production runs, unusual releases, and surviving complete-in-box scarcity. Go2Tutors
🧩 An impressions piece says Atari’s Intellivision Sprint is a focused nostalgia device with HDMI, two wireless controllers, and a library of 45 built-in games designed around Intellivision-style overlays and controls. GamesBeat
🗡️ CBR looks at The Legend of Zelda franchise’s longevity and discusses which incarnation of Princess Zelda is portrayed as the most powerful in the series’ history. CBR
Lists & Rankings
🎮 A roundup of five pre-2000 “must-play” classics—Super Mario Bros., Tetris, Street Fighter II, Chrono Trigger, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time—framed as essential retro-game experiences. SVG
🛋️ A list of nine Nintendo 64 titles that captured the “couch co-op event” feel, including picks like Super Smash Bros., Perfect Dark, Diddy Kong Racing, and Gauntlet Legends. DualShockers
🧩 A ranked selection of games described as only available on Nintendo 64, featuring lesser-seen picks such as Quest 64, Rakugakids, the Mario Artist collection, Buck Bumble, and Body Harvest. Game Rant
🎲 A ranked list of the greatest GameCube games that spotlights standout releases like Super Mario Sunshine and Resident Evil 4 among the console’s best. CBR
🕹️ An overview of retro-era habits and formats many younger players missed, from blowing cartridges and renting games to password saves, CRT TVs, demo discs, and couch multiplayer. Gaming Lyfe
📆 A year-by-year rundown naming the most popular game for each year of the 1980s, using sales and cultural impact as the guide (e.g., Space Invaders for 1980 and Super Mario Bros. for 1985). ComicBook.com
