👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0189
Welcome to newsletter number 189.
In a packed newsletter with a lot of lists we have stories such as programming on the Famicom, R.O.B to hit the silver screen, new Castlevania’s, a new way to build N64 games at home, Egg to Steam and Sega loses a legend plus a lot more.
Also a thanks to all that like the newsletter (or share it) - I am thinking of a way to create some way of recognising people that subscribe and like on a regular basis. I know I sound like a broken record, but this really helps the visibility. The retro gaming community is truly one of the best. ❤️
News
🕯️ Sega issued a tribute after the death of longtime hardware designer and former president Hideki Sato, crediting him with shaping consoles from the SG-1000 through Dreamcast. GamesIndustry.biz
🎬 A leaked toy set for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reportedly suggests R.O.B. will appear, ahead of the film’s planned April 1, 2026 release date. My Nintendo News
🧛 A fan-made Castlevania Sega Master System port released its first proper demo (below), featuring original/enhanced visual modes and all stages playable despite incomplete elements and bugs. Time Extension
📉 Nintendo’s upcoming Switch/Switch 2 release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen is cited as a potential factor that could push down resale prices for older Pokémon games. ComicBook
🆓 Unreal Tournament 2004 is now available to download for free via OldUnreal, alongside a new public patch preview described as the first in over 20 years. Time Extension
🍬 Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land, an RPG built for Game Boy Color, launched on February 19, 2026 via Mega Cat Studios and Exquisite Laundry Pet. GoNintendo
📱 Sega has signaled it will discontinue support and delist the mobile “Sega Forever” versions of Sonic the Hedgehogand Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Time Extension
🦇 A separate fan project is underway to port Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to the SNES, with early footage showing progress despite being at an early stage. Time Extension
🛠️ Pyrite64 is a new open-source engine and visual editor aimed at helping creators build real N64 homebrew 3D games for actual hardware (or accurate emulators) without legacy toolchain friction. Retro Handhelds
🇬🇧 Treasure’s Japan-only N64 game Bangai-O has received two new English fan translations released around the same time by different teams. Time Extension
💾 D4 Enterprise says it plans to bring its EGGCONSOLE reissues of classic Japanese computer games to Steam, starting with Hydlide 3: The Space Memories (PC-8801). Time Extension
🕹️ Twin Galaxies spotlighted Eye Brawls, a free 2026 homebrew port released for the ColecoVision console. Twin Galaxies
🕹️ Dolphin’s mainline builds have regained Triforce arcade platform support via merged emulation work, with the update shipping in a recent development build. Time Extension
📦 The City Hunter PC Engine game remaster (Revival Edition) is set for a February 26, 2026 digital launch with new modes/features, plus physical editions planned for September 17, 2026. Final Weapon
🎮 Evercade announced a wireless controller for VS/VS-R and Alpha (with broader compatibility noted), priced at £34.99 and slated for September 2026. Time Extension
Features
🕹️ A video walkthrough shows how Nintendo’s Family BASIC cartridge, keyboard, and cassette interface let Famicom owners write and save their own programs in the 1980s. Hackaday
🎮 Pittsburgh’s Mega Cat Studios reportedly partnered with Sony Santa Monica on a surprise God of War prequel after pitching the idea, developing it in tandem with the franchise studio. Pittsburgh Business Times
🏂 The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics broadcast presentation—drone chase cams, advanced replays, and energetic commentary—is likened to the feel of classic 1990s snowboarding video games. The Guardian
🎵 Ubisoft says it understands fan disappointment with Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition’s “reimagined soundtrack,” and suggests original tracks could still return. GoNintendo
🤖 Gun Nose is revealed as a GBA-inspired robot mystery game emphasizing standout pixel art and retro handheld vibes. Time Extension
🟥 The Independent rounds up how Virtual Boy-style 3D and red-tinted nostalgia is being “revived” for Switch players via modern options. The Independent
⏱️ A top Mario speedrunner is offering cash bounties for others to beat specific records, saying he’s bored of holding the top times. Dexerto
🎾 A retrospective argues that Mario Tennis’ earlier JRPG-style progression and stat-building campaigns gave the series a distinct appeal that later entries lack. Game Rant
🧙 A look back contends Phantasy Star IV still stands as a defining Sega Genesis RPG decades later, highlighting its lasting strengths. CBR
📺 A guide explains how to set up RetroArch on Apple TV for retro gaming, covering installation basics and controller setup. AppleInsider
🧠 An interactive simulation visualizes how an 8-bit-era CPU fetches instructions and data from ROM, spotlighting low-level timing and bus behavior. PC Gamer
🧃 A nostalgia feature revisits lesser-remembered corners of 1990s gaming culture and the oddities that shaped the era beyond the biggest hits. The Escapist
🕯️ A retrospective claims the original Silent Hill remains one of the PS1’s darkest experiences and singles out a standout boss encounter as historically great. CBR
Lists & Rankings
🕹️ A ranked look at standout 1980s home consoles—spanning Nintendo, Atari, Sega, and more—highlighting the systems that defined the era and why they still matter. CBR
🚀 A roundup of five 1990s sci-fi games the author says remain highly playable today, including Super Metroid, MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries, Final Fantasy VII, Star Fox 64, and F-Zero X. SVG
🧩 A ranked top five of the author’s favorite NES games—Mega Man 2, Contra, Tetris, Super Mario Bros. 3, and The Legend of Zelda—as enduring pillars of the console’s legacy. SVG
🗡️ A full-series ordering of The Legend of Zelda games (with honorable mentions), presented from worst to best as the franchise approaches its 40th anniversary. CGMagazine
😈 A list of five notoriously tough SNES platformers—The Lion King, Donkey Kong Country 2, Hagane, Castlevania: Dracula X, and Super Ghouls ’N Ghosts—picked for their punishing difficulty. ComicBook.com
🎮 A retrospective list arguing certain GameCube titles influenced modern game design more than players may realize, with entries including Metroid Prime, Pikmin, and Kirby Air Ride. DualShockers
🦸 A ranked overview of every major Superman video game, ordered using a mix of contemporary critic scores, popularity, and play experience. ComicBook.com
🛋️ A list of nine GameCube games framed as peak “couch co-op event” experiences, spanning action, sports, and party favorites like Serious Sam: Next Encounter and Mario Power Tennis. DualShockers
🎛️ A nostalgia-driven list of eight PS2 games remembered for especially wild cheat codes—like big-head modes and other exaggerated modifiers—paired with notes on why that era of cheats is missed. DualShockers
