👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0190
Welcome to issue 190 - and March, we have a packed edition this week (very list heavy, but some interesting lists). I hope where ever you are reading this that life is good.
This week we cover the return of a number of Marvel games, The Legend of Zelda hit 40, which gaming franchise is the most prolific, the Pokemon gameboy jukebox is announced, forgotten Mario Kart is now playable again - and much much more.
Thanks for reading, you all rock ❤️.
News
🎮 Marvel is officially re-releasing several iconic video games in a single collection (below). Bam Smack Pow
🕹️ A new Game Boy ROM hack that took four years to develop serves as an entirely new entry in the Mana series. Time Extension
📺 The Disney Afternoon Collection on the Nintendo Switch 2 provides updated performance and features for classic titles. Shacknews
🎶 A compact Game Boy-inspired jukebox device has been designed as a tribute to Nintendo-related nostalgia. Digital Trends
⚔️ The PC Engine version of Popful Mail is now partially playable in English following a new translation project. Time Extension
🌳 The Secret of Mana Reborn update restores two previously lost areas that were removed from the original 1993 SNES release. Notebookcheck
🍄 A fan-made project has recreated Super Mario Bros. Wonder for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Game Rant
🐻 Banjo-Kazooie is being included in the new Rare Edition Super Pocket handheld by Hyper Mega Tech. Retro Handhelds
🚀 Technical fixes are currently being developed for R-Type Delta HD Boosted following its difficult launch last year. Time Extension
🏎️ A forgotten Nintendo Mario Kart title is playable again after two decades due to advancements in GameCube emulation. GamesRadar+
🇯🇵 The English translation of the cult Dreamcast RPG Segagaga is finished, though its distribution faces specific limitations. Time Extension
🔫 Sunsoft has announced the release of a new City Hunter game for modern platforms. Saiga NAK
🎮 Former Xbox executive Seamus Blackley and Asha Sharma discussed the evolving landscape of the gaming industry. Shacknews
Features
🚗 An analysis of a 1989 Nintendo collaboration reveals how a supercharged station wagon was equipped with an integrated NES console. HotCars
🛡️ The Legend of Zelda franchise is celebrating its 40th anniversary, marking four decades since the original title launched on the Famicom Disk System. Retro Handhelds
🐹 Twelve Tales: Conker’s 64, the wholesome predecessor to the mature Conker’s Bad Fur Day, is being released on a $70 retro handheld after 27 years of unavailability. GamesRadar+
🎮 A new DIY project demonstrates how to construct a portable NES retro handheld console using an ESP32 microcontroller and a custom PCB. TecheBlog
📟 A rare Game Boy unit discovered at an antique fair has garnered significant attention from the Nintendo retro gaming community. Click Petróleo e Gás
🕹️ The Analogue 3D is a high-end reimagining of the Nintendo 64 that offers 4K output and original controller port compatibility. Retro Dodo
🏗️ Dreamcast enthusiasts have utilised modern connectivity to establish a global leaderboard for the forklift racing minigame in Shenmue. Time Extension
🧩 An exploration of Nintendo 64 hardware reveals how two specific internal components function in tandem to manage game data processing. Digg
🚫 The original creator of Project Owl has publicly distanced themselves from a controversial attempt to revive the software for the Atari Jaguar. Notebookcheck
📉 A retrospective examines the history and commercial failure of the NEC PC-FX, a 1990s Japanese console that prioritised full-motion video over 3D graphics. Time Extension
👾 A personal reflection details how the Sega Master System influenced a lifelong approach to gaming through its unique library and hardware features. Thumbsticks
🥝 Initial feedback regarding The NewZealand Story: Untold Adventure suggests the remake lacks the charm of the original arcade title. Time Extension
🐬 Famitsu has confirmed that the upcoming Ecco the Dolphin remaster will be available on the Nintendo Switch at launch with new gameplay details. Nintendo Wire
🥊 Following a successful unofficial port of Mortal Kombat to the Atari Jaguar, the developer has announced plans to begin work on a sequel. Time Extension
🧸 A brief historical account details the development and eventual fate of Cuddles, an obscure project for the Nintendo 64. Digg
🦆 A retrospective review argues that Disney’s Goin’ Quackers for the PlayStation 2 features a difficulty level that rivals modern challenging action titles. inkl
Lists & Rankings
🎮 Several early Nintendo Entertainment System titles are credited with establishing the fundamental mechanics and design principles that continue to influence the modern gaming industry, according to DualShockers.
🕹️ A comprehensive ranking evaluates the greatest titles released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, highlighting the definitive library of the 16-bit era, according to The Phrase Maker.
⚔️ Every entry in the long-running Shining series has been ranked to determine the best titles within the celebrated tactical and action RPG franchise, according to Time Extension.
📈 Ten specific video game franchises have been identified as the most prolific in the industry based on the sheer volume of titles released over several decades, according to ComicBook.
🔋 While many Game Boy titles remain beloved, several classic games for the handheld system are noted for having aged poorly due to outdated mechanics and hardware limitations, according to CBR.
🏰 The Nintendo 64 library has been analysed to rank the greatest games released for the console, focusing on those that defined the early 3D gaming era, according to CBR.
🔧 The Nintendo 64 featured several innovative hardware and software characteristics that distinguished it from its competitors during the late 1990s, according to Game Rant.
🌀 A selection of high-quality Sega titles are highlighted for being underrated or forgotten by the general public despite their initial critical success, according to Screen Rant.
🏃 Numerous retro platformers are described as mechanically perfect yet frequently overlooked in modern discussions regarding the history of the genre, according to CBR.
👥 The Sega Dreamcast featured a variety of local multiplayer titles that transformed couch co-op into a significant social event for players, according to DualShockers.
🏆 A professional gamer has achieved a significant milestone or record within the competitive retro gaming community, according to Twin Galaxies.
🗳️ A large-scale poll involving 25,000 retro gaming enthusiasts has determined the single best PlayStation 1 game of all time, according to Retro Dodo.
📺 Certain PlayStation 2 games are recognised for their exceptional art direction and technical achievement, allowing them to maintain a high visual standard by modern criteria, according to Military.com.
