Retro Replay Retro Replay gaming reviews, news, emulation, geek stuff and more!

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Based on one of my favorite movies of all time, Gremlins 2 The New Batch is a short but challenging game. Join Gizmo as he finds his way through a futuristic office building (Well, futuristic for the 90's that is.) As Gizmo makes his way through he not only has to face dangerous obstacles, he must also defeat the hoards of Gremlins let loose into… Read more

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Retro Review: Raiden Trad for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Introduction In the early 90s, the arcade-to-home console transition was in full swing, and among the myriad of titles making the leap was "Raiden Trad," an iconic vertical-scrolling shooter game. Originally developed by Seibu Kaihatsu, this game was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) by Micronics, presenting a home experience that could… Read more

this is probably one of my top 10 favorite games of all time. is it considered retro seeing as how it came out in 2008? either way my kids and I have decided to play it together. eventually I'll make chapters out of all of this and hopefully some sub video tutorials as well. This game was played on the PS5 via it's streaming PS3 emulator. Fallout 3 takes place in the… Read more

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Skylanders SuperChargers: A PS4 Adventure Recharged "Skylanders SuperChargers," released for the PS4 in September 2015, represented a bold stride forward for the toys-to-life genre that Activision pioneered. It was the fifth installment in the Skylanders series, developed by Vicarious Visions, known for their impressive work on earlier Skylanders titles and various other well-received projects. This retrospective review aims to delve into the game's core aspects,… Read more

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Learn how to modify the character select screen in Streets of Rage 2! In the video the Tools I use are Sonic Map Editor(Xenowhirl), Palette's of Rage(gsaurus), Sega Genesis Checksum Fixer(Kuwabara) and SOR2 Compression Utility (Original Python script by Sharpnull, GUI version by Ryan McQuinn.) Thanks to all of the tool authors, thank you to Eskayelle for help and links to tools + documentation, Thank… Read more

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! A ROM hack 7 months in the making. I originally got the idea from a post in our Retro Gaming group on Facebook. Someone photo shopped "Sesame Streets" over "Streets" in Streets of rage and posted it as a joke. A day later I started working on it. This video shows how much progress has been made so far. Link to IPS Patch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JYyLlDzJWPm4DYDrsJW-NVAv7CeZC479/view?usp=sharing I… Read more

Steel Assault: A Retro Review on the Nintendo Switch In an era where high-definition graphics and expansive open-worlds dominate the gaming landscape, it's refreshing to see a title like "Steel Assault" carve out a niche for itself with unapologetic retro flair. Developed by Zenovia Interactive and released on the Nintendo Switch, this game is a love letter to the 16-bit classics that many of us grew up with. Let’s dive into a… Read more

Hello Fellow Retro Gaming Fans, Ryan McQuinn Here! The fourth installment in the series, and my son Andy's favorite one, Skylanders Trap Team showed just how creative you can be with the toys to life concept (Aside from Imaginators, but that'll be a later video.) This one actually allowed you to not only capture every boss in the game, you could then play as them! The story goes that the Doomraiders broke… Read more

When it comes to video game bands, The OneUps have been doing this longer than most. Their official site says they have been performing since their first show in 2002, and over the years they have played events like PAX, MAGFest, and GDC while building one of the most recognizable sounds in live VGM. Their catalog on Bandcamp stretches from Volume 1 all the way to later releases like Volume 4, Arkadia… Read more

Super Mario Kart Horizons is one of the most ambitious ROM hacks in recent years, reimagining the classic SNES racer with twenty brand new tracks, four custom battle maps, an original soundtrack, and presentation elements like a custom manual and box art. The project, available at RomHacking.net and RomHackPlaza, represents the culmination of over a decade of tinkering, iteration, and dedication from its creator, Gridattack. Horizons has also been the subject of… Read more

The Arkadian was born in 2015 as the brainchild of Jon O’Neal, a musician with a passion for both heavy rock and the timeless soundtracks of video games. Influenced by artists like Stemage, Viking Guitar, Mega Beardo, and Master Sword, he began crafting arrangements that fused 70s and 80s-inspired metal with the melodies gamers grew up with. What started as solo experiments in a basement studio quickly grew into something bigger... a… Read more

When people talk about the greatest ROM hacks ever made, Super Mario Bros. 3Mix almost always comes up. Created by Southbird, this hack was more than just a simple remix of Nintendo’s NES classic... it became a sprawling tribute to Mario’s entire history. 3Mix included new mechanics like gravity flips, Yoshi integration, secret star coins, alternate exits, and even bosses and themes inspired by later entries such as Super Mario World and… Read more

When it comes to fusing heavy metal with the 8-bit sounds of classic gaming, few names resonate louder than VomitroN. The project is the brainchild a Massachusetts-based musician, producer, and lifelong gamer whose work has turned the nostalgic bleeps of the Nintendo Entertainment System into sprawling metal epics. What started as an experiment in the late nineties while playing Contra in a college dorm became a full-blown passion project, and by the… Read more

The Super Mario World hacking scene is filled with passion projects, but few creators have managed to balance accessibility, creativity, and ambition quite like xMANGRAVYx, the driving force behind LetsTalkGames. I first came across his work through Castlemania II, a gothic and atmospheric sequel that brought Castlevania inspired storytelling into the Mario universe. That game opened my eyes to how far a ROM hack could push the SMW engine. The final boss… Read more

FB Neo Git (2026/09/27) has been compiled, serving as an emulator for arcade games and select consoles. It is based on FinalBurn and older MAME versions. The latest changelog includes various updates to files such as d_gba.cpp, d_sms.cpp, d_snes.cpp, d_coleco.cpp, d_megadrive.cpp, d_msx.cpp, and d_spectrum.cpp. For more details, you can download FB Neo Git (2026/09/27) from the provided source. FB Neo Git (2026/09/27) has been compiled. FinalBurn Neo serves as an Emulator for… Read more

KytyPS5 (2026/09/25) has been released, serving as a compatibility layer for PlayStation 5. The project is still in early development, resulting in limited compatibility and potential rapid changes between builds. The latest changelog includes the execution of recompiler unit tests by @MehmetCambaz. Download the KytyPS5 version from the provided source link. KytyPS5 (2026/09/25) has been released. KytyPS5 serves as a compatibility layer for PlayStation 5. The project is still in its early… Read more

SuperSnes9x v1.63.31 has been released, enhancing the unofficial Super Nintendo Entertainment System emulator based on Snes9x. Notable features include Kaillera support, RetroAchievements, multi-controller functionality, and various viewer options. The latest changelog highlights support for the Nintendo Super System arcade with twelve playable cartridges and system fixes, as well as improved BIOS management for Super Disc and Super Game Boy functionalities. Key updates also include enhancements for various titles like Xeno Crisis and… Read more

OxyROMon v0.24.0 is a cross-platform CLI ROM organizer developed in Rust. It focuses on archiving, supporting original and lossless ROM formats, and integrates with known good databases. Recent features include ROM sorting, integrity checking, and patch file import via a web UI. Enhancements such as per-system settings, improved UI accessibility, and several new options for ROM import and conversion were introduced. The update also streamlined NSP/NSZ support, simplified GDI conversion, and fixed… Read more

OpenROM v3.6.1 has been released as a free, open-source Universal ROM Conversion Suite designed to replace fragmented proprietary tools. Featuring a modern Flutter desktop UI with a gaming aesthetic, it includes real-time terminal logging, batch processing, and smart platform detection, all offline. Key features include a customizable theme interface, over 20 conversion paths, accurate CHD header parsing, and auto-generated CUE sheets for standalone files. The software supports drag-and-drop functionality and a full… Read more

FB Neo Git (2026/09/26) is a compiled version of FinalBurn Neo, an emulator for arcade games and select consoles, derived from FinalBurn and older MAME versions. The latest changelog includes updates to slapstic variables and various files such as d_megadrive.cpp, d_pce.cpp, d_sms.cpp, and d_snes.cpp, alongside an MSX update from gab75. The source for this version is available for download. FB Neo Git (2026/09/26) has been compiled. FinalBurn Neo serves as an emulator… Read more

What if Super Mario Kart got the sequel we always dreamed of on the SNES? Horizons delivers 20 new tracks, new music, and pure nostalgia. From grassy plains to abandoned mines, Super Mario Kart – Horizons takes the SNES classic to new places. It feels like Mario Kart 2.0… and you can play it today! Super Mario Kart – Horizons: The Romhack That Feels Like a True Sequel. Watch the video or… Read more

The Super Mario World hacking community has produced everything from sprawling cinematic adventures to bite sized experimental projects. Smoked Fish and Cabbage, created by LetsTalkGames and the coder known as xMANGRAVYx, stands out as a compact yet polished introduction to the Kaizo style. Released in July 2023, the hack is short by design with seven carefully crafted levels, but within that small footprint it manages to deliver challenge, variety, and accessibility in… Read more

The Super Mario World hacking scene has always thrived on experimentation, but few projects push the envelope as boldly as Castlemania II, created by LetsTalkGames and coder xMANGRAVYx. Released in July 2025, this sequel builds upon last year’s Castlemania with even more ambition, blending Super Mario World’s platforming with Castlevania’s gothic spirit. The result is a hack that feels familiar in its controls but completely fresh in its tone and structure. From… Read more

When it comes to ambitious ROM hacks, few projects can match the scale and polish of Super Mario Bros. 3Mix, created by the talented developer Southbird. Released more than a decade ago (2014), 3Mix is not simply a reworking of Super Mario Bros. 3 but a complete overhaul that pays tribute to Mario’s past, present, and even future. The hack introduces new mechanics, new worlds, and a staggering amount of secrets while… Read more

Pacnsac Games, the prolific ROM hacker known as pacnsacdave, has built a name for transforming beloved NES titles into something wholly new while staying true to the spirit of retro gaming. In March 2020 he released The Crow, a complete hack of Sunsoft’s Batman: The Video Game. Rather than a simple cosmetic swap, this project reimagines the 1994 cult film starring Brandon Lee as if it had received its own 8 bit… Read more

When you talk about hidden treasures on the Nintendo Entertainment System, few games are as respected and mysterious as Mr. Gimmick. Released in 1992 by Sunsoft, this platformer was known for its stunning physics, demanding level design, and a soundtrack that pushed the NES sound chip to its limits. While it never reached wide audiences outside Japan and Scandinavia, it has become a cult favorite among retro enthusiasts. Fans have been asking… Read more

Nintendo has announced the boldest, most innovative move in gaming history: charging you up to two hundred dollars for the privilege of replaying a pair of Wii games you already own. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are officially coming to the Switch 2, and the bundle clocks in at a cool $150, edging toward $200 once you factor in collector’s editions, amiibo, and whatever random plastic accessory they force… Read more

An Innocent Gesture with a Dark Twist For more than two decades, fans of Super Mario World believed Mario was simply pointing forward when Yoshi stuck out his tongue. It looked playful and harmless. Mario gave the signal, Yoshi obeyed, and the duo worked together as partners. That illusion shattered in 2017, when Nintendo veteran Shigefumi Hino, the designer who created Yoshi, revealed that the original concept was very different. According to… Read more

Every Controller I Have Smashed In Rage, Ranked By The Quality Of The Meltdown There are difficult games, and then there are the ones that melt your brain until the only solution is to weaponize the nearest controller. We tell ourselves it’s just a game, but anyone who has stared down Alma in Ninja Gaiden Black, crawled across spikes in Celeste, or been betrayed by the blue shell in Mario Kart Wii… Read more

A Consistent Cutoff Leonardo DiCaprio has built a reputation for consistency in his personal life, and it appears that this rule now extends to his gaming habits. According to sources close to the Hollywood actor, he has officially stopped playing Final Fantasy IX after the game reached its 25th anniversary. Released in 2000 for the original PlayStation, Final Fantasy IX is widely regarded as one of the greatest entries in Square Enix’s… Read more

A Garage Sale Becomes a Legal Battlefield What began as a quiet Saturday morning in Saratoga, New York quickly escalated into what some neighbors now refer to as “the day Nintendo declared war on suburbia.” Local resident Robby Thompson held a simple garage sale in his driveway, offering old household items, clothing, and a box of retro video games. One of those games happened to be a sealed copy of Super Mario… Read more

A Feature Masquerading as a Flaw Since its release in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has been celebrated as one of the most successful consoles of all time. It blended handheld convenience with home-console performance, revitalized franchises like Zelda and Mario, and sold over 140 million units. But along with this success came something else: the infamous Joy-Con drift. What began as a flood of user complaints, characters walking off cliffs without input,… Read more

There was a time when taking a serious retro game collection with you meant carrying a dedicated handheld, several cartridges, a mess of cables, and probably a case big enough to qualify as luggage. Android has changed that completely. A decent modern phone can now handle everything from the Game Boy, NES, and Sega Genesis to the PlayStation, Dreamcast, PSP, GameCube, and — with the right hardware and a little patience —… Read more

Eden 0.2.1 is now available as a stability-focused hotfix for the open-source Nintendo Switch emulator. Rather than introducing a huge new collection of features, this release focuses on problems discovered after Eden 0.2.0, including large-library crashes, issues affecting 12th-generation Intel CPUs, Windows updater problems, a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe controller-related freeze, and several smaller stability bugs. If you are looking for general information about Eden rather than this specific release, visit our… Read more

Road Rash: The Complete History of EA's 90s Combat-Racing Icon Road Rash was never just a racing game with punching. It was the product of a very particular moment inside Electronic Arts, when the company was learning how to become a console developer, Sega was still fighting to establish the Genesis, CD-ROM looked like the future, alternative rock was spilling into games, and a small group of developers discovered that motorcycle racing… Read more

The $700 Dream: The Complete History of the Panasonic 3DO Before PlayStation rewrote the rules of console gaming, Trip Hawkins and some of the biggest companies in electronics and entertainment tried something even more radical. The 3DO was not supposed to be just another game console. It was supposed to change who controlled the console business in the first place. Panasonic REAL 3DO FZ-1. The machine most players associate with the 3DO… Read more