Retro Blog 🕰️

A Nostalgic Fan’s Lament: The Confounding Rumors of a “Woke” Hogwarts In the dim glow of my desk lamp, surrounded by shelves sagging under the weight of Harry Potter books, merchandise, and the memories of midnight releases, I find myself grappling with a peculiar kind of sadness. Recent rumors hint at a casting decision for a potential Harry Potter series that suggests a radical departure from the characters as described …

A Heartbreaking Farewell to the Tangible: Best Buy’s Betrayal with Digital Transition It’s with a heavy heart and a sense of betrayal that I must report a devastating blow to collectors, nostalgists, and anyone who cherishes the physical touch of media: Best Buy has ruthlessly cleared its shelves of all physical media. This isn’t just a business decision; it’s a knife in the back to those of us who have …

“Shapeshifting Beyond Gender: X-Men’s Morph Redefined in ’97 Reboot – Progress or Politics?” As the countdown to the eagerly anticipated “X-Men ’97” ticks away, a storm of debate has ignited over the latest news to hit the mutant fandom: Morph, the beloved shapeshifter whose first appearance captivated audiences in the early ’90s animated series, is reportedly being re-introduced as a non-binary character. This revelation has sparked a fiery conversation across …

Blowing the Dust Off: The Truth Behind the Nintendo Cartridge Ritual   For decades, gamers around the world have sworn by a seemingly magical fix for glitchy Nintendo game cartridges: blowing into them. Despite Nintendo’s own warnings that this practice could actually harm the delicate circuitry, many have felt the satisfying click of a cartridge that only started working post-puff. But what is the truth? Did blowing into those cartridges …

The Nintendo 64: A Historical Overview and System Review Enjoy our comprehensive retrospective as we showcase each and every one of the classic games developed for the Gameboy Advance in this captivating video journey, or read up on the system and review below! The Nintendo 64, launched by Nintendo in 1996, is a landmark home video game console that marked a generation with its innovative approach to gaming and its …

“X-Men ’97 Revival Makes a Bold Move with Nonbinary Character Morph”   As the world turns its gaze towards the latest offering from Marvel, the X-Men ’97 series revival, it seems the creators are not just content with a simple nostalgia trip. In a move that’s gotten everyone talking, the series is introducing a nonbinary character—Morph. Though some might wonder if this is a genuine step towards inclusivity or a …

Watch the video above or read below. “Super Mario 64,” a gem in the gaming world, celebrated for its vibrant landscapes and pioneering 3D gameplay, holds an eerie secret within its first level—a secret that evaded the eyes of millions, until now. Danni from the Retro Replay Message Boards has peeled back the cheerful exterior of “Bob-omb Battlefield,” exposing a grim reality that casts a shadow over the Mushroom Kingdom …

The Ultimate Showdown: Top 10 Most Popular Fighting Games Ranked The evolution of fighting games has been a spectacle of the gaming world, showcasing the adrenaline-fueled drama that only this genre can provide. Each title on this list has contributed to the genre’s legacy, creating a competitive and vibrant community. Here’s a look at the top 10 most popular fighting games that have defined the genre, each a specific title …

Retro Review: “The Adventures of Little Ralph” – A Hidden Gem on the PS1 It’s not every day that one stumbles upon an obscure classic that should have been a household name. “The Adventures of Little Ralph,” a 2D platformer released exclusively in Japan for the PlayStation in 1999, is one such title. I had the pleasure of discovering this game only in 2024, and it’s a damn shame it …

Remembering Jennell Jaquays: A Beacon of Creativity and Inclusivity in Gaming It is with a heavy heart that we reflect on the life of Jennell Jaquays, an iconic figure in the gaming industry whose influence shaped the way we play and design games today. Jennell passed away on January 10th, 2024, but her legacy endures in the countless worlds she crafted and the barriers she broke down throughout her illustrious …

Retro Review: Global Gladiators – The Sega Genesis Classic that Championed Environmentalism In the year 1992, nestled beneath the Christmas tree, lay a gift from my parents that I hadn’t asked for—Global Gladiators for the Sega Genesis. Little did I know, this game would become a significant part of my childhood, its graphics etched into my memory, even though I wouldn’t conquer its challenges until many years later. Developer’s Vision …

The Rise and Fall of the INDREMA L600: The Console That Never Was In the 1990s, video game enthusiast John Gildred envisioned an open source console that would democratize game development. The technology wasn’t there yet, but the idea lingered. By 1999, after witnessing firsthand the modding potential of PC games like Quake, Gildred was inspired. What if anyone could be a developer? In early 2000, he made that vision …

The Overhyped Debacle: Dissecting “Rise of the Robots” In the annals of video game history, few titles have managed to garner as much pre-release hype and post-release disappointment as “Rise of the Robots.” This was a game that promised the moon but delivered a handful of space dust. Let’s dive into the gritty details of how this high-budget, low-return venture became a cautionary tale for the industry. “Rise of the …

Unveiling the True History Behind the Video Game Cartridge In the annals of video game history, few innovations have had as profound an impact as the video game cartridge. For decades, one name has been held aloft as the father of this game-changing technology: Jerry Lawson. However, recent findings have prompted a reevaluation of this narrative, revealing a story of collaboration and innovation that extends beyond Lawson’s considerable contributions. The …

Retro Review: Parodius – A Delightfully Punishing Trip Through Konami’s Madhouse When Konami unleashed “Parodius” upon the Sega Saturn, it gifted the shoot ’em up (shmup) community with a title that would become notorious not just for its off-the-wall humor, but for its brutal difficulty. This is a game that lures you in with its cheeky charm and vibrant sprite work, only to unleash a bullet hell that would test …