Retro Blog 🕰️

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 …

Retro Review: Robo Aleste – Mechanical Majesty As the Sega CD spun to life, heralding the arrival of “Robo Aleste,” it promised a journey to an era where the line between man and machine blurred amidst the backdrop of feudal Japan. This shoot ’em up title, developed by Compile, was a spectacle of technical prowess that demonstrated the Sega CD’s capabilities. It was a game that made an indelible mark, …

Retro Review: Golden Axe: The Duel – A Mixed Bag of Steel and Silence When you boot up “Golden Axe: The Duel” on the Sega Saturn, it’s like stepping through a portal to an era where arcade fighters reigned supreme. This 1995 title aimed to carry the legacy of its side-scrolling predecessors into the burgeoning realm of one-on-one fighters. While it reached for the stars visually, it stumbled in an …

In this modern era of unlimited digital content, the boundaries meant to protect the innocence of childhood are being pushed and, in some cases, completely ignored. The heart of this issue currently lies with Twitch, the premier live streaming platform that has recently come under fire for its increasingly lax approach to mature content. With the revelation that children as young as 14 are being exposed to adult-themed streams, including …

Retro Review and Longplay: R-Type Delta – A Timeless Shmup Classic for the PlayStation 1 R-Type Delta, released in 1999 for the PlayStation 1, marked the series’ explosive entry into the 32-bit era. As a venerable member of the shoot-’em-up (shmup) genre, it was tasked with carrying the weighty legacy of its arcade forebears. Now, more than two decades later, it’s time to revisit this classic and see how it …

Sega of America to Cut 61 Jobs – QA and Localization Hit Hard, Union Responds In a move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, Sega of America has announced plans to lay off 61 staff members next month. This restructuring, which significantly impacts the Quality Assurance (QA) and localization departments, is a sobering reminder of the volatile nature of the gaming business. According to the union representing the …

Hold onto your rings, Sonic fans! In a whirlwind turn of events that has the internet buzzing faster than Sonic chasing down a Chaos Emerald, Hollywood’s master of rubber-faced comedy, Jim Carrey, is reportedly stepping out of retirement and straight into the mad scientist shoes of Dr. Robotnik for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”. Just when we thought we’d seen the last of Carrey’s iconic mustache-twirling villainy, whispers from the depths …

Top 10 Most Popular SEGA CD Games of All Time The SEGA CD, an ambitious add-on to the iconic SEGA Genesis, might not have been the commercial success SEGA hoped for, but it left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape with its innovative use of CD technology. Despite its relatively short lifespan, a number of games have achieved cult status and are remembered fondly by retro gaming enthusiasts. Here’s …

The handheld gaming scene has been dominated by Nintendo since the days of the Game & Watch, but Sony’s foray into this market has left an indelible mark. The PSP is a testament to that, a device so ahead of its era that even as I pen this in 2024, it remains a beacon of handheld gaming excellence. The PS Vita, on the other hand, didn’t quite hit the same …

Publisher: Square Co., Ltd. Platform: PlayStation Release Date: November 20, 1997 (Japan); May 5, 1998 (North America) Genre: Shoot ’em up Introduction Einhänder, a side-scrolling shoot ’em up (shmup) released by Square during the golden era of the PlayStation, is a game that remains a cult classic among retro gaming enthusiasts. In an era dominated by RPGs and 3D platformers, Einhänder stood out as a unique offering with its cyberpunk …

Mega Man in the Mushroom Kingdom”Mega Man in the Mushroom Kingdom” is a ROM hack of the original “Mega Man 1” for the NES that marries the tight platforming action of Mega Man with the iconic world of Nintendo’s Super Mario series. Crafted by a creator known as alexAR in 2006, this hack offers a unique blend of two beloved universes that many of us grew up with. Story and …

Sylphia – A Mythical 8-Bit Shoot ’em Up That Still Delivers Fun The TurboGrafx-CD was home to some great shoot ’em ups back in the day, and Sylphia stands out as one of the more unique entries in the system’s library. Developed by Compile and released in 1992, Sylphia is a vertical scroller that feels heavily inspired by the NES classic Legendary Wings, and that’s a very good thing. In …

Sol-Feace – A Solid Sega CD Shmup with Slick Style   When the Sega CD launched in 1992, players were still figuring out whether the pricey add-on would become the next big leap in console gaming or fade into a niche experiment. Sega promised cutting-edge audio, animated cutscenes, and larger, more ambitious experiences than the cartridge-based Sega Genesis could handle on its own. Among the titles chosen to showcase the …

“Super Mario 64 Randomizer” takes the classic Nintendo 64 adventure and injects a fresh dose of chaos and unpredictability that will delight fans of the original. With each playthrough, the randomizer algorithm shuffles the location of stars, items, and even levels, ensuring that no two games are the same. This not only breathes new life into a beloved classic but also provides a unique challenge for veterans and new players …

The 90s were an era of transformation for the JRPG genre, with each title delivering not just captivating narratives but also pushing the envelope in terms of graphics and gameplay. 10. Wild Arms               “Wild Arms” introduces players to a unique blend of fantasy and Wild West themes, where ancient technology and magic collide. The story follows a group of adventurers seeking to prevent …

Retro Review: Abadox – The Deadly Inner War In 1990, Natsume released a title for the Nintendo Entertainment System that would become known for its blend of grotesque visual flair and approachable gameplay: “Abadox – The Deadly Inner War.” This side-scrolling shooter takes players on a perilous journey through the guts of a colossal alien organism that has consumed an entire planet, including its orbiting space colony. Gameplay and Difficulty …

Hidden Treasures: The Top 10 Most Expensive Retro Games Lurking in Your Attic Are you sitting on a gold mine? Your attic might just be a treasure trove of retro gaming riches. As Rite Aid delves into the world of vintage video game collectibles, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten most expensive retro games. These elusive cartridges, if in mint condition and especially if they’re still sealed, could …

The video ended up being close to 24 hours so I had to split it in two parts. Unlike most of my compilations this one is limited to screenshots at times because a lot of these games are just so obscure. Enjoy our comprehensive retrospective as we showcase each and every one of the classic games developed for the MS-DOS in this captivating video journey. part2: https://youtu.be/I834FDYsp_A The Legacy of …

The video ended up being close to 24 hours so I had to split it in two parts. Unlike most of my compilations this one is limited to screenshots at times because a lot of these games are just so obscure. Enjoy our comprehensive retrospective as we showcase each and every one of the classic games developed for the MS-DOS in this captivating video journey. part 1: https://youtu.be/tXx_5a5oSZk The Legacy …

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. The Game Boy Advance: A Look Back at a Handheld Legend The Game Boy Advance (GBA), released in 2001, is a hallmark of handheld gaming, remarkable for its significant leap in power and capabilities from its predecessors. As we delve into the specs, history, and …

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for NES – An Underwater Challenge of Epic Proportions The 1989 NES classic, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” brought the pizza-loving, crime-fighting reptiles from the sewers of New York City to the screens of eager gamers everywhere. While this title brought a lot of joy, it also brought immense challenge, particularly the notorious water level that tested the patience and skill of many. A Test of Turtle …

Ninja Gaiden for NES – A Test of Skill with a Story to Tell In the pantheon of NES classics, “Ninja Gaiden” stands out as a shining example of storytelling prowess and gameplay that tests the limits of even the most skilled gamers. Released in 1988, this action-packed platformer introduced players to Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja on a quest to avenge his father’s death and uncover the mysteries of a …

Dear Sega,   I hope this letter finds you riding the wave of nostalgia and innovation that has always been your hallmark. I am one of the countless fans whose voice has longed to see Sega leap back into the console hardware race, even though the timing never seemed quite right. The landscape of gaming has evolved, with future consoles setting their sights on a digital-only horizon. Yet, in this …