Retro Blog 🕰️

Anita Sarkeesian's Misguided Criticism of CD Projekt Red Feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian  took to Twitter to criticize CD Projekt Red, the developer behind the Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, for what she perceives as a lack of proper female representation in their games. While the tweet has aged some, her stanceand power in the gaming world have stayed fresh. In her tweet, Sarkeesian made a clear threat, stating that if the… Read more

A recognized personality in the gaming industry is currently incarcerated in Iredell County. Los Angeles resident Nicholas Dean Des Barres, who is also a self-proclaimed furry - faces charges for sending indecent communications to a teenager. His career in the gaming sector spans more than two decades. The teen's father revealed to Channel 9's Dave Faherty the disturbing manner in which he uncovered the situation: his son had received a parcel from… Read more

Nintendo Decimates Village After Unauthorized Mario Merchandise Scandal In a shocking turn of events, the tranquil village of Greenburn Grove has been reduced to ashes by the gaming giant Nintendo. The company's drastic action came after a young resident, 10-year-old Timmy Parker, was caught selling 3D-printed Mario keychains without obtaining the necessary rights from Nintendo. The Incident Timmy, an aspiring entrepreneur, decided to use his father's 3D printer to create a batch… Read more

Super Junkoid: A Hauntingly Beautiful Metroid Masterpiece. Watch the video above or read the review below.  But first, we had a brief interview with the ROM hack creator, P. Yoshi, where she was kind enough to answer some questions for us! Q: (Retro Replay) Can you tell us how you first discovered ROM hacking and what inspired you to start creating hacks of your own?A: (P. Yoshi) I like Metroid so I… Read more

Over the past few years, many gamers have noticed a concerning trend in mainstream video games: an increasing focus on controversial ideological themes at the expense of solid gameplay. From heavy-handed Marxist undertones to divisive gender politics, these games often prioritize pushing certain agendas over delivering engaging and well-crafted experiences. After some digging, it appears Sweet Baby Inc. is NOT the only group destroying the games we love. Sweet Baby Inc. and… Read more

Over the past few years, many gamers have noticed a concerning trend in mainstream video games: an increasing focus on controversial ideological themes at the expense of solid gameplay. From heavy-handed Marxist undertones to divisive gender politics, these games often prioritize pushing certain agendas over delivering engaging and well-crafted experiences. After some digging, it appears that a consulting company called Sweet Baby Inc. may be largely responsible for this shift in the… Read more

It's been some time since we learned longtime Ken Masters voice actor Reuben Langdon was recast. At the time neither Capcom nor Langdon commented on the decision – until now. Controversy and Out-of-Context Reporting To recap: three years ago articles from Newsweek and other commentary on Langdon's personal beliefs were taken out of context, which Langdon has now confirmed led to him being dropped as the voice of Ken Masters. Reuben previously… Read more

The Quintessential Sega CD Games for Each Year of the Console's Lifespan The Sega CD, released in 1991 as an add-on for the Sega Genesis, brought CD-ROM technology to console gaming. Despite its limited success compared to the SNES, the Sega CD had a notable library of games that showcased its unique capabilities. Let's take a journey through the most quintessential Sega CD games for each year of its lifespan. 1991 Sol-Feace… Read more

In recent news, the popular Nintendo Switch emulator Yuzu has been the subject of legal action from Nintendo, the gaming giant known for fiercely protecting its intellectual property. However, the Yuzu community has proven to be resilient in the face of this challenge. Rather than succumbing to Nintendo's legal pressure, the open-source nature of Yuzu has given rise to three new emulator projects: Nuzu, Suyu, and Yuzu Vanced. The Hydra Effect This… Read more

The premier Sega Genesis Game for Each Year During the Console's Heyday The Sega Genesis, also known as the Mega Drive in regions outside of North America, was a 16-bit gaming console that competed head-to-head with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The Genesis had its own unique library of games that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in gaming at the time. Let's take a look at the most quintessential… Read more

Virtual Villainy: Parents Rally Against the Blocky Bloodshed in Video Games In an unprecedented crusade for virtual virtue, the Coalition for the Prevention of Digital Dastardliness (CPDD) has emerged as the world's last hope against the pixelated plague of video game violence. This valiant group of concerned parents has declared a merciless war on the most nefarious of foes: the sinister square, the diabolical digital denizen, and the catastrophic cubic creation. The… Read more

Yuzu Emulator Shuts Down After Surprise Settlement With Nintendo In a shocking turn of events, the developers behind the popular Yuzu Nintendo Switch emulator have agreed to permanently shut down the project as part of a sudden settlement with Nintendo. In a statement included in today's joint motion, Yuzu's developers acknowledged the monetary relief as fair, considering the potential range of damages and legal costs that could have been incurred from a… Read more

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) is a hallmark of retro gaming, a testament to Nintendo's enduring legacy in the video game industry. Each year of the SNES's prime brought a standout game that not only defined the year but also left an indelible mark on gaming as a whole. Let's take a nostalgic journey through the most quintessential SNES games from its golden years. 1991: Super Mario World The Definitive Launch… Read more

Navigating the Legal Landscape of Retro Game Emulation In recent times, the revival of classic video games through emulation has sparked a renaissance for retro gaming. This resurgence has raised important questions about the legality of emulators and ROMs. While some gamers dive into the nostalgia-fueled world of emulation with abandon, others hesitate, wary of potential legal consequences. Here, we provide a comprehensive look at the legalities of emulation, informed by past… Read more

Tifa's original design in the 1997 release of "Final Fantasy VII" featured a character with disproportionately large breasts, a common trend in character design during that era, reflective of certain aesthetic preferences in the gaming industry. Over the years, there has been a push for more realistic and less sexualized representations of female characters in video games. The "Final Fantasy VII Remake" responded to these concerns by presenting a redesigned Tifa that… Read more

The Top 10 Darkest and Most Horrific Video Game Characters of All Time Video game history is filled with villains and antagonists, but some eclipse others in their malevolent deeds and the darkness they bring to their digital worlds. These characters have committed acts so vile and shocking that they've cemented their place in the pantheon of virtual infamy. Let's take a deeper dive into the top 10 darkest and most horrific… Read more

Unveiling the Controversy: The Quest for Super Monkey Ball's Lost "Adult" Levels Super Monkey Ball, a long-standing franchise known for its family-friendly puzzle-platforming gameplay, took an unexpected turn in 2012 with the release of "Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz" for the PS Vita. The game, which usually catered to a younger audience, suddenly found itself in the midst of a controversy due to a set of levels featuring adult-oriented content. Sega's "Banana… Read more

The Iron Grip of Nintendo: A Retro Rant on Gaming's Lost Potential Let's wind the clocks back to the 1980s – the era of neon, synth-pop, and the rise of the home video game console. Among the giants of the time, Nintendo's NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) stood as the colossus, dominating living rooms across the globe. But behind the scenes of this pixelated revolution was a darker tale, one that involved Nintendo's… Read more

The Unmatched Greatness of NFL 2K5 Before we get to the mod, one must understand the history. When NFL 2K5 hit the market in July 2004, it did so with a strategic price point of $19.99, significantly lower than the typical new release price for video games at that time, and particularly lower than its main competitor, Madden NFL 2005, which was being sold at the standard price of $49.99. This aggressive… Read more

Nintendo Initiates Legal Action Against Yuzu Emulator Developers Nintendo is taking legal action against the developers behind Yuzu, a popular emulator for running Switch games. The legal filing points out that Yuzu unlawfully bypasses Nintendo's software security measures and contributes to piracy. The lawsuit highlights a significant instance where over one million downloads of "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" were reported prior to its official release, coinciding with a… Read more

SEGA's nostalgic gem, Vay, initially released in 1993 for the SEGA CD and subsequently earning its place as a JRPG cult classic, particularly in the West, is poised for a resurgence. Fans can look forward to an "entirely new, fully reimagined port" specifically tailored for iPhone devices, set to launch later this year. The original game, developed by Hertz and released by SIMS in Japan, saw its North American debut thanks to the… Read more

Lunar: Silver Star Story Touch Launches for Android Fans of classic RPGs, get ready! The beloved Lunar: Silver Star Story Touch, previously available on iOS, is set to make its way to Android devices on January 26th. This news comes via Pocket Gamer, and it's sure to excite those who have been waiting to experience the game on their Android phones and tablets. The journey of Lunar: Silver Star Story began on the Sega CD in… Read more

The Sega CD: An Ambitious Leap into CD-ROM Gaming The Sega CD, known as Mega-CD outside North America, was Sega's ambitious foray into the world of CD-ROM technology in gaming. From the moment I tore open the wrapping paper one Christmas morning to reveal a Sega CD, the year it was released, my gaming experiences were forever transformed. That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with richer soundtracks… Read more

The video game sector continues to face a challenging period marked by ongoing layoffs. Sony has joined the ranks of companies reducing their workforce, announcing on Tuesday the dismissal of approximately 900 employees from its PlayStation division, which accounts for 8% of its global headcount. The impact of the layoffs will be felt across several high-profile development teams within the Sony family. Notable studios that will be affected include Naughty Dog, creators… Read more

22-Year-Old Finds 'Holy Grail' Copy of 1987 Zelda Game Worth Over $700,000 A sealed copy of the 1987 Nintendo classic 'The Legend of Zelda' is expected to sell for over $700,000 at auction this week, thanks to a chance discovery by a 22-year-old. The owner, who goes by Kiro online, originally purchased the game for just $30 back in 1987. Stored for decades in his family's home, Kiro decided on a whim… Read more