Retro Blog 🕰️

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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. …

Suare Enix Releases Controversial FFVII Remake Update Square Enix recently deployed an update for Final Fantasy VII Remake on PC and PlayStation. While containing some minor bug fixes, this update also censors Tifa’s cleavage in a notable cutscene. In the Nibelheim flashback sequence, Tifa’s outfit has been altered to cover her chest area with a black undershirt. Her original design showed more cleavage in this scene. Fans have debated whether …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth++:  Adventure in Diversity Welcome to the World of Average Gaia: Where Average is the New Extraordinary! Note: this is not just a typical localization. Square Enix Of America is remaking a great deal of the game to reach a “greater audience.” The Western gaming industry took the helm of the cherished JRPG franchise, Final Fantasy 7, and the result was nothing short of… well, ordinary. Welcome …

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 …

Retro Review: Sonic Hellfire Saga – A Genesis of Nostalgia and Innovation Sonic Hellfire Saga is not just another ROM hack; it’s a love letter to the golden era of Sega Genesis, intricately woven with the threads of nostalgia, innovation, and sheer dedication. Released after a half-decade of passionate work, the game has redefined what it means to pay homage to the classic Sonic the Hedgehog series. This in-depth review …

 Watch the video presentation above, or read below. The Top 10 Konami Games of All Time: A Legacy Unveiled Konami, a titan in the gaming industry, has given us some of the most unforgettable gaming experiences. With a vast and varied catalog, pinning down their top 10 games is no easy task. Yet, some titles have left an indelible mark on the hearts of gamers and the annals of …

he Return of Optical Media? New Disc Can Store 200TB Optical discs like CDs and DVDs may be making a comeback for long-term data storage, if new technology developed by researchers pans out. Scientists at the [University of Shanghai for Science and Technology] have created an ultra high-capacity optical disc using advanced 3D recording techniques. Their new disc can hold a whopping 1.6 petabits or approximately 200 terabytes (TB) of …

Retro Review: Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix – A Sega Genesis Triumph “Sonic the Hedgehog Megamix” is not just a game; it’s a homage to the golden age of 16-bit gaming, a symphony of speed and nostalgia that resonates with every jump and spin-dash. As a ROM hack of the iconic Sega Genesis title, it takes players on a familiar yet fresh journey through the world of Sonic, showcasing the extraordinary …

The National Museum of Play has recently added an exceptional item to its collection: a rare PC port demo of “Super Mario Bros. 3,” developed by id Software in the early days before the company became synonymous with the first-person shooter genre through titles like “Doom” and “Wolfenstein 3D.” This MS-DOS adaptation, crafted in 1990, is notable for its advanced scrolling technology that closely mimicked the smoothness of the original …

Crisis Force: A Deep Dive into NES Excellence Crisis Force is not just a game; it’s an exemplar of the technical marvels that were possible on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), despite being released in the twilight years of the console’s life. This shoot ’em up, released exclusively in Japan in 1991 by Konami, has since garnered a dedicated following among retro gaming enthusiasts around the globe. Technical Mastery by …