Retro Reviews

Popful Mail: A Delightful and Overlooked Gem on the Sega CD As a fan of Working Designs, known for their excellent localization of Lunar: The Silver Star Story, I was thrilled to discover Popful Mail, a charming action-platformer developed by Falcom and published by Working Designs for the Sega CD in 1994. Despite being overshadowed by other high-profile releases of its time, Popful Mail is an amazing game that deserves recognition …

A Retro Review of Chuck Rock for the Sega CD: A Prehistoric Platformer Past Its Prime Introduction Released in 1991 for the Sega Genesis and later ported to the Sega CD in 1993, Chuck Rock is a side-scrolling platformer developed by Core Design and published by Virgin Games. The game follows the adventures of a prehistoric caveman named Chuck, who must rescue his wife, Ophelia, from the clutches of a rival caveman named Gary Gritter. …

** I had to mute so many portions of this game because of copyright issues.** Hook for the Sega CD: A Retro Review The Sega CD, known for its ambition to bring the power of CD-ROM to the gaming industry, hosted a variety of titles that sought to exploit its enhanced audio and visual capabilities. Among these games was “Hook,” a title based on the 1991 film directed by Steven …

Part 7: Chapters 13 & 14 played through by DashingDerek. Part 1: https://youtu.be/9Lyy9HGzrMw Part 2: https://youtu.be/5so8AEPlriE Part 3: https://youtu.be/vpc3rrggF-I Part 4: https://youtu.be/zNzuGwYDOso Part 5: https://youtu.be/wyt04hQWTPE Part 6: https://youtu.be/IGklBzo0hqI Part 7: https://youtu.be/rk9kRMb2kaQ Written tutorial/walkthrough: https://retro-replay.com/guides/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-walkthrough/ Review here: Chapter Synopsis Chapter 13 In Chapter 13 of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, titled “Where Angels Fear to Tread,” Cloud and his team pursue the Shinra helicopter carrying the Keystone to the Temple of the …

Part 6: Chapters 11 & 12 played through by DashingDerek. Part 1: https://youtu.be/9Lyy9HGzrMw Part 2: https://youtu.be/5so8AEPlriE Part 3: https://youtu.be/vpc3rrggF-I Part 4: https://youtu.be/zNzuGwYDOso Part 5: https://youtu.be/wyt04hQWTPE Part 6: https://youtu.be/IGklBzo0hqI Part 7: Written tutorial/walkthrough: https://retro-replay.com/guides/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-walkthrough/ Review here: Chapter Synopsis Chapter 11 In the eleventh chapter of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, titled “The Long Shadow of Shinra,” Cloud and his companions arrive in Nibelheim, a town eerily reconstructed after a mysterious incident. As …

Keio Flying Squadron 2: A Retro Review for the Sega Saturn Many Sega Saturn titles have garnered cult followings and are lauded for their unique contributions to gaming, but not all games hit the mark for every player. “Keio Flying Squadron 2” (Kyuukyoku Tiger II Plus in Japan) is one such title that, despite its charm and technical achievements, left players with mixed feelings, particularly concerning its controls and gameplay …

I failed to pick the harder difficulty level, and the game cut off without letting me play the final few levels. So that’s that. I do not want to play through a 2nd time, perhaps I will revisit this one later in life. Demolition Man on Sega CD: A Retro Review The Sega CD, an ambitious add-on to the Sega Genesis, sought to revolutionize the gaming industry with its CD-ROM …

Retro Review: “Wolfchild” on the Sega CD – A Howling Adventure in Gaming History As a dedicated retro gamer, I have a deep appreciation for the classics and the not-so-classic titles that defined the early days of gaming. One such title that often goes overlooked is “Wolfchild,” developed by Core Design and released for the Sega CD in the early 1990s. My journey with “Wolfchild” began much later than most; …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

In The Hunt: A Deep Dive into the Underwater Classic on PS1 “In The Hunt,” a title often overshadowed by its terrestrial counterparts, is a gem of the PlayStation 1 era that deserves more recognition. Developed by Irem, a company known for creating the legendary “R-Type” series, “In The Hunt” was released on the PS1 in 1995. The game, which I affectionately refer to as the “Metal Slug of the …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …