Nintendo

Retro Review: Revisiting Dreamland with “Little Nemo: The Dream Master” As a child of eight, tucked away in the comforting confines of Aunt Kelly’s house, I encountered a game that would become etched in my memory: “Little Nemo: The Dream Master” for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Fast forward to today, and the nostalgia could not be more palpable as I dust off this 8-bit gem and take another dive …

      Retro Review: Spiraling Back to “Gyruss” on the NES My first encounter with “Gyruss” for the Nintendo Entertainment System was in the early ’90s at a friend’s house—Frank Thomas was the name—and it’s a gaming session I remember fondly. Fast forward to today, and with a mix of nostalgia and determination, I’ve revisited this classic shooter, finally seeing the ending that eluded me as a kid. A …

Retro Review: Whomp ‘Em – A Stomp Through Tradition Whomp ‘Em, released for the NES in March 1991 in North America, is an often overlooked platformer that takes players on a journey through various levels inspired by Native American mythology. With its roots in the Japanese game “Saiyūki World 2: Tenjōkai no Majin,” which itself is based on the Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” Whomp ‘Em underwent cultural localization …

Retro Review: Mega Man 7 – A 16-Bit Evolution with a Polarizing Debut In the pantheon of classic gaming franchises, Mega Man stands as a colossus, and its seventh numbered entry, Mega Man 7, released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), is a particularly interesting chapter in the Blue Bomber’s storied history. Developer and Design Developed by Capcom, the studio that had already captured the hearts of gamers …

Retro Review: Mega Man 2 for Game Boy – A Pocket-sized Powerhouse In the pantheon of handheld classics, “Mega Man 2” for the Game Boy holds a special place. Released in 1992, this game brought the intense action of the Mega Man franchise to the portable world. Developed by Capcom, it was the second Mega Man game for the Game Boy and was known for bringing unique elements to the …

Mega Man: A Retro Review of Capcom’s Classic NES Game In the landscape of video gaming, certain titles have withstood the test of time to become more than just electronic entertainment; they’ve embedded themselves into the cultural lexicon, becoming symbols of an era. One such game is Capcom’s “Mega Man,” released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1987. This retro review will journey through the development, audio-visual craftsmanship, gameplay, …

Retro Review: Mega Man 2 – An 8-Bit Legacy on the NES Mega Man 2 is a game that needs no introduction to fans of the classic NES library. Developed by Capcom, this title not only defined an era of platforming games but also established a franchise that would become a cornerstone of the genre. Let’s dive deep into the game that many still hold close to their hearts. The …

Retro Review: Mega Man 5 – The Blue Bomber’s Penultimate NES Journey In the landscape of 8-bit gaming, few characters are as iconic as Capcom’s Mega Man, a character who embodies the era’s challenge, innovation, and charm. By the time “Mega Man 5” hit the shelves in December 1992, the NES was witnessing the twilight of its dominance, with the 16-bit consoles gaining traction. Despite this, Capcom delivered an experience …

Retro Review: Mega Man 6 – An NES Swan Song In the twilight years of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), a hero in blue made one final stand before the transition to 16-bit gaming. That hero was Mega Man, and his last NES adventure was “Mega Man 6,” released in 1994 in North America. This review revisits the legacy of one of Capcom’s iconic entries in the series, exploring the …

Retro Review: Mega Man 4 – A New Chapter in the Blue Bomber’s Legacy As the 8-bit era was hitting its stride, Capcom continued to bolster the library of the Nintendo Entertainment System with quality titles that would define a generation. Among these was “Mega Man 4,” released in 1991, a game that both adhered to the series’ successful formula and attempted to innovate within the constraints of the NES …

Retro Review: “Friday the 13th” for the NES – A Nostalgic Nightmare As the rain pattered against the windowpanes of a family camp on Caroga Lake, NY, in the early 90s, a young gamer found themselves plugged into a world of 8-bit terror. “Friday the 13th,” a game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in February 1989, was unlike any other experience at the time. Developed by Atlus and …

Retro Review: “Contra III: The Alien Wars” – A SNES Classic In the realm of retro gaming, certain titles are spoken of with a near-mythical reverence, and “Contra III: The Alien Wars” is one such title. Although my own gaming roots were firmly planted in the soil of the Sega Genesis, with its much-touted “blast processing,” I never laid hands on “Contra III” until 2023. The experience was a mix …

 Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Starring Pat Sajak and Vanna White, Wheel of Fortune was a gameshow where you would spin a wheel for a chance to win money by guessing letters to words in a phrase. Chances are, you’ve seen this gameshow. My Wife and I still love watching it from time to time, and though it’s been on TV since 1975, we’ve only been watching …

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Growing up as 80’s and 90’s kids, my Wife and I watched a ton of Gameshows with our respecting parents. One big one in my Wife’s home was Jeopardy. Her and her parents would see who knew the most, and could answer the quickest. She says her Dad always won. I thought it would be a good idea to put her trivia knowledge …

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Retro Review: New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS In the landscape of video game history, few titles can claim the impact of the Super Mario series. In 2006, Nintendo decided to revisit the roots of their flagship franchise with “New Super Mario Bros.” for the Nintendo DS, a game that sought to blend the classic side-scrolling action of the original games …

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! The last game in the Skylanders series, unfortunately, and the only game that allows you to create and customize your very own Skylander! Using the Imaginator Crystals, you can pick between different fighter classes, and depending on the crystal you use, different elements. As you play through the game you unlock different kinds of armor, voices, weapons and other upgrades by earning and …

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Based on one of my favorite movies of all time, Gremlins 2 The New Batch is a short but challenging game. Join Gizmo as he finds his way through a futuristic office building (Well, futuristic for the 90’s that is.) As Gizmo makes his way through he not only has to face dangerous obstacles, he must also defeat the hoards of Gremlins let …

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Retro Review: Raiden Trad for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Introduction In the early 90s, the arcade-to-home console transition was in full swing, and among the myriad of titles making the leap was “Raiden Trad,” an iconic vertical-scrolling shooter game. Originally developed by Seibu Kaihatsu, this game was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) by Micronics, presenting a home experience …

Steel Assault: A Retro Review on the Nintendo Switch In an era where high-definition graphics and expansive open-worlds dominate the gaming landscape, it’s refreshing to see a title like “Steel Assault” carve out a niche for itself with unapologetic retro flair. Developed by Zenovia Interactive and released on the Nintendo Switch, this game is a love letter to the 16-bit classics that many of us grew up with. Let’s dive …

Retro Review: Kid Icarus on the NES Nostalgia has a pixelated face, and for many, it looks a lot like “Kid Icarus,” one of the early gems in the NES library. Developed and published by Nintendo, this game is a cornerstone of classic gaming. I remember distinctly, before even owning an NES, which I received Christmas of 1987, seeing “Kid Icarus” at a Kmart kiosk. It was October 1987, the …

I never could beat this last level as a kid, glad I went back to it. Marble Madness: Rolling Through the NES Era In the golden age of arcade gaming, one title that stood out for its distinctive approach to play was “Marble Madness,” a game that first captivated players in arcades and then found its way into living rooms through the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). With its release on …

It should of been a one life clear but I flaked out at the end. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game – A Shell-Shocking NES Classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game holds a special place in the hearts of many who grew up in the early ’90s. This title wasn’t just a game; it was an after-school ritual, a weekend obsession, and for many, a …

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! The third installation in the series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Manhattan Project, is possibly one of the hardest TMNT games of its time! Luckily, Konami gave us a secret options menu to level the playing field. In TMNT 3, our heroes have to rescue April O’Neil and the Borough of Manhattan from the evil Shredder and Krang! In this video, we’ve played …

Yoshi’s Story Retro Review Publisher: Nintendo Platform: Nintendo 64 Release Date: December 21, 1997 (Japan); March 10, 1998 (North America) Genre: Platformer, Side-Scroller Introduction Yoshi’s Story, released for the Nintendo 64, stands as a sequel to the much-acclaimed ‘Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island’ for the Super Nintendo. It departs from its predecessor’s art style and gameplay mechanics, embracing a more storybook aesthetic with vibrant, textured environments that look like …

Hello Retro Gaming fans, Ryan Mcquinn here! Far away on the Fairy world of Ripple Star, Dark Matter beings have invaded and turned the star into a very dark place! The fairy, Ribbon, makes her escape on the sacred crystal through space. Narrowly avoiding the Dark Matter Beings that persue her, the crystal breaks and shards are scattered across 6 worlds. She then crash lands on Pop Star where she …