#retro gaming
9 article(s)
Moonwalker Mega Drive: Still Standing After 36 Years
On August 25, 1990, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker launched on Mega Drive. Not a quick cash-in movie tie-in, but a project shaped by the King of Pop himself—a documented gaming enthusiast—in partnership with Sega. Thirty-six years later, this game remains an anomaly in licensed game history: a cartridge that sounded right and played right. What it reveals about how musical licenses could, rarely, produce something genuinely real.
Scott Pilgrim Turns 16: The Ubisoft Anomaly That Endures
On August 10, 2010, Ubisoft released a beat'em up adapted from a film based on a 2004 comic saturated with retro references. All the ingredients were there for a soulless commercial disaster. Sixteen years later, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game has outlasted most AAA releases from that same era. This paradox deserves examination: how did a third-degree derivative become one of the most respected releases of its generation?
Hundred Rare Super Mario Bros. Cartridges Resurface, Shake Up NES Market
Around a hundred cartridges from a previously unknown edition of Super Mario Bros. have just been discovered. The find is significant: in a retro-gaming market where a standard NES cartridge in good condition can fetch thousands of euros, an uncharted variant represents a seismic shift for collectors. What's at stake goes beyond a lucky attic find—it raises questions about authenticity, value, and the physical history of video games.
Batman & Robin PS1: 28 Years Later, the Disaster Endures
In 1997, Joel Schumacher delivered a Batman & Robin that became the poster child for superhero film catastrophe. A year later, Probe Entertainment and Acclaim doubled down with a PlayStation adaptation that never recovered from its reputation. Twenty-eight years on, the verdict is ruthless: this twin disaster remains the gold standard for synchronized failure between Hollywood and the video game industry.
Deep Fear: The Survival Horror the Saturn Took Down With It
In 1998, Sega's Saturn quietly dies while the industry watches. But it takes Deep Fear with it—a submarine survival horror that clearly eyed Resident Evil just as PlayStation was about to dominate the generation. Twenty-eight years later, this game remains the perfect example of a well-crafted title sacrificed on the altar of a console war already lost.
Gex at 31: The Gecko That Never Caught Up to Mario
On July 14, 1995, Crystal Dynamics launched Gex on 3DO before deploying it to PlayStation and Saturn. A platformer built to check every box of the mascot era, armed with pop culture quips and a technical engine designed to impress on Panasonic's console. Thirty-one years later, the verdict is clear: Gex existed, sold copies, but never competed in the same league as the heavyweights it targeted.
Lego Nintendo: Donkey Kong arcade cabinet coming soon
A new Lego Nintendo set centered on Donkey Kong—specifically an arcade cabinet—is reportedly in development. Six years after Lego and Nintendo's partnership launched, the line is expanding beyond consoles and characters to tap into Kyoto's arcade roots. A choice that reveals much about where this collaboration is headed and Donkey Kong's place in Nintendo's current strategy.
Bloody Roar at 29: The Lycanthrope Fighter We Couldn't Keep Alive
In July 1997, Hudson Soft and Eighting launched Beastorizer in Japanese arcades before rebranding it as Bloody Roar for PlayStation. Twenty-nine years later, the franchise sits in uncomfortable limbo: memorable enough to recall, but never quite solid enough to defend without reservations. That tension is precisely what deserves close examination.
Head Over Heels II: 37 Years of Development for an Isometric Miracle
In 1987, Ocean Software released Head Over Heels, a cult isometric puzzle game that captivated a generation of players on Amstrad, ZX Spectrum, and C64. The sequel was ready to launch in 1989—then Ocean pivoted to consoles and the project vanished into a drawer. Thirty-seven years later, veteran programmer Colin Porch finally releases this sequel on Atari ST and Commodore Amiga. An absolute act of faith in retro-gaming. But is this long-overdue resurrection truly worth the effort?