Search found 37 matches for retro
- on August 26th 2024, 9:11 pm
- Search in: Headline News Stories
- Topic: News: Something Big Is Rumored To Be Releasing On NSO Tomorrow!
- Replies: 1
- Views: 189
News: Something Big Is Rumored To Be Releasing On NSO Tomorrow!
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The Banjo, Dolphin, and The Wardrobe!
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A source within the industry is saying that there will be something big related to NSO announced and possibly shadow-dropping onto Nintendo Switch Online after tomorrow's Partner Showcase Direct. What it is wasn't divulged but we have a few ideas including Banjo Tooie, Diddy Kong Racing, or possibly new consoles being added to the service. Any way you slice it, NSO announcements are always quite exciting! That said, what do you hope will be announced assuming the leak pans-out? As always, be sure to let us know in our comments below!
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#News #Rumor #NSO #NintendoDirect #Switch #eShop #Retro
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- on July 11th 2024, 10:59 pm
- Search in: Headline News Stories
- Topic: News: Two HUGE NSO Updates Have Dropped This Month With A Whopping 10 Games In-Total!!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 550
News: Two HUGE NSO Updates Have Dropped This Month With A Whopping 10 Games In-Total!!
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The Star of The Updates Dropped Onto NSO As A Glorious Trio Earlier Today!
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Nintendo dropped a trio of unexpected GBA releases onto the Nintendo Switch Online service earlier today in the form of ALL three Gameboy Advance Starfy titles globally marking these games' first appearance in the West! You can watch the official trailer below!
Meanwhile last week we saw the MASSIVE addition of 7 new NES and Famicom games here in the West which were:
- Urban Champion.
- Golf.
- Donkey Kong Jr. Math
- Mach Rider.
- The Mystery of Atlantis.
- SOLAR JETMAN.
- COBRA TRIANGLE.
You can view the trailer for last week's update below!
Meanwhile Japan got a slightly different update last week as shown below:
Meanwhile Japan got a slightly different update last week as shown below:
- Urban Champion.
- Golf.
- Donkey Kong Jr. Math
- Mach Rider.
- Mahjong.
- Famicom Mukashibanashi: Shin Onigashima.
- Gomoku Narabe Renju.
You can watch last week's Japanese trailer below if you're interested!
What do you think of this month's updates to the Nintendo Switch Online service? As always, be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #GBA #NES #Famicom #Switch #eShop #Retro #Starfy
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What do you think of this month's updates to the Nintendo Switch Online service? As always, be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #GBA #NES #Famicom #Switch #eShop #Retro #Starfy
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- on June 18th 2024, 1:41 am
- Search in: Headline News Stories
- Topic: News: Nintendo Switch Online Homepage Portal On Switch Received A New Look! Plus New Consoles Are Rumoured To Be Inbound Later Today!
- Replies: 3
- Views: 603
News: Nintendo Switch Online Homepage Portal On Switch Received A New Look! Plus New Consoles Are Rumoured To Be Inbound Later Today!
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Directly Making A Splash?!
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Nintendo has updated the look of the Nintendo Switch Online home news portal in the Nintendo Switch menu today leading to speculation of a major NSO announcement being made in today's Nintendo Direct, and apparently some data miners have uncovered two new emulators on the back-end data of the Switch eShop with code formats seemingly being from Saturn and Game Gear. If true we might be in for a real treat later today in the form of a ton of new content for NSO!
We'll be sure to follow-up on this story later today! In the meantime are you excited by the possibility of Saturn and Game Gear releasing on the NSO service?! If so what games would you like to see at launch assuming the rumours are true? Be sure to let us know in our comments below!
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#News #NSO #Update #Sega #Saturn #GameGear #Retro #Switch #eShop #NintendoDirect
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- on June 7th 2024, 9:18 am
- Search in: Headline News Stories
- Topic: News: June NSO Update Brings FIVE New Gameboy Games To The Service! Plus May's NSO Update Recap!
- Replies: 2
- Views: 397
News: June NSO Update Brings FIVE New Gameboy Games To The Service! Plus May's NSO Update Recap!
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Five New Gameboy Games Make The Mega Cut-Man And Splash Onto The NSO Classics Library! Available Now!
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Nintendo has just released FIVE Megaman titles on the NSO Gameboy app for this month's update! The titles released were all five of the mainline Megaman games on the original Gameboy! This is by far the biggest update that the Gameboy console has received on NSO so far.
And since we missed reporting it, here's May's NSO update for good measure:
May's update was also a purely Gameboy update with three new games added. These games were Alleyway an Arkanoid type brick-breaker game, a baseball title aptly named Baseball, and the headliner title Super Mario Land!
What did you think of these two updates and what do you want to see released next? As always be sure to leave us a comment in our comments section below!
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#News #Switch #eShop #NSO #Gameboy #Retro
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- on May 7th 2024, 1:36 am
- Search in: Headline News Stories
- Topic: News: The Latest NSO Games Library Updates We've Missed!
- Replies: 1
- Views: 867
News: The Latest NSO Games Library Updates We've Missed!
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A Splash of Variety!
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Nintendo has released several updates to the NSO library of games since we last updated you guys. Our apologies! The most recent update added two new N64 titles to the service! Those two titles being Iggy's Wreckin Balls and Extreme G!
Another recent update added new SNES and Super Famicom titles to the NSO service! These titles were Wrecking Crew 98', Super R-Type, and Amazing Hebereke.
Then in another update a single Gameboy Advance title dropped onto the service in the form of F-Zero: Maximum Velocity.
And lastly back on March 10th, we saw three Gameboy titles release on the NSO service. These games were Dr. Mario, Mario Golf, and Mario Tennis!
What did you think of this year's NSO updates so far? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #Switch #eShop #App #Gameboy #GBC #GBA #N64 #SNES #SFC #Retro #Gaming
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- on April 1st 2024, 3:29 am
- Search in: Headline News Stories
- Topic: Review: Super Kiwi 64 (Switch eShop)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 830
Review: Super Kiwi 64 (Switch eShop)
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Solid Old-School Platforming For The Cool Birds!
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Developed by Siactro and published by Diplodocus Games, Super Kiwi 64 is a trip down nostalgic lane with gameplay that feels like it was ripped straight out of a long-lost N64 title. Is this a game worth looking into adding to your Nintendo Switch library of games? We think so and here's why:
The gameplay in Super Kiwi 64 is quite nostalgic with very charming stages that feel like they are straight out of the late-90's! The platforming is pretty good and rarely if ever was problematic, however the stages felt like they needed more enemies and bosses. The overall difficulty was also a bit too easy in our opinions.
The controls are also fantastic and highly responsive which was pleasantly surprising, though the camera was cumbersome at times which while normally a complaint was kind of charming as it further made the game feel like it was from the Nintendo 64 era. The difficulty of the game on the other-hand felt too easy in our opinions, rarely challenging our skills in the slightest which was a bit disappointing.
The audio-visual presentation of Super Kiwi 64 is one of the game's strongest points with superb music and sound effects, and charming character and stage designs that will remind players of the heyday of 3-D platforming when the behemoths of the genre forever left their marks on the industry, and while Super Kiwi 64 doesn't compare to the likes of Banjo Kazooie or Super Mario 64, its charm and nostalgia make it a very enjoyable game for the Nintendo Switch especially as a budget title!
Bottom-Line: With solid gameplay that's both nostalgic and charming, excellent controls, and a superb audio-visual presentation, Super Kiwi 64 is a worthwhile addition to anyone's Nintendo Switch library of games, though the old-school camera control might be off-putting to some and the game is a tad too easy for our preferences, but overall we give the game a solid level of recommendation!
Update: With the game's latest content update several new levels with increased difficulty have been added to the game alleviating one of the issues we had with the game, as such we have adjusted the score of the game accordingly!
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Original:
Post-update:
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#Review #Siactro #DiplodocusGames #SuperKiwi64 #Retro #Switch #eShop #3DPlatformer
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- on October 24th 2023, 10:04 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Nintendo Has Announced That Mario Party 3 Will Be Releasing On N64 On NSO+ Expansion This Week!
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1081
News: Nintendo Has Announced That Mario Party 3 Will Be Releasing On N64 On NSO+ Expansion This Week!
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Party Like It's 1999!
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Nintendo announced earlier this evening that the previously confirmed Mario Party 3 for the Nintendo 64, will be splashing onto the Nintendo Switch Online Plus Expansion service on Friday in Japan, which of course means parts of the west including the United Stated will be getting this game on Thursday evening! Also in related news, Nintendo recently also released Kirby And The Amazing Mirror for the Gameboy Advance on the Expansion service!
You can watch the announcement trailer below:
What do you all think of this announcement? Are you ready to party? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #Switch #eShop #Retro #N64 #GBA #NSO #ExpansionPack #Party #Platformer
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- on October 10th 2023, 2:51 am
- Search in: Switch eShop Reviews
- Topic: Review: Chrome Wolf (Switch eShop)
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1009
Review: Chrome Wolf (Switch eShop)
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A Tanky Wolf!
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Developed by MAGITEC and published by KEMCO Chrome Wolf is a unique JRPG featuring tank-based battles which is definitely a departure from their more traditional retro-rpg's, but is it a worthwhile game? We think so and here's why:
The story in Chrome Wolf is riveting and super interesting and will leave you on the edge of your seat more often than not making it one of the strongest points of the game! While the gameplay is good, with a robust class system, unique tank-based battles that are a blast to play!
There are some issues, however as the controls are a bit cumbersome, the random encounters happen WAY too frequently, and some of the dungeons are a little confusing to navigate which is unfortunate since the rest of the game was a solid 9/10, but the game as a whole is still decent-to-solid and worth a purchase if you're a fan of the genre! The game clocks in at around 20-25 hours in-length which while short is typical of old-school JRPG's, the only negative here is that there isn't any post-game content, sadly.
The audiovisual-presentation in Chrome Wolf is quite good and will make you feel like you're playing an old-school JRPG on an SNES console which is exactly what you'd hope for when playing a retro-style title on a modern console! The soundtrack is also really good with catchy tunes that fit the game quite nicely!
Bottom-Line: With good gameplay, an excellent and compelling story, and a superb audiovisual-presentation, Chrome Wolf is a fun game for sure, but also has its share of flaws such as somewhat cumbersome controls, random encounters that were too frequent for our liking, and somewhat confusing dungeon layouts, but overall our experience was a positive one and as such we give Chrome Wolf for the Nintendo Switch a solid-level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
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#Review #KEMCO #MAGITEC #Switch #eShop #JRPG #Retro #16BIT
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- on October 9th 2023, 9:37 pm
- Search in: Switch Retail Reviews
- Topic: Review: Taito Milestones II (Switch Retail)
- Replies: 22
- Views: 1315
Review: Taito Milestones II (Switch Retail)
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An Impressive Milestone Has Splashed Onto Switch!
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Developed by TAITO & Hamster Corporation, and published by ININ Games, with public relations by PR Hound, Taito Milestones II is a fantastic collection of Taito arcade classics that were classics in their heyday! But do these titles and this collection as a whole still hold up as great games today? We think so and here's why:
Taito Milestones II has a wide-array of enjoyable arcade games from Taito's back-catalogue including hits such as New Zealand Story, Metal Black, and Darius II, which as a whole are a much better selection than what we saw in the previous Taito Milestones collection. The games are perfectly emulated and run just as they did back in the arcades, but are quite bare-bones with very little bonus features and content which is a shame, but certainly not a deal-breaker by any means.
The controls are quite responsive and easy to learn which is always a good thing while the menus and UI are easy to navigate and read. The games on offer should give players dozens of hours of gameplay value, more if you like going for the highest scores you can!
As for the audiovisual-presentation, everything looks crisp and are well-emulated with a great frame-rate and no artifacting or screen-tearing which obviously is what you'd hope for in a premium retro game compilation title like this. The menu sounds are great as are the the sound effects and music in most of the titles. We feel the audiovisual-presentation in Taito Milestones II deserves a nearly perfect grade as it's exceptional for sure!
Bottom-Line: With a great selection of classic arcade titles with superb gameplay and excellent emulation, responsive controls, and an overall amazing audiovisual-presentation, Taito Milestones II for the Nintendo Switch is a good arcade game compilation and as such we give the software a good level of recommendation to all fans of retro arcade games!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10
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#Review #TAITO #PRHound #Switch #Retail #Retro #Arcade #eShop
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- on September 13th 2023, 9:26 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Recent Nintendo Switch Online Updates We've Missed!
- Replies: 2
- Views: 1215
News: Recent Nintendo Switch Online Updates We've Missed!
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Updates Ahoy!
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We've been struggling lately with providing frequent news updates as I'm currently the only active news anchor / reviewer on this site so oftentimes things slip through the cracks, such as this! There have been a few recent updates left unreported so in case you missed it, here are the updates!
SEGA GENESIS:
- Crusader of Centy
- Ghouls N' Ghosts
- Landstalker
- The Revenge of Shinobi
N64:
- Excitebike 64
GBC:
- Quest For Camelot
NES:
- Joy Mech Fight
- Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day!
SNES:
- Kirby's Star Stacker
Did you know that these games were added already and what are your thoughts regarding the lineup of games in these updates? As always, be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #Switch #NSO #NSOplusExpansion #NES #SNES #GENESIS #GBC #N64 #Retro
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- on August 23rd 2023, 11:21 pm
- Search in: Switch eShop Reviews
- Topic: Review: Gimmick! Special Edition (Switch eShop)
- Replies: 12
- Views: 1583
Review: Gimmick! Special Edition (Switch eShop)
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There's No Gimmick Like FUN!
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Developed by Bitwave Games and published by The Embracer Group, Gimmick! Special Edition is a re-release of SUNSOFT's NES/Famicom Platformer Gimmick! with additional features greatly enhancing the user experience! So what did we think of the re-release of Gimmick!? Continue reading our review to find out the answer to that question!
The gameplay is tough-as-nails providing players a serious challenge, while not the hardest NES game, it'll still give retro gamers some difficulty and modern gamers even moreso, but at the end of the day the game is fair and well-designed which is always a good thing! The platforming feels great and the enemies and obstacles are well-placed which is also great.
The game's bonus features include an art gallery, rewind feature, and save states which is much appreciated and the emulation is flawless so expect the game to run as it did on the NES. The only downside is the lack of screen filters and scanlines options, but otherwise the bonus content and features are top-notch!
The game is REALLY short clocking in at 2-3 hours at most if you know what you're doing and are equally skilled, but for most of us... "admittedly myself included" Gimmick! Special Edition will likely take around 15-20 hours or so to beat which is a decent bang for your buck for sure!
As for the audiovisual-presentation, Gimmick! looks gorgeous for an NES title, which isn't surprising given how good looking most Sunsoft games were on Nintendo's debut console, but it also released well after the launch of the SNES as well! The soundtrack is also catchy and has some bopping tunes that really set the mood for the game!
Bottom-Line: With great and challenging gameplay, superb bonus features and content, and an excellent audiovisual-presentation, Gimmick! Special Edition for the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic platformer, though it may be a tad difficult for some, we highly enjoyed our experience with the game! As such we give Gimmick! Special Edition a good to great level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★½☆ 8.5/10
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#Review #Gimmick #Embracer #SUNSOFT #Switch #eShop #Retro #NES #Platformer
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- on August 8th 2023, 11:11 am
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Pokemon Trading Card Game & Pokemon Stadium 2 Have Been Released On The NSO Service Today!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1585
News: Pokemon Trading Card Game & Pokemon Stadium 2 Have Been Released On The NSO Service Today!
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Quick Attacking Onto NSO!
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Nintendo has dropped Pokemon Trading Card Game for the GBC and Pokemon Stadium 2 for the N64 on the Nintendo Switch Online service immediately after announcing their immanent release during this morning's Pokemon Presents broadcast! This marks the final GBC game that we knew would be releasing when Nintendo released the console on the NSO service so we can likely expect Nintendo to announce the next batch in the next Nintendo Direct, meaning a September Direct seems more plausible now, especially with Golden Sun being the last GBA game we know is coming for sure!
That said what do you think of the latest additions to the NSO library of games, what do you hope releases next on the service, and lastly are you hoping that the mainline GB/GBC/GBA Pokemon titles eventually see a release on the Nintendo Switch Online service? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
Source: Nintendo Everything.
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#News #PokemonPresents #NSO #ExpansionPack #Switch #Retro #Pokemon #GameFreak #TPC #GBC #N64
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- on July 27th 2023, 11:24 am
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Surprise! Two Zelda Titles Have Been Stealth-Dropped On The Base NSO Service!
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1679
News: Surprise! Two Zelda Titles Have Been Stealth-Dropped On The Base NSO Service!
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Two Cheers For The Oracle of Time!
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Nintendo in typical ninja fashion shadow-released both The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons on the Gameboy app on the Nintendo Switch Online service yesterday! You can watch the official announcement trailer below:
What do you think about the latest update and what are you hoping gets added to the service next? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #Zelda #Switch #GBC #Gameboy #Retro
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- on July 12th 2023, 1:22 pm
- Search in: Switch Retail Reviews
- Topic: Review: Ray'z Arcade Chronology (Switch Retail)
- Replies: 14
- Views: 2376
Review: Ray'z Arcade Chronology (Switch Retail)
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Ray'z Your Hand'z In Excitement!
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Developed by TAITO and M2, published by ININ Games, and with public relations by PR Hound, Ray'z Arcade Chronology for the Nintendo Switch is a faithful port of three legendary TAITO arcade shmups that are among the best games in the genre as well as HD Remasters of two of the included games! Have these ports withstood the test of time, and how good are the two included HD Remasters? As always, continue reading our review to find out the answers to the all-important questions!
The overall UI presentation of the menus and in-game gadgets for the included games are clean and very informative which is a given if you know how TAITO arcade shmups operate, and we couldn't be more thrilled! The gameplay of all of the included games are faithful to their original arcade releases and still feel wonderful to play all of these decades later!
The games are quite action-oriented, but not bullet hell in nature, rather more in line with TAITO's other major Shmup series Darius, which we also reviewed the ININ collections for that series extremely favorably! The games also feature built-in achievements which is a nice touch for sure. The games also vary in length from about 30-45 minutes long to a whopping 3 hours in-length with multiple paths easily giving this collection 30+ hours of replay value for completionists!
The only downside to this collection is that it lacks bonus features such as artwork and other extras that other collections from ININ possessed, but it doesn't really negatively affect our opinions of the game all that much.
The games control amazingly well and feel as fluid as they did in the arcades way back when! As for the visuals? The games range from 2D to 3D, and look gorgeous with excellent enemy and ship designs, flashy and awe-invoking special effects, and gorgeous scrolling effects that have aged like fine-wine! The HD Remasters included really pop in HD with sharper image quality, and vastly improved backgrounds and special effects that look fantastic even by today's standards!
And lastly the games' soundtracks are as exceptional as they are varied and they fit the mood of what's going on on-screen extremely well. Overall the audiovisual-presentation is absolutely top-notch!
Bottom-Line: With flawless gameplay, excellent replay value, great controls, and a top-notch audiovisual-presentation, Ray'z Arcade Chronology for the Nintendo Switch is a must-have collection for any/all fans of the SHMUP genre and despite lacking some of the bonus features you'd expect from a collection of arcade classics such as this one, the games are so well-done that this one gripe just barely lowered our score of this otherwise perfect collection! As such we give Ray'z Arcade Chronology a nearly perfect level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★★¾ 9.75/10
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#Review #RayzArcadeChronology #TAITO #ININ #M2 #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PS5 #PSN #Shmup #Arcade #Retro
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- on June 19th 2023, 11:40 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Fire Emblem Splashes Onto the NSO + Expansion Pack Service This Week Plus Bonus Game In Japan.
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1779
News: Fire Emblem Splashes Onto the NSO + Expansion Pack Service This Week Plus Bonus Game In Japan.
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The Blades That Bind Us!
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Nintendo has announced that Fire Emblem also known as Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade in Japan will be releasing on June 22nd which is Thursday, but given how NSO releases happen at the same time globally chances are the game will drop in North America at 6:00 PM PDT / 9:00 PM EDT on Wednesday! Here is the official description of the game from Nintendo's PR announcement!
Official Description: wrote:Featuring all the fierce tactical combat and rich, intrigue-filled storytelling the series is known for, Fire Emblem was the first installment in the series to launch outside of Japan. Plus, it also marked the debut of the hero Lyn, who you may know as the Emblem of Blazing from Fire Emblem Engage!
In Fire Emblem, the nation of Lycia stands on the precipice of war after centuries of peace. Turmoil grows as noble houses plot treason, allies become enemies and armies stand poised for combat … all while a mysterious figure manipulates empires from the shadows. Now Lyn, along with Eliwood and Hector, must amass their own army to fight back against the forces that would destroy everything they hold dear – and before the world is burned to ash.
Over the course of the story, you’ll gather heroes to your side, train them to excel with a wide array of weapons and classes, and further hone their skills on the battlefield. In battle, strategize your course of action around a variety of terrain and conditions. Then take command of the field and lead your units to victory by fulfilling specific objectives. But be warned: In this Fire Emblem game, if your soldiers meet their end, they’re gone forever.
You can view the official trailer below:
As a bonus for Japanese players, Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade is also releasing in Japan only this week. You can, however play the game with a North American or European NSO + Expansion Pack subscription if you have a Japanese Switch account, but obviously the game will be in Japanese and is text-heavy so some understanding of the Japanese language might be necessary to enjoy a game like this. We've also included the official Japanese trailer below:
What do you think of this upcoming update to the NSO + Expansion Pack service? Are you going to also play Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade on the Japanese GBA app? As always be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NintendoSwitchOnlinePlusExpansionPack #Nintendo #NSO #FireEmblem #GBA #Retro #Subscription #SRPG #JRPG
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- on June 5th 2023, 9:02 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Four New Games Stealthily Splash Onto The Nintendo Switch Online Digital Library of Games
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1741
News: Four New Games Stealthily Splash Onto The Nintendo Switch Online Digital Library of Games
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Magikarp Splash!
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Nintendo has once again shadow-dropped four new retro games onto the base Nintendo Switch Online service today! This group of games are quite varied so there should be something enjoyable for just about everyone! The update brings the following lineup of new titles to the service!
Gameboy/Gameboy Color:
- Kirby Tilt 'N' Tumble (Yes Gyroscopic Controls Are Intact On Most Switch Controllers Third Party Ones Included!).
- Blaster Master: Enemy Below.
NES:
- Mystery Tower (Known As Tower of Babel In Japan) (Japanese Import).
SNES:
- Harvest Moon.
That's the full lineup in this new update. Incidentally rumor has it that the N64 app will also be updated with new content this month "We'll let you guys know when or if an official announcement is made!" Finally you can view the update trailer shown below!
What do you think of the latest update to the Nintendo Switch Online library of retro games? What would you like to see released next? As always, be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #Retro #BlasterMaster #Kirby #TowerofBabel #HarvestMoon #Gameboy #GBC #NES #SNES
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What do you think of the latest update to the Nintendo Switch Online library of retro games? What would you like to see released next? As always, be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #Retro #BlasterMaster #Kirby #TowerofBabel #HarvestMoon #Gameboy #GBC #NES #SNES
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- on May 24th 2023, 12:22 pm
- Search in: Switch Retail Reviews
- Topic: Review: Cannon Dancer ~ Osman (Switch Retail)
- Replies: 8
- Views: 1718
Review: Cannon Dancer ~ Osman (Switch Retail)
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Steel Yourself For A Solid Adventure And Have A Blast!
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Developed by Mitchell Corporation and Ratalaika Games, published by ININ Games, and with public relations by PR Hound, Cannon Dancer: Osman is the unofficial sequel to Strider made by several members of the same crew when they parted ways with their parent company. The game is part platformer, part beat 'em up, and a solid good time, for sure. Does it live up to its official predecessor? We don't think so, but it's definitely a worthwhile experience in its own right! Continue reading the remainder of our review to find out why:
The gameplay in Cannon Dancer: Osman is top-notch with tight controls, excellently varied enemies and bosses, and fun stages that will have you wanting more, unfortunately the game is quite short, clocking in at under 2 hours in-length and the 5th stage has a rather frustrating difficulty spike which hurts the overall score of the game.
Also unlike previous ININ retro releases, Cannon Dancer: Osman is lacking in any meaningful bonus content, however the screen filters are still plentiful which is at least something, eh? As for the game's difficulty, it starts out SUPER easy for the first four stages, however it then rackets up to absurd levels of difficulty starting on stage five, which is rather unfortunate as it blemishes the game's otherwise superb gameplay.
As for the audiovisual-presentation, Cannon Dancer: Osman looks absolutely amazing, with super detailed 16-bit graphics that are not only detailed and vibrant, but hold-up remarkably well even by today's standards! The enemies and bosses in particular look fantastic with clearly a lot of attention being put into them by the developers and it really shows! The soundtrack is also top-notch and fits the mood of the game like a button. The sound effects are also quite good for a 1996 Arcade title which was a pleasant surprise for sure!
Bottom-Line: With fantastic gameplay, tight controls, and a flawless audiovisual-presentation Cannon Dancer: Osman for the Nintendo Switch had the possibility of being a perfect game, however the steep price tag without many bonus features, a sudden difficulty spike in stage 5, and a VERY short playtime hold this game back, but the game itself is so fantastic that the hit to its score was mostly mitigated, as such we give Cannon Dancer: Osman for the Nintendo Switch a great level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
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#Review #MitchellCorporation #ININGames #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Action #Retro #Arcade #Strider
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- on May 21st 2023, 6:56 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: A Trio of Games Are Releasing On The NSO + Expansion Pack Service Later This Week!
- Replies: 10
- Views: 1668
News: A Trio of Games Are Releasing On The NSO + Expansion Pack Service Later This Week!
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It's-A-Trio! WOOHOO!
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Nintendo has announced that Super Mario Advance, Super Mario Advance 2, and Super Mario Advance 3 will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Gameboy Advance app on May 25th in the states and May 26th if you live in the Eastern Hemisphere. You can watch the announcement trailer above! What do you think about this upcoming update, and what games would you like to see released next on the service? Be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #Nintendo #NSO #ExpansionPack #Switch #eShop #SMA #SMA2 #SMA3 #GBA #Retro
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- on May 18th 2023, 11:13 am
- Search in: Switch Retail Reviews
- Topic: Review: Jajamaru - Legendary Ninja Collection (Switch Retail)
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1416
Review: Jajamaru - Legendary Ninja Collection (Switch Retail)
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Legendary Ninpo Art of Greatness!
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Developed by City Connection, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection is a fantastic collection of arcade-platforming games that largely went unlocalized outside of Japan for several decades, but are now compiled into a feature-rich collection and we can't recommend these games enough! Does that mean that we gave the game a perfect level of recommendation? You'll have to continue reading our review to find out!
First off, this collection of games is fantastic with loads of bonus content including artwork, a rewind feature, screen filters, and more which is already fantastic, all this even before we get into playing the games themselves! The 6 games in the collection span a wide-array of genres and all are emulated flawlessly which of course is a HUGE plus for sure. Some of the NES and Gameboy games are somewhat archaic, but still are great fun in short bursts, while others such as Ninja JaJaMaru: Operation Milky Way are brilliant and their gameplay and visuals hold-up just as well as Super Mario Bros. 3 and Kirby's Adventure in today's time!
The UI looks very nice, and the menus are easy to navigate which is always nice. The length of the games range from under an hour to upwards of 5-10 hours to beat which is to be expected from retro games that aren't JRPG's. As for the controls? They are serviceable and have no flaws to speak of, though the button-mapping in some of the games could be a bit better, but overall they are good.
The audiovisual-presentation of Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection is varied with some of the better looking titles looking exceptionally stylish and vibrant while others haven't aged so well, however the soundtrack in every single included game is a real banger and we thoroughly enjoyed that aspect!
Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, solid controls, and a superb soundtrack, Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection for the Nintendo Switch is a great game compilation that is worth checking out, even if a few of the games haven't aged too well. Overall we give Jajamaru: Legendary Ninja Collection a good level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8/10
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#Review #CityConnection #ININ #PRHound #Compilation #Retro #Switch #eShop #NinjaJajamaru
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- on April 3rd 2023, 6:28 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Pokemon Stadium Set To Release On April 12th On Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack!
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1673
News: Pokemon Stadium Set To Release On April 12th On Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack!
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Gotta Play 'Em All!
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Nintendo has just announced that Pokemon Stadium for the Nintendo 64 will be releasing next week on April 12 on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service! The game originally released in 2000 and has all Pokemon from Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow. There are some minigames and hidden modes to unlock as well.
Pokemon Stadium 2 will also be releasing later this year, so keep an eye out for the announcement. What do you think of this upcoming addition to the NSO + Expansion Pack service? As always, be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #ExpansionPack #Switch #eShop #Retro #N64 #Fighting #Pokemon
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- on March 15th 2023, 7:40 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Surprise! 4 New Gameboy/NES/SNES Games Have Been Shadow Dropped On The Nintendo Switch Online Service Today!
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1527
News: Surprise! 4 New Gameboy/NES/SNES Games Have Been Shadow Dropped On The Nintendo Switch Online Service Today!
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We Must Be In Dreamland!
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Nintendo has just shadow dropped four new games on NSO out of nowhere and some of the games are quite good! The four games added were as follows:
NES
- Xevious.
SNES
- Side Pocket.
Gameboy/Gameboy Color
- Kirby's Dream Land 2.
- BurgerTime Deluxe.
The variety of games is pretty good for sure, and a"side" from perhaps the extremely niche Side Pocket are games that most players might at least put some time into. In any case, what do you think of the latest Nintendo Switch Online update? Also what games are you hoping will be added next? As always be sure to leave us your comments in our comments section below!
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#News #NSO #Switch #eShop #Retro #Update #GB #GBC #NES #SNES
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#News #NSO #Switch #eShop #Retro #Update #GB #GBC #NES #SNES
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- on March 7th 2023, 6:15 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Metroid Fusion Is Set To Release On The NSO + Expansion Pack Service This Week!
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1639
News: Metroid Fusion Is Set To Release On The NSO + Expansion Pack Service This Week!
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Dread The Fusion!
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Nintendo has officially announced that Metroid Fusion for the Gameboy Advance will be added to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack this week! The update should drop at around 5:00PM PST / 8:00PM EST on Thursday! Are you happy with this game being the first GBA title being added to the service post-launch and what games are you hoping will be added next? As always be sure to leave us a comment below!
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#News #NSO #ExpansionPack #Switch #eShop #Metroid #MetroidVania #MetroidFusion #GBA #Retro
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- on October 25th 2021, 9:26 pm
- Search in: Switch Retail Reviews
- Topic: Review: Space Invaders ~ Invincible Collection (Switch Retail)
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1997
Review: Space Invaders ~ Invincible Collection (Switch Retail)
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Invincibility = MC Squared!
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Developed by TAITO, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Space Inviders: Invincible Collection is the definitive collection for any fan of the nearly 45 year old franchise and has all the bells and whistles that arcade aficionados could possibly ask for! While the collection is super pricy, we do think it's well worth the cost, and here's why:
Hot on the heels of Space Invaders: Forever, is the fantastic follow-up collection, Space Invaders: Invincible Collection which is a massive collection of the earlier Space Invaders titles, including Majestic Twelve and Space Invaders '91! The first game is included in both black & white as well as in color with the same gameplay between the two, and yeah it HASN'T aged well at all with extremely slow-paced gameplay, but it's sequel Space Invaders II is much better and is also included in the collection. Majestic Twelve and Space Invaders '91 are the cream of the crop and will be what most players will sink their time into with unique missions, more action-oriented gameplay, and much more responsive controls than the previously mentioned games in this collection!
A few additional games are available that were also in the Space Invaders: Forever collection so there's no real need to mention them here as we already reviewed that collection. As for the menu and options, Space Invaders: Invincible Collection is loaded with cabinet options, including difficulty and screen settings, A.I. settings, cabinet backgrounds, and much, much more!
As for the audiovisual presentation, the games look and sound authentic and exactly how they did in the arcades which is definitely a nostalgic trip down memory lane if you grew up around arcades in the 80's and 90's! Each game also plays as it should with every little flaw and or detail displayed correctly so the emulation is spot-on!
Bottom-Line: With an excellent line-up of games with great gameplay, and a ton of nostalgia if you're a gamers from the 70's, 80's, or 90's. The U.I. is intuitive, with a ton of options allowing for a highly customized experience while the faithful audiovisual presentation will transport you back to simpler times when gameplay was king! Overall we give Space Invaders: Invincible Collection for the Nintendo Switch a nearly perfect level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★★¼ 9.25/10
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#Review #TAITO #ININ #PRHound #Switch #Retail #eShop #Retro #Compilation
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- on October 24th 2021, 7:10 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: Panorama Cotton Headed To PS4 & Switch This Week!
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2079
News: Panorama Cotton Headed To PS4 & Switch This Week!
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Cotton In 3-D!
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Panorama Cotton will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch and PS4 this week as part of the Cotton series' 30th anniversary celebration according to PR Hound. You can read the official announe below:
PR Hound wrote:The big 30th birthday celebration of the Cotton franchise continues with Panorama Cotton. Strictly Limited Games is opening pre-orders for physical Limited and Collector’s Editions, starting October 24th at 12 AM (midnight) CEST, exclusively at the Strictly Limited Games store!
ININ Games is proud to announce the launch of the digital versions of Panorama Cotton for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in the west, on October 29th. For the first time on current-gen consoles!
Panorama Cotton
Panorama Cotton is an addictive, pseudo-3D rail shooter, adding an intriguing new twist to the Cotton franchise. When a burnt willow suddenly appears in the Queen's garden, the behavior of her highness begins to get stranger and stranger. Cotton and Silk go on a journey to find the evil willow burner and bring an end to the disaster.
Strictly Limited Games - Physical Editions
The Limited Edition includes the game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 and the colorful game manual. It will be available for 29.99€, limited to 2,500 copies for Nintendo Switch and 1,500 copies for PlayStation 4.
PS4 Packshot Limited Edition Nintendo Switch packshot Limited Edition
The Collector’s Edition will be available for 64.99€ limited to 1,500 copies for Nintendo Switch and 800 copies for PlayStation 4. It contains a colorful combination of collectibles:
Game for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4
Collector’s Edition box
Colorful game manual
Yunomi (Japanese-style tea cup)
Natsume (Japanese-style tea can)
Kakemono (Japanese-style wall scroll)
Original soundtrack
Large reversible poster (A2)
6x Postcards
2x Lenticular cards
Window sticker
Collector's edition contents
Strictly Limited Games - Retro Releases
Retro collectors will also be able to grab a standalone Panorama Cotton cartridge compatible with the Sega Genesis/Megadrive, with 600 cartridges compatible with the Sega Megadrive and 900 cartridges compatible with the Sega Genesis for 49.99€.
Genesis PackshotMega Drive packshot
ININ - Digital Versions
For fans of digital copies, ININ Games is also releasing a digital version of Panorama Cotton for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation! Available on the 29th of October!
What do you think of this news? Be sure to let us know in our comments section below!
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#News #ININ #PRHound #StrictlyLimitedGames #PS4 #Switch #PSN #eShop #Megadrive #Genesis #Retro #Cotton
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- on September 19th 2021, 10:45 am
- Search in: PS4 Retail Reviews
- Topic: Review: Spelunker HD (PS4 Retail) (Mini Review)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2347
Review: Spelunker HD (PS4 Retail) (Mini Review)
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Spelunking Ahoy!
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Developed by Tozai Games, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Spelunker HD Deluxe for the PS4 is an action-platformer from the NES era that has been revived on PS4 with optional enhanced graphics, leaderboards, online multiplayer, and several enjoyable new game modes. Is this enough to make the game enjoyable for modern audiences? We think so and here's why:
The gameplay is straightforward enough, collect treasure, avoid enemies and traps, and DON'T FALL! Seriously elevation is deadly in this game and while frustrating at times it isn't unfair. You'll never feel like a death was undeserved, which is a sign of a well-designed game. The myriad of game modes adds a ton of replayability to the game, especially the Championship Mode and the roguelike mode exclusively available on this re-release.
The controls are easy to learn and are quite intuitive while the multiplayer is a ton of fun for players of all ages! The audiovisual presentation is also extremely well-done with great visuals and superb music that fits the game like a glove!
Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, excellent controls, and a superb audiovisual presentation, Spelunker HD for the PS4 is a quality remaster of a forgotten retro gem that we highly recommend to all PS4 owners as such we give the game a good to great level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10
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#Review #MiniReview #TozaiGames #ININGames #PRHound #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch #eShop #Platformer #Retro #Spelunker
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Spelunking Ahoy!
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Developed by Tozai Games, published by ININ Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Spelunker HD Deluxe for the PS4 is an action-platformer from the NES era that has been revived on PS4 with optional enhanced graphics, leaderboards, online multiplayer, and several enjoyable new game modes. Is this enough to make the game enjoyable for modern audiences? We think so and here's why:
The gameplay is straightforward enough, collect treasure, avoid enemies and traps, and DON'T FALL! Seriously elevation is deadly in this game and while frustrating at times it isn't unfair. You'll never feel like a death was undeserved, which is a sign of a well-designed game. The myriad of game modes adds a ton of replayability to the game, especially the Championship Mode and the roguelike mode exclusively available on this re-release.
The controls are easy to learn and are quite intuitive while the multiplayer is a ton of fun for players of all ages! The audiovisual presentation is also extremely well-done with great visuals and superb music that fits the game like a glove!
Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, excellent controls, and a superb audiovisual presentation, Spelunker HD for the PS4 is a quality remaster of a forgotten retro gem that we highly recommend to all PS4 owners as such we give the game a good to great level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10
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#Review #MiniReview #TozaiGames #ININGames #PRHound #PS4 #Retail #PSN #Switch #eShop #Platformer #Retro #Spelunker
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- on August 8th 2021, 12:26 pm
- Search in: PS4 PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: Within The Blade (PS4 PSN)
- Replies: 9
- Views: 1896
Review: Within The Blade (PS4 PSN)
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Find The Blade Within Yourself!
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Developed by Ametist, published by Ametist and Ratalaika Games, and public relations by PR Hound, Within The Blade is a 2-D action-platformer that is heavily inspired by games such as Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, and other ninja platformers from the 80's and 90's. But does Within The Blade live up to the standards set by those aforementioned titles? We think so and here's why:
The gameplay is quite challenging and plays a lot like Ninja Gaiden for the NES or Shinobi for the SEGA Genesis, with a heavy emphasis on action with challenging platforming thrown in for good measure. The game is relatively short, clocking in at around an hour or two in length, but you'll thoroughly enjoy every minute of it if you're a fan of the action-platformer genre! Also the controls are tight and very responsive as expected from an action oriented game.
As for the audiovisual presentation, Within The Blade does a good job emulating the visual style of retro games, though if you're a western gamer, you'll notice much more blood than you saw in any NES or SNES game. This might break the retro immersion for some, but still looks great. The soundtrack sounds great as well with retro vibes that fit the game like a well-worn glove!
Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, excellent controls, and a enjoyably retro audiovisual presentation, Within The Blade is a great platformer that we highly recommend adding to your PS4 or Switch's library of games and there's really nothing negative to report as such, we give the game a good to great level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10
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#Review #Ametist #RatalaikaGames #PRHound #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #Action #Platformer #Retro #Ninja
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- on January 7th 2021, 6:27 pm
- Search in: PS4 PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: Crystal Ortha (PS4 PSN)
- Replies: 15
- Views: 2094
Review: Crystal Ortha (PS4 PSN)
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Crystal Amazing!
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Developed by Hit-Point and published by KEMCO Crystal Ortha is a love-letter to retro RPG's of the 90's and does a great job emulating the games that it's inspired by, but does it live up to those legendary titles? Not quite, but it is still an amazing game in its own right, and here's why:
The story in Crystal Ortha is quite enjoyable with several twists and turns that you won't be expecting and the pacing of the story is perfect. The characters are likable and grow as the story progresses and the setting of the world is rather interesting! The gameplay is like a blend of Final Fantasy IV, Secret of Mana, Romancing Saga, and Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, with a whole bevy of interesting features and gameplay elements that will draw players into the game's enjoyable world.
The game is also exceptionally challenging as there are no healing items to restore your characters which forces you to carefully plan your next move as skills and inns are the only ways to heal. As for the controls, they are intuitive and easy to master, which is always a good thing.
The audiovisual presentation is decidedly old-school and we enjoyed every bit of it between the gorgeous pixel-art and absolutely amazing soundtrack. Overall the game has this old-school feel and sound, but with a superb modern touch which makes it look and sound amazing!
Bottom-Line: With amazing retro-style gameplay, a superb story, and excellent audio-visual presentation, Crystal Ortha for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch is a highly enjoyable experience that any and all fans of the genre should purchase and as such we give the game a great level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9/10
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#Review #KEMCO #HitPoint #JRPG #Retro #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop
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- on June 5th 2020, 4:21 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: News: The Cancelled 90's Arcade Title, Clockwork Aquario Revives On Current-Gen Consoles Later This Year!
- Replies: 15
- Views: 1930
News: The Cancelled 90's Arcade Title, Clockwork Aquario Revives On Current-Gen Consoles Later This Year!
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Rising From The Depths of Cancellation!
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Originally planned for the SEGA System 18 Arcade hardware way back in 1992 by Wonderboy developer Westone. It was later cancelled due to the popularity of fighters and 3D arcade games that were immensely popular in that time period, as a result SEGA lost confidence in the potential of the game becoming all that successful.
An interesting fact is that despite the fact that most of the audio-visual files weren't salvageable it will be an extremely faithful recreation of the original arcade game thanks to the fact that Strictly Limited Games and ININ games hiring most of the original team who worked on the ill-fated arcade game.
The game is scheduled to release in 2020 on current consoles so we suspect a Switch and PS4 version are quite likely. The game will receive both a digital and physical release so don't worry about the game being a collector's item as there will be a way for everyone to enjoy this amazing looking retro gem!
Anyways, be sure to leave us your thoughts in our comments section below!
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#News #Switch #eShop #PS4 #PSN #Arcade #Retro
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- on February 15th 2020, 11:35 am
- Search in: PS4 PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: Saboteur (PS4 PSN)
- Replies: 16
- Views: 2267
Review: Saboteur (PS4 PSN)
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An Old-School Challenge That Sabotages The PS4!
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Developed by Clive Townsend and published by SimFabric Games, Saboteur is a re-release of a 1980's Commodore 64 action-platformer with additional content. The game was exceptionally fun at the time of its original release, but does it still provide a fun experience in 2020? We think so, even if the game hasn't well it is still an enjoyable experience and here's why!
The gameplay is simple enough, you must stealthily infiltrate locations, gather items, and avoid enemies if possible. You can defeat enemies, but your ability to survive is dependent on avoiding as many enemies as you can. There is a good deal of new content in this re-release of Saboteur including new stages, remixed music, and leaderboards. The controls in the game are a bit unresponsive, but aren't a big enough issue to affect the score we'll be giving the game!
The difficulty is pretty challenging so don't expect to breeze through the game's campaign straight away. The audio-visual presentation is terrific in this game with excellent retro vibes and fits the game well! The sound effects are admittedly terrible, but that's more an issue with the era the game originally released in rather than an issue with the game itself. You can choose different versions of the game as well, including the Commodore 64 version which is a nice touch!
Bottom-Line: With fun gameplay, and a ton of new content, Saboteur for the PS4 is a top-notch remake of the game, and though the game show's its age it's still a fun romp and as such we give Saboteur for the PS4 a solid to good level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★½☆☆ 7.5/10
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#Review #CliveTownsend #SimFabric #Action #Platformer #PS4 #PSN #Retro
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- on October 27th 2019, 3:44 pm
- Search in: PS4 PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: Taito's The Ninja Saviors - Return of the Warriors (PS4 PSN)
- Replies: 36
- Views: 2999
Review: Taito's The Ninja Saviors - Return of the Warriors (PS4 PSN)
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An Amazing Robot Shinobi Smackdown!
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Developed by Taito Games, a subsidiary of Square Enix and published by PR Hound, Taito's The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors is a remake of a classic Taito arcade-style beat 'em up released decades ago during the golden age of arcades! How does this game stack-up to the competition of that era? Really well actually, continue reading our review to find out why!
The gameplay can be extremely challenging at times, but at the heart of Taito's The Ninja Saviors - Return of the Warriors, it's a relatively simplistic beat 'em up. That said the various playable characters offer a very different experience with different range and combos which adds a layer of replayability to the game, but also ensures that there should be a character to fit every gamer's playstyle.
The controls in the game are pretty tight, but some combos can feel somewhat awkward to pull off which can be frustrating at times. There's a wide array of vastly different enemies and bosses which well test your mettle in the game. The normal enemies during stage one require little strategy, but by stage two things get quite a bit more challenging.
Every boss is a challenge however, even the stage one boss really presented a serious challenge to us and the game literally took us a month to beat! While extremely difficult the game always felt fair in its mechanics and if you learn the patterns of the enemies you could make slow, but steady progress in the game and eventually beat it. This difficulty was a breath of fresh air in an era where most games are far too easy, it was nice to actually earn our victory through hard work and determination!
The audio-visual presentation in the game is decidedly retro with authentic 90's style graphics with a ton of attention to detail with amazing character designs and superbly designed levels with multiple layered backgrounds. The soundtrack is also top-notch with a wide-variety of tracks that fit the game perfectly!
Bottom-Line: With excellent and challenging gameplay, good controls that can be a bit tricky at times, and a superb audio-visual presentation that will bring back memories of the old arcades of yore, Taito's The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors for the PS4 is a great game that's well worth a purchase if you're looking for a challenge or enjoy retro-style arcade games or beat 'em ups! We give Taito's The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors a good to great level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★¾☆ 8.75/10
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#Review #TheNinjaSaviors #Taito #SquareEnix #PRHound #PS4 #PSN #Switch #eShop #BeatEmUp #Arcade #Retro
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- on March 3rd 2019, 10:40 pm
- Search in: PS4 PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: Alvastia Chronicles (PS4 PSN)
- Replies: 15
- Views: 3380
Review: Alvastia Chronicles (PS4 PSN)
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Decent Mechanics Make A Glacier-Solid Game!
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Developed by Exe-Create and published by KEMCO, Alvastia Chronicles is a decent attempt at recreating the greatness of the 16-bit era, however it falls short in many ways, but regardless is still a solid JRPG! Keep reading our review to learn more!
The story of Alvastia Chronicles is pretty straightforward and doesn't do much that we haven't seen before, but what's there is pretty good stuff. The gameplay on the other-hand is pretty unique. It's basically The Last Remnant in 16-bit form in the way it utilizes squads of characters who fight together as one with a united HP pool and multiple attacks, which is quite enjoyable, but the mechanics are definitely watered down so don't expect complex unit commands and such.
The game itself is somewhat short and can be beaten in 20 hours or less if you don't focus on side-quests and collecting all units in the game. The controls are easy to learn and the game's difficulty is a tad on the easy side. Another great thing is that the Vita version of Alvastia Chronicles is PSTV compatible which we commend the developer for continuing to support the niche device that has long been discontinued.
The audio-visual presentation is decidedly retro, but unlike previous 16-bit or is this 12-bit? KEMCO titles Alvastia Chronicles has a somewhat lacklustre art-style and feels off in a sense, because in some aspects it's 8-bit while in others it's 16-bit. It sort of ruins the game's nostalgia factor that KEMCO strives for. Luckily the soundtrack is much better and not only fits the game, but is quite memorable as well!
Bottom-Line: With great gameplay, flawless controls, and an excellent soundtrack, Alvastia Chronicles is commendable JRPG that has potential, however a somewhat erratic visual presentation and short story hold the game back quite a bit, though the PSTV compatibility really does help if you plan on purchasing the Vita version of the game. In any case we give Alvastia Chronicles for the PS4 a solid level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
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#Review #ExeCreate #KEMCO #JRPG #Retro #PS4 #Vita #PSN #Switch #eShop
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- on December 1st 2018, 12:45 am
- Search in: PS4 PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: Chronus Arc (PS4 PSN)
- Replies: 13
- Views: 3547
Review: Chronus Arc (PS4 PSN)
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A Refreshingly Decent Title!
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Developed by Hit-Point and published by KEMCO, Chronus Arc is a solid budget RPG in many ways, but is it worth the cost? We think so, continue reading our review to learn why!
The story in Chronus Arc is relatively straightforward and cliche, however it is still quite enjoyable despite not doing anything in its story that hasn't been done before. The gameplay is also standard JRPG fare which oozes with retro goodness, between it's retro visuals and soundtrack as well as its turn-based battles and simplistic gameplay mechanics that would feel right at home on a home console of the early to mid 90's! The gameplay is superb, but does lose some points for playing it safe and not doing anything unique, but it's still highly enjoyable!
Item collection plays a big role in Chronus Arc and the game does a good job at making the grind to complete your collection quite fun! The controls in the game are also simple and easy to master as expected from a game that emulates the style of the 16-bit classics we all know and love!
The game can be quite difficult later on though if you've played any major SNES JRPG this will hardly pose any trouble with beating the game! Also Chronus Arc is cross-buy and the Vita version PSTV compatible which is always good in our book!
Visually the game looks great in all of its 16-bit glory and the visual novel style story scenes look nice as well, but it's no SNES Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger so don't expect it to look as good as the best games of the 90's, regardless it still looks nostalgic and should bring back memories of playing the classics of yesteryear.
The soundtrack on the other-hand is hit and miss and more so miss. It's easily the weakest aspect of the game . The sound effects can be quite annoying as well, so unfortunately overall the audio presentation is below average.
Bottom-Line:
With great visuals, excellent controls, and a good story that is fun to see play out, although it's somewhat cliche and predictable as well as gameplay that's great, but doesn't do anything new or unique, Chronus Arc is a worthy budget JRPG that's worth giving a shot if you enjoy JRPG's from the SNES era, but the annoying sound effects and lacklustre soundtrack do hold the game a bit, but overall we give the game a decent to solid level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★¾☆☆☆ 6.75/10
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#Review #KEMCO #HitPoint #PS4 #PSN #3DS #eShop #JRPG #Retro
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- on November 12th 2018, 11:36 am
- Search in: PS4 PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: STAY (PS4 PSN)
- Replies: 17
- Views: 3243
Review: STAY (PS4 PSN)
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STAY or LIVE With The Consequences of LEAVING!
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developed by Appnormals Team and published by PQube & Ratalaika Games, STAY is a horror visual novel with retro graphics that has you STAY in contact with an unfortunate person who has no clue where he is and how he can escape. This is a rather interesting plot and that alone is worth checking this title out, but there's much more to this game than that. Continue reading our review to learn more!
The story in STAY is pretty wild, an unfortunate man wakes up to unfamiliar surroundings with little more than his computer and the clothes on his back. In this dark place not all is as it seems and it's dangerous to attempt to escape without assistance. Luckily he has you! As the only person in his chatroom you must guide him to safety and stave off insanity from setting in by communication and giving him advice. You'll want to play the game frequently until finished as the game's time will progress without you so things can get pretty dicey if you take a long break between sessions.
The game also features a huge number of extremely difficult puzzles, which we admittedly had to rely on a guide to solve some of the more challenging ones. STAY features multiple endings which adds to the replayability of the game. The game can be exceptionally difficult at times, but is quite short clocking in at under 10 hours in length. The controls are intuitive and easy to learn which is always a good thing and best of all STAY is PSTV compatible!
STAY has a fantastic yet very retro art direction with great details, the menues are streamlined and look amazing as well. The soundtrack is pretty solid as well and fits the mood of the game quite nicely!
Bottom-Line:
With a great and unique story, solid gameplay, flawless controls, amazing visuals, and a fitting soundtrack, STAY is a great game worth checking out, but the puzzles in the game feel extremely unfair and difficult at times which really hampers the accessibility of the game, but overall we give STAY for the PS4 and PSTV a solid level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7/10
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#Review #STAY #PQube #RatalaikaGames #VN #Retro #PS4 #PSN #Vita #PSTV
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- on October 9th 2018, 9:04 pm
- Search in: Wii U Virtual Console Reviews
- Topic: Review: Mario & Luigi ~ Partners in Time (Wii U VC)
- Replies: 24
- Views: 3308
Review: Mario & Luigi ~ Partners in Time (Wii U VC)
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A Baby Splash In Time!
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Developed and published by Nintendo, Mario & Luigi: Partners in time is the second title in the now long-running Mario & Luigi series and adds to the formula of Superstar Saga with time-travelling shananigans with the now-famous Baby Mario Bros. in tow. Is this zany title as good as its predecessor? We think so and here's why:
The story in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is just as epic as you'd expect from a true to form Mario RPG. Of course there's plenty of humour to be had, but unlike recent Mario RPG's Bowser is not the main focus as an antagonist, much like in Superstar Saga and Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door there's a cast of refreshingly unique antagonists to tackle which is a breath of fresh air to be quite honest.
the gameplay is revamped from Superstar Saga, there's a time-travelling element, plus the baby bros. join the team, giving you four different allies at your command at once which adds alot of depth to the gameplay formula. Puzzle solving plays a big role in Partners in Time and ctn be challenging at times while the battles are substantially more difficult than those in Superstar Saga.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is also quite a long game, clocking in at over 40 hours in length. The controls are also superb which is always a good thing. The audio-visual presentation while simple in nature are quite beautiful and fit the game like a glove, while the soundtrack is far better than the one in Superstar Saga. Overall the game looks and sounds like pure perfection!
Bottom-Line:
With a wacky and highly enjoyable story, superb gameplay, and flawless audio-visual presentation, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is the pinnacle of perfection and one of the best DS games we've had the opportunity to play and as such we give the game a perfect level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10/10
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#Review #Nintendo #WiiU #VC #DS #Mario #RPG #Retro
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- on December 10th 2017, 2:33 pm
- Search in: Vita PSN Reviews
- Topic: Review: Cursed Castilla [Maldita Castilla ~ EX] (Vita PSN)
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3287
Review: Cursed Castilla [Maldita Castilla ~ EX] (Vita PSN)
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For The Castle And Glory!
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Developed by Locomalito and published by Abylight, Cursed Castilla (Maldita Castilla EX) for Vita is a throwback title that possesses traits and elements of many of the 80's and 90's Arcade greats, such as Ghosts & Goblins, Super Indiana Jones, Rygar, and many more! Is the game worth it though?! We think it's one of the best throwback titles in recent years and here's why:
The gameplay in Cursed Castilla is superb to the max, the game is an action-platformer at its core and is not only a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but also provides superior gameplay to that of the titles the game is clearly inspired by! The game is also HARD, and we mean NES HARD! Expect to die alot before learning how to best tackle the game's many challenging stages!
The game has a ton of enemies and challenging bosses to tackle, there are plenty of power ups to be had, but the most interesting aspect of the game are the hazards. Some things that you wouldn't think dangerous are deadly, such as windmill blades in the background. There's even a stage where massive eggs roll by and you can kill them or dodge them, so you decide to dodge them and suddenly you find yourself surrounded by harpy enemies that hatch from those eggs! This clever stage design is just one example of many which really showcases the developer's talent!
Cursed Castilla is PSTV compatible which is fantastic news! The controls are also easy to learn, but can take awhile to master. The audio-visual presentation is absolutely amazing in a true to history representation of 80's Arcade titles! The chip-tunes are fantastic, the characters and levels look groovy, overall you won't find much better even from the likes of Shovel Knight, though obviously the art-direction is completely different.
Bottom-Line:
With fantastic and challenging gameplay, excellent controls, PSTV compatibility, and nostalgic audio-visual presentation, Cursed Castilla for Vita is one game that no Vita owner should miss out on and because of this, we give the game a nearly perfect level of recommendation!
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Score: ★★★★★★★★★½ 9.5/10
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#Review #Abylight #Locomalito #Vita #PSTV #3DS #CursedCastilla #MalditaCastillaEX #Arcade #Retro
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- on August 4th 2016, 8:50 pm
- Search in: Latest Nintendo News
- Topic: Retro: Graphic novel version of Nintendo Power's "Super Mario Adventures" coming this fall
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4376
Retro: Graphic novel version of Nintendo Power's "Super Mario Adventures" coming this fall
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October 12th, actually
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In the early 1990s the Nintendo Power magazine published a series of comics featuring Mario and Luigi inspired by the now-classic game Super Mario World. Now the collection of said comics is coming in graphic novel form and will publish on October 12th 2016. If you're a fan of these comics, it should be worth the $14.99 it costs (and right now it's only $10.59!)
You can find the graphic novel here
Source via Nintendo Everything
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#Nintendo #News #General #Retro #Comics #NintendoPower
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- on January 20th 2016, 12:04 pm
- Search in: Wii U eshop Reviews
- Topic: Review: N.e.o. (Wii U eShop)
- Replies: 6
- Views: 2552
Review: N.e.o. (Wii U eShop)
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Asteroids On Steroids!
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Developed and published by Form Up Studios N.e.o. or Near Earth Objects as the game is known as is a love letter to the classic arcade shooter genre and is clearly heavily inspired by the Atari classic Asteroids!
The game does a good job at keeping players entertained with many modes, including an Endless Mode to rack up some incredibly high scores, a classic Arcade Mode with a set number of stages, three lives, and limitless continues and lastly Yolo Mode "You Only Live Once" which is an unforgiving mode where players are only given one life and zero continues to beat the Arcade Mode!
There's not a huge selection of enemies, but the ones that are there are quite varied. The game also features spreadshot and barrier satellite power-ups which will prove to be very useful when the going gets tough!
The controls are fairly good, though it takes a while to get used to. The Off-TV-Play is also a nice feature that we're always glad to see in a game!
Visually the game looks incredible in a retro kind of way! Sure the graphics are minimalistic, however the special effects such as neon explosions, flashes, etc. look fantastic! The audio is quite a treat as well, with a fantastic sound-track and superbly retro sound effects you'll feel like you're in a 80's/90's arcade!
Bottom-Line:
With fantastic gameplay, tons of game modes, and an amazing audio-visual presentation N.e.o. is one fantastic arcade shooter for the Wii U eShop that you shouldn't pass up, and though the controls aren't easy to master, it doesn't ruin the experience in the slightest! Overall we give N.e.o. "Near Earth Objects" a great level of recommendation!
Price: $2.99
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Score: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8.5/10
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#WiiU #eShop #Arcade #Shooter #Retro
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