Review: Growlanser II: The Sense of Justice
As the end credits rolled I realised I wasn’t quite sure what a ‘Growlanser’ was or why the subtitle ‘The Sense of Justice’ was chosen. I looked up the game on Wikipedia – which I hadn’t done before this point – and also saw that there were dating sim elements in the game’s final section that I’d completely missed out on because my ‘friendship’ levels with the female characters wasn’t high enough. The list of unsolved mysteries was getting longer…
Super Famicom vs. Nintendo Wii – How to get the best picture from your retro games
I must admit that at some point during the last couple of years the Nintendo Wii got boxed up and put away in the cupboard. Because of this the first part of this week’s adventure was a search for the Nintendo Wii in which I opened up a lot of old boxes and discovered that I own more Sega Megadrives than I ever remember buying. My mission: to discover how the graphics on the Wii’s Virtual Console compare against the real thing.
Retro Review: Persona 3 FES
Whilst widely regarded as one of the PlayStation 2’s best games, there’s also a sense that no one really knows what to make of Persona 3. In many ways it’s an accomplished title, and one of the underground hits that defined the final years of the PS2’s lifespan. But it’s also slow, repetitive and unrefined. It’s easier to work out what’s bad about Persona 3 than what’s good about it, yet it is good. It must be good, they make movies about this game.
The Ultimate SEGA Saturn Guide Part I: Introduction to the Saturn
The Sega Saturn is a misunderstood console, and one often overlooked. Whilst SEGA’s system didn’t enjoy commercial success, strong sales are rarely an indicator of quality for either a system or its games. Put simply the SEGA Saturn is one of – if not the most, underrated console there is, and if you’re ready to explore its varied library of classic games then read on.
Retro Review: Wipeout Pulse
One of the reasons the Wipeout anthology is so enduring is that it’s very difficult to summarise it with a single definitive title. From the original trilogy made in conjunction with The Designer’s Republic, to the PSP titles and their HD remaster, there’s plenty of room for picking a favourite. Yet Pulse is one of the game least likely to earn this title, and the entry in the series that delivers familiarity more than any other.
Retro Review: Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour
In many ways the karting genre has been forever doomed. That is to say, outside of the original Mario Kart series. No other game has ever managed to step out of the shadow cast by the title that established it, or the sequels that propelled it forward. This in itself is quite odd; no one would call Bioshock a Wolfenstein 3D clone, or dismiss Forza as nothing more than a glamorous version of Pole Position. But most genres have evolved and outperformed the titles that originally defined them, and these originals have ceased to be the influential names they once were. Kart racing is different. Mario is still on top, and like every other karting game ever made, the challenge Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour faces is to define itself as something more than a slightly worse version of Mario Kart.
The Ultimate Cable Guide – How to get the best picture from your retro games (part I)
If you’ve ever tried to plug your old Super Nintendo or Mega Drive into a modern, High Definition television, then it’s likely that you were quite horrified with the results. Without the right set up, and the right cables, retro games don’t look good – especially on new TVs. But working out what kit your need, and what will work best for you, can be more that a little confusing. That’s why I’ve put together this guide, which starts with the basics but also covers all the complicated stuff you’ll need to help get the best picture from your retro games.
15 Underrated Classics for the Nintendo GameCube
The Nintendo GameCube is one of my favourite consoles. It has an extensive library of great games, although the majority of these have admittedly received the recognition they deserve. Mario is awesome, Zelda is awesome and Metroid is awesome. You probably already know this. However, over the console’s lifetime a small handful of great games went unnoticed, and today I’ve gathered together a list of my favourite underrated GameCube classics.
Retro Review: Harmful Park (Import)
The 1990s were a strange time. A game like Harmful Park should have been an instant classic, and lauded for its innovative level design, unique style and competent gameplay. Instead it never made its way out of Japan, and today is a rare gem usually selling for over £100 online. Ironically it’s a hugely accessible game that turns a niche genre into an experience any kind of gamer can enjoy.
10 Classic Games that are also Completely Worthless
A lot of the time the value of a retro game is directly related to its quality; there’s higher demand for good games so naturally they should cost more. However, there are other factors at play too, for example rarity and desirability. There’s even a few great games that didn’t sell too well, and now there are more than enough copies to go around. Today I’ve gathered ten of my favourite titles that are not only brilliant, but for a variety of reasons are completely worthless too.
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