Gaming News — #gaming news

We're flipping the script just a little bit this week as we veer away from the high-octane retro action for now and celebrate some of the technological marvels that make old-school gaming possible. Of course, we won't keep you hanging when it comes to new titles. We still have one surprise up our sleeve, but we think it's only proper to talk about the consoles that make the magic happen. So buckle up as we travel back a few decades. 

MYSTIC LAND: SEARCH FOR MAPHALDO

Surprisingly, Old-school RPGs never get old, and even in 2023, we still yearn for that late 80s and 90s aesthetics, whenever we fire up a brand new role-playing title. If you're a fan of classics like the Wizardry series or Eye of the Beholder, then the peeps over at MegaVision Software have your number.

Mystic Land: Search for Maphaldo is an old-school RPG crawler that's currently in development and looks to bring back the retro vibe everyone yearns for. From the aesthetics down to the methodical first-person and slightly slower-paced gameplay, this title just might recapture that feeling everyone had a few decades ago. A feeling that eventually we all miss. 

There's no news on which consoles this will be available on, but MegaVision Software is hard at work in ensuring this game comes to life soon enough. Their website has info about the game, and they post regular updates on Twitter. So if Mystic Land: Search for Maphaldo piques your interest, it's best to sit tight. For now.

RETROID POCKET S2

Now, let's talk about modern retro consoles. We've done our share of these old-school handheld gadgets, and while they may not get as mainstream coverage as your Playboxes, X Stations, and Switch decks, you can't deny how a lot more have been popping up as of late. One of which being the Retroid Pocket 2S. It's a new Android handheld from GoRetroid!

It's finally confirmed for release, and based on what we can gather, it's bringing back the old Retroid Pocket 3 aesthetics but with a lot more power under the hood. In terms of the overall design, we're getting a more stylish, barebones look with almost no labels or logos on its chassis. Very no nonsense, which is actually nice. 

Aside from a few buttons repositioned and maybe a slightly larger screen, there's not much to go around, given we only got a short teaser. Still, since we're talking about GoRetroid, we're definitely going to get a more badass chipset and GPU. I mean, it's only logical. Fingers crossed. 

No specific release date as of yet, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for any news on the Retroid Pocket 2S, so make sure to stick around. 

FAMICOM

Lastly, we celebrate one of the most momentous occasions in the history of retro gaming, or even gaming in general. It's something bigger than you and me, and we'd be remiss if we didn't, at the very least, mention it.

We're talking about the granddaddy of old school, the NES brother from Japan. The Nintendo Famicom just turned 40 this year. And yes, in a day and age where a few modern triple-A titles are already considered retro, we pay homage to one of the greats who brought home console gaming into the mainstream.

After bursting into the scene in 1983 with party arcade games Donkey Kong and Popeye, it took its sweet time in gaining popularity across the globe. It's also the reason why we have such timeless classics like Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, and Final Fantasy. The latter becoming a multi-billion dollar franchise that just released its 16th entry into the series.

It's amazing just how gaming has come a long way. Even today, the classics are still being enjoyed either via re-releases on modern consoles or in actual Super Famicoms that stood the test of time. There's a reason why they're classics, and they'll continue to be just as fun as they were back in the early 80s.

So let's tip our hats to the Super Famicom for 40 years of hard work and dedication! You walked so the Nintendo Switch can run. 

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We're capping off the month with some epic action pack reveals involving a few classics we know you've heard of! While the idea of a sequel does cross everyone's mind in the retro gaming sphere, getting a dedicated port, a remake, or even a fan re-imagining is great news. And this week, that's exactly what we got. All three, more or less, you'll see!

GRIND

Going straight to the Amiga, we're getting a fan-made retro creation. This time, we're getting another Doom-like from  John Tsakiris, who aims to bring that same gritty, ultraviolet experience to one of the best retro consoles out there. 

Grind is a Doom-like that draws much inspiration from steampunk and Lovecraftian themes, as well as the classic game Chaos Engine. It's safe to say there's gonna be a lot of supernatural ass-kickings, just like the old game but with a different flavor. So far,  John Tsakiris has been hard at work making sure the game has all the necessary features to bring all the brutality that grind demands. This includes the game's interface, weapons, terrifying enemies, and more.

If your idea of a good time involves portraying a hardened bloodthirsty brute past his prime, who just wants to rid the world of evil, and on the weekend, then you might wanna get on that Grind.

SONIC GX

Now let's look at a new fast-paced port to the Amstrad GX 4000 and Amstrad Plus. When we say fast-paced, we mean really fast. Sonic the Hedgehog was a staple in both the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master system that featured a blue speed demon that could spin, run, jump and roll around various stages collecting gold rings. It sounds simple enough, but veterans know that wasn't the case. 

Well, the ones who remember and those who are curious can experience that speed in the modern 2020s. Thanks to Sonic GX, the development team of NoRecess are looking to recreate the classic Sonic experience on the new Amstrad consoles, and it's been a work in progress since 2019. Info says the game will feature full-screen gameplay at a full frame rate with approximately 52 colors on screen and a special stage.

All this is set to come out in 2024, so yes, if you have a GX 4000 or Plus, it's about time to go fast yet again with Sonic GX. 

PRINCE OF PERSIA

Lastly, we've caught wind that the all-time classic platformer Prince of Persia may be getting a ColecoVision and MSX port, all thanks to Under4Mhz. There's no info on whether this will be a fully featured experience or just a piece of a bigger puzzle, but the mere idea of such a classic game getting a conversion for more popular retro console nowadays is great news Indeed.

Currently, we have a simple technical demo of the first level of Prince of Persia that runs on the ColecoVision, MSX and SG 1000 consoles. It's worth noting that these consoles never got a port of the title, so the aim was to see if it was possible to implement the game for these platformers and to see if there is any interest in it. That's pretty much of a no-brainer at this point, as the game is well beloved until today.

The demo is bare as can be and doesn't even have any enemies. So you can tell this was Under4Mhz, just testing the waters. Hopefully, more people show interest so this new port could finally get off the ground, and we can all join the Prince on yet another classic journey. 

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June is in full bloom, ladies and gentlemen, and since everything’s in full swing, the retro games keep coming. Of course, this means everyone can get a good helping of quality old-school games that never fail to bring fun, action or otherwise. Whether it’s a port of a classic or something brand new, best believe we got the scoop. So kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

THE TELWYNIUM

If you’re a fan of eighties and nineties epic adventure games like Kings Quest, then you’ll be happy to know that a new Sierra-style game is coming out and looks pretty good. The Telwynium book one, book two, and book three by Powerhoof look to bring the same classic Sierra-style adventure that everyone enjoyed in the nineties.

The Telwynium Book one

The game sees you as the hero, and your party of four, escaped the horrors of the shadow fell, fighting your way to safety. So far, there’s only information on book one, but since this trilogy will likely be rolled out quickly, you can expect more news to drop. Feedback on the game has been positive, especially in the visual design and story departments.

The Telwynium book two

It’s a nostalgia trip that takes you on an exciting, plot-driven journey where every decision can alter your story. If you’re an old-school Kings Quest or Quest of Lori veteran, then Telwynium looks like the next logical step.

The Telwynium book three

HAMULET

There have been a lot, and I mean a whole plethora, of brand spank and new games coming out in the past few months, and June is no different. One of these new upcoming games comes in the form of an impressive-looking demo of Hamulet by Remy Veilleux for the Amiga.

While there isn’t any definite news on when the game will come out, the demo looks pretty good. The top-down dungeon crawler elements, paired with some intense action, look a lot of fun in terms of art style and sound design, you get a nice, cutesy feel from it all, and we’re pretty sure there’s more in store for everyone as the game nears completion. So if you’re thinking retro Stardew Valley, but with more action about as much whimsy and lots of puzzles, then Hamlet might be worth the wait.

MARIO BROS G&W

Do you remember the Game and Watch an absolute classic? Do you remember Mario Bros for the game and watch from 1983? Well, just about 40 years later, we’re getting a demake for the ZX spectrum, and it’s every bit as cool as it is, old-school. Now, this should be a straight-up blast from the past from any G&W fans, but for anyone unfamiliar, this might not be the Mario you’ve come to know and love.

Instead of the usual friendly plumbers, Mario and Luigi work at a bottling plant, prepping packages to load into a truck, and instead of a side-scrolling adventure, it’s a challenging relay of platforming as you make sure those bottles make their way up a few floors and into the truck. Funny enough, this version came out in March of 1983, 3 months before Mario rose for the Arcade.

Now this makes the very first appearance of Luigi and also, in the retro gaming world, his latest. If you have a ZX spectrum lying around and want to relive good old game and watch days, check this one out.

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We're halfway through June, but not even halfway done with the games that have been coming out as of late. Now, it's no secret that action has always been the theme, and we do our best to spice things up with titles that add a bit more to the genre, a bit more adventure, sci-fi, and sometimes more horror. So if you are ready for our weekly ride, make sure to buckle up.

CHOPPER DUEL

First up, we have a two-player game for the Amiga that takes the action to the skies. Our good friend, Izero79 just dropped a DOS to the Commodore Amiga port for the classic game Chopper Duel. This title was originally released for DOS way back in 1993 by Addict and as an early multiplayer game. So best believe it was a lot of fun.

After 30 years, we can finally say there's an Amiga port for good old Chopper Duel. As one would expect it runs smoothly and should work with all Amigas with 512kb RAM or more. It's also worth noting that Chopper Duel was ridden with ASM and has also been tested with various other Amiga consoles, so you don't have to worry about any helicopter crashes anytime soon.

The game features 50 stunning battlefields, 32 color graphics, and, more importantly, joystick and keyboard controls. If you want some old-school aerial action, then check out the Amiga Port of Chopper Duel. 

SKINVADERS

Let's move on to yet another Amiga title that adds a bit more of a twist to the gameplay of a classic we're all familiar with. If you got a hold of 1978 Space Invaders when it first came out, well, hats off to you old timer. Now you get a chance to take that nostalgia trip but with a few modern changes. From the arcades to the Atari 2600, it's making its way to your Amiga as Skinvaders and so far, it looks promising. In terms of gameplay, which you get is identical to the original.

The goal is not only to survive a barrage of projectiles but also to destroy wave after wave of flying enemies. The difference here is there's a bit more color and fresh new sprites. Electric Black Sheep is in charge of development and hard at work. Hopefully, we'll be able to see how skin invaders look soon enough.

We got an action pack sides cooler for the MSX1. Well not as old as the last two. This is still definitely a Nike classic. Turrican has been mentioned through the years on a multitude of consoles, and it's finally coming to life on the MSX1. Thanks to TheGeps. 

The game first came out in 1990 by Rainbow Arts, programmed by Manfred Trenz. It was a gorgeous game, especially for its time, especially with its incredible soundtrack by Chris Huelsbeck. You get intense side-scrolling, shooting action, badass weapons and smooth intuitive gameplay that still holds up today. 

As development continues, TheGeps team added a few things with much effort. Like updates to level music, a new main sprite, collectable gems, a scoreboard panel, and a few changes to player movements. It's safe to say that this updated Turrican for the MSX1 is definitely something to get hyped for. 

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