Retro Corner - Thumb Culture

28Sep

By Tony CNo Comments

Bottle Boy – Gameboy Colour Preview

New games for the beloved Gameboy systems of old are becoming more and more frequent. This is in part thanks to the great development tools like GB Studio and Game Maker. Furthermore there are more ways to play than ever with great modern hardware like the Analogue Pocket. Bottle Boy is a new game for Gameboy Colour due for release some time in 2024. It's an RPG that started as a concept during the peak of the Covid pandemic. Bottle Boy - New Gameboy Colour RPG I tried out the demo on the Analogue Pocket and chatted to its developer Greg Leblanc about the origins of the idea and his hopes for the full release. Bottle Boy Demo The demo opens with a great sequence that sets the scene for the story and introduces the main character Alex. The sci-fi fanatic schoolboy's world is turned upsi...

31Jul

By KevinNo Comments

PC Reviews

Re-Loaded – PC Review

In December 1996, when the internet was young and Google was less than a year old, the DVD format had just been released and Tom Holland was in nappies, Gremlin Interactive released Re-Loaded less than a year after the moderately successful Loaded. Cut to 2023 and it is the responsibility of Urbanscan to bring the trip down memory lane to the nostalgia driven masses. Time to fashion myself a mohawk and grab the nearest weapon of choice and head off to defeat the enemies and revisit my youth. Re-Loaded - Just another bullet in the chamber? Who doesn't like a little bit of retro action? A visit to the childhood memories that are so sacred in the process of growing up. A chance to force our children to endure the basic lives that we all led before they were even a tingle in our trousers. Ti...

5Jun

By Tony CNo Comments

Hardware & Tech, Retro Reviews

Epilogue GB Operator Review

Retro gaming, collecting and preservation are becoming more and more popular these days. There is also a burgeoning community of indie developers creating and releasing brand new games for beloved systems from the gaming days of old. The GB operator is a small, very useful device that has appeal for players, collectors and developers alike. GB Operator - Retro Revolution It is the creation of a small team whose passion for retro games and for game preservation is evident from the helpful articles on their website. One such article covers how to spot counterfeit cartridges while another details how best to clean the contact pins on your beloved game cartridges. It is available to purchase directly from the Epilogue website at a cost of $61.49 (£50/€57). Features Compatible with G...

3May

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Supplice – PC Early Access Preview

Supplice is a retro style FPS now available in Early Access. In development by Mekworx with publishing by Hyperstrange (Jupiter Hell, Frozenheim), this throwback to the mid 1990's is heavily inspired by Doom and its mod community. You can pick it up today only on Steam. Supplice Throws Doom Into the Modern Day There have been many games like Doom since it debuted 30 years ago. From the original Quake and Rise of the Triad to modern entries like Dusk and ULTRAKILL to name a few. Though Doom probably wasn't my first PC game I'm sure it may have been for a lot of 90's kids. And despite the number of similar games I've seen over the years, Supplice is one that stood out to me. I'm glad to have the opportunity to play it and share the experience with you. Let me know which 90's FPS was your f...

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration – PC Review

14Dec

By Si WoodhamsNo Comments

PC Reviews

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration – PC Review

If you were born in the late 70s or into 80s you may have been lucky enough for your parents to have a classic PC in the household, be that an Atari, Commodore or a ZXSpectrum. Now I was one of those lucky children and an Atari ST520 adorned my Dad's office, with my siblings and I fighting over who would get the game time first, before 2 joysticks magically appeared and put a stop to that farse! Atari 50 hopes to bring that all back in the 21st Century! Now in the 2020s Atari has released the Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration a broad selection of history and games that span the Atari universe. If you enjoy this review check out my others right here! History Tour or Gaming? Let's start by saying this "game" is huge! I've been playing for quite a while now and barely scratched th...

Outstanding Orchestra – Retro Playstation Games With Surprising Soundtracks

15Jul

By Rowen CameronNo Comments

Features

Outstanding Orchestra – Retro Playstation Games With Surprising Soundtracks

It's easy to see why video games are now generally regarded as works of art. The blending of many different mediums to create a unique interactive experience is truly astounding. And with the advancements in technology and media, people are now more freely able to explore and appreciate them. One that has gained significantly more attention is music. Video game soundtracks have garnered more attention from both players and critics over the years and it's now easier than ever to listen to your favourite game’s musical offerings. Because of this, there is now also a certain level of musical expectation in video games. Nowadays, it's no surprise that a video game showcases a grand, multifaceted soundtrack, often using a wide variety of instruments. Even a full orchestra. And most players w...

17Jun

By BrianNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews, Retrogaming Corner

Final Vendetta PS5 Review

Today we take a look at a game that 90s beat-em-up fans have been foaming at their 40-year-old mouths for. We are checking out Final Vendetta. This is Bitmap Bureau's love letter to games like Streets of Rage and Final Fight that promises to pack a pixely punch. Final Vendetta - The Ultimate Love Letter to 90s Beat-Em-Ups Final Vendetta releases on June 17th, 2022 on Switch, PS4, PS5 & Xbox, and Steam. The game will be released digitally but fear not physical collectors! If you like me, were born in the 80s and will always want a physical copy over digital, some Limited edition versions have you covered. The standard, collector's, and the Super Limited Editions will be available in limited numbers. So let's see what has the retro gaming community chomping at the bit in Final V...

6Apr

By Brian1 Comment

PlayStation Reviews

Slipstream Review

Fans of OutRun and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 unite, for Slipstream is finally here on consoles. The game started out as a Kickstarter project way back in 2016. After reaching nearly $7,000 in backing, it finally came to fruition on PC in 2018. Slipstream was developed by a single developer, Brazilian Sandro Luiz de Paula of Ansdor Games. Slipstream - More Drift Than A Switch Joycon If you're into your retro-styled arcade racers, then you are in for a fun, yet frustrating time. For what it lacks in complexity, it more than makes up for it in its mastery. Slipstream is available from April 7th, 2022 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch and it's also playable on current generation consoles through backward compatibility. So, let's put the pedal to the metal and check out this love lette...

Playing Doom…30 Years Later – A Retrospective Review

1Dec

By Hunter MooneyNo Comments

Features, Retrogaming Corner

Playing Doom…30 Years Later – A Retrospective Review

Almost 30 years ago, id Software released what is still considered one of the most defining and important games in video game history. I am of course talking about Doom. Doom is an FPS action game developed and published by id Software and was released on December 10th, 1993. The game was originally published with only the first nine levels on MS-DOS but due to its success, the full game was later ported to Windows 95, the Sega 32X, Atari Jaguar, Super Nintendo, and then pretty much every well-known game console you can name. Not to mention ATMs, barcode scanners, and...pregnancy tests. If you played video games in the early '90s and you had a computer, you most definitely played Doom. This game defined a generation and set the standard for FPS shooters. It was one of the most talked...

13Oct

By BrianNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Gley Lancer Review

As is the case in the 90's, many games weren't available to us here in the UK, and Gley Lancer was one of them. Originally it was published by Masaya and released in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive and got ported to the Wii Virtual Console in 2008 with a translation in the manual. Now nearly 30 years later, the 16-bit shooter Gley Lancer has reached western shores fully loaded and fully translated. Gley Lancer - A New Enemy Approaches Ratalaika who are known for publishing ports and indie titles are present while Shinyden handles the porting duties. Gley Lancer will release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch on October 15th, 2021. Shoot 'em ups were ten a penny back in the day, so what makes this one stand out? Read on to see what I thought of the...