I'm actually most interested in seeing how the front end to all of this looks and functions now, as that's the difference between meh and something potentially great imo. The early footage still looked like something designed for nerds to browse rather than just general users, when it needs to look like something even casuals could access and use easily and intuitively and actually be visually and functionally compelling as a UI out the gate imo. It's the difference between say most PC retro game emulators that often look and function like they're made to be operated by programming nerds, and OpenEmu that looks and function like an actual finished and polished piece of commercial software that anyone could use for example. So here's hoping it's come a long way and is truly ready for prime time as I would like it to be. Although I'm sure nerds will still get something from it either way.
Also, can you use or at least also provide X/Twitter links, please, as nobody actually uses BluSky or whatever it's called:
Edit: According to recent data, X has approximately 586 million users. In contrast, Bluesky has grown to around 25 million users as of the latest updates. So let's use the platform the vast majority of people are actually going to for this kind of information to keep it simple.
Earthion looks like a cool new retro shmup for Steam. I'll certainly be giving it a wee go.
Side thought: I was just playing the Steam version of Xeno Crisis a second ago, which thankfully has an option to use the right analogue stick or the ABXY buttons on my Xbox controller for shooting in eight directions while moving at the same times (I actually prefer using the four digital face buttons over the analogue stick), but it's just not as enjoyable a game to play for me personally as Smash TV I have to say. Smash TV really is a total classic that play brilliantly to this day.
Anyway, looking forward to downloading and giving Earthian a play once it releases.
@poyo_pie It's a legit NES game, at least the physical NES version is, so it will look literally exactly like a NES game should look in terms of colour limitations and such. They've just done a great job of working within those limitations to create some really nice visuals there.
I dream of living this guy's dream one day, give or take.
Also, surely a SNES version should be the natural next choice for any further AVGN game. And, given how great a job they've done making the NES shine here, I can only imagine what they could do on SNES.
If you actually look at Takaya Imamura's sketches before the final art for that F-Zero comic that came with the SNES version, it was way better in his original sketches than what the artist it was passed onto actually achieved. The character proportions and poses and their positions in the frame and the angle of the shots and such were much stronger in his sketched version. Maybe not even that noticeable to a layman, but very obvious to an artist's eye. Takaya Imamura was the real artistic talent there, at least in this F-Zero example. Kind of wish he'd done the final version. Don't really understand why he didn't to be honest.
Looks like the only place we'll be playing all these classic and beloved retro arcades in the future is in virtual reality. Thankfully, the experience is actually frikin' brilliant, and as close to the real thing as you can get without it actually being the real thing. If this is the best way to truly preserve these arcades, I pray for every single arcade game and associated cabinet to be transported into VR one day.
Thankfully, I have the 3DS ROM on my PC. I've actually tried it running on the Citra emulator and in VR so I could play it in stereoscopic 3D, but I can't recall if it worked or not. I have a bunch of 3DS games for Citra, and only a handful of them work properly [currently], but the ones that do work show just how cool the stereoscopic 3D effect works with old 2D games like this. It's also now possibly to run Citra natively on Quest 3 too, and the result is much the same. I hope one day the 3D Sega collection returns officially again for VR. I expect many people don't know what they're missing there. VR is the future for retro gaming I tell you, but you'll not get it until you've experienced some virtual arcade with a massive selections of legit arcade titles playing on all the arcades or a virtual room with a bunch of virtual consoles playing retro games on a bunch of virtual CRT TVs or the like. It's genuinely amazing, and the nostalgia hits you like a hammer. If you don't know what I'm talking about already, one day you will, and you're going to love it.
@BulkSlash "I wonder if the SNES could have displayed more enemies if they’d used a FastROM cart? I know there’s a mod for Final Fight 2 that ups the number of simultaneous enemies from 3 to 5 also with some sprite flicker."
It's not a FastROM related challenge, but I think the answer yes, and on stock hardware too.
If similarly updated in modern times, I think it would be possible to display more enemies on Super Nintendo if we're okay with some more sprite flicker as seen in the genesis demo level above. There's plenty of examples to demonstrate how this might be achieved on Super Nintendo today, such as the Final Fight 2 hack you mentioned and the Turtles in Time Arcade Edition hack that I've seen display up to eleven characters on-screen but with a lot of flicker for example.
And further improvements could be made in the Super Nintendo version too, from the use of colour to the HUD and beyond, so there's plenty room for more there. It's really just a matter of someone actually doing it.
@UtopiaNemo Yeah, it's very clear they both have their own advantages and disadvantages when compared to each other, especially if there's a very specific sound you're after, so it wouldn't be fair to just outright claim one superior across the board. But everyone should be free to have their own personally preference.
Yeah, if people are going to port across all these retro games to one old console in modern times, be they arcade games or Super Nintendo games or Amiga games or whatever that are getting ported, it makes sense for it to be the Neo Geo receiving the ports in most cases imo. It's just such a powerful and capable system that it can largely do these ports full justice and even improve them in many ways regardless of what system the original game was on. And there's no real benefit to getting downgraded ports as far as I'm concerned, as you might as well just play the originals in that case.
@UtopiaNemo Remember, this is still comparing a genesis tune made using all the modern tools and such (and I'm not sure what memory space it takes up), whereas the Super Nintendo original is 30+ years old and made to fit in the tiny cartridge limits of the time. The original Super Nintendo tune doesn't benefit from any modern sound drivers or compression techniques or larger storage space or lessons learned, etc. And you also don't get to hear the fact the Super Nintendo could output tunes in proper surround sound if desired here either, which obviously just adds another layer/dimension to the music if you have the setup to appreciate that. So there is at least one real audible difference between the two, but it all come down to what each person is after in terms of what they will prefer. I still like the Super Nintendo tunes more personally, as they sound more like the classical and/or cinematic atmospheric music that you tend to hear with these kinds of gothic vampire settings and such, rather than a bit more of an old arcade game sound. But that's just my preference.
And thanks for correcting me on the Pyron thing. So credit to the actual music guy there, Vector Orbex.
@Deway Keep in mind how old that article is and where it seems FPGA is today by comparison. And also remember that most emulation solutions come with utterly terrible front ends that only geeks can be bothered faffing around with half the time, whereas something like the ModRetro Chromatic has a UI that's as simple and clean as it gets. In fact, outside of the very basic settings menu, you're into games instantly from the moment you insert the cartridge and turn on the system with literally zero faff and fuss. And it can do that because it's built for one specific purpose only that it fulfills to near perfection. That's how I personally want all future systems like this to be in an ideal world.
Dang, I was just talking about something like this in another one of your articles!
And this actually looks pretty cool. Although, personally, I'd rather just have it play SNES games only so it could be about half the height with the cartridges fitting perfectly flush as I think they do here. Also, I'd like it to be FPGA.
So, Imagine what I'm saying here: A device something like this but specifically for SNES only [all regions] so it could be quite a bit smaller, FPGA (because we all want that in 2025), and built to the truly premium quality of something like the ModRetro Chromatic from the casing to the gorgeous screen and even the simplicity of it all (gets immediately into the games with no faff and fuss going through menus and such), etc. It could be stunning.
ModRetro, make it happen!
By the way, I wonder if there's any modern equivalent of a screen that functions very much like old CRTs but in modern compact LCD/OLED form factors, because that would just be mind blowing on a device like this. I know there was once work being done on FED/SED technology that was supposed to be basically that, but I think that just died a death. Wish that came to fruition, as it sounds like it would be the perfect solution for classic retro gaming in modern times.
With the release of the genuinely top-tier quality ModRetro Chromatic and new games coming out for the GB/GBC, proper ones like this and even multiple released by ModRetro directly too, the Game Boy [Color] feels new again. I'm really loving my Chromatic.
Now I want to see the same for other handhelds like the GBA, Game Gear, and PC Engine GT/TurboExpress. And above all, I actually want a new FPGA SNES from ModRetro too, maybe even some kind of miracle handheld that actually takes real carts via some of the most compact and slickest design known to man--It can be done! I have a vision of how that might roughly look in my head, something even slicker than the sega nomad and where the cartridges fit flush with the system both top and back, which I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it actually came close.
In the same way Tectoy has kept the Master System alive for approaching four decade by doing little more than releasing new models, and I think providing some game support possibly, I'd love to see many more of these classic consoles kept alive and flourishing in modern times similarly. I don't want countless crappy hardware iterations like Tectoy has done, but maybe just one or two new premium new models of the consoles from actual quality companies like ModRetro, and then just ongoing software support via indie/homebrew for the foreseeable future. Basically, just like it's pulled off with the Chromatic.
I saw another review that pointed out a whole lot of issues with this product that definitely would not qualify such praise in terms of getting close being like some kind first party quality. Having said that, Nintendo's recent systems haven't been exactly world class in terms of design and build imo.
I hope ModRetro does their take on the GBA. And if it's as good as their Chromatic was as basically a modern Game Boy without any of the modern trappings or fuff and faff, it could be stunning. I'd be very much inclined to get one, as my Chromatic is just brilliant and the GBA was one of my favourite consoles ever. It's just a shame so many of the games suffer from terribly blown-out and garish colours due to developers overcompensating for the original non-backlit screen. Also, really, like the device above, the GBA could have been so perfect if it had those two extra buttons of the SNES and actually the same resolution of the SNES or even 320x244.
Man, I've seen a bunch of these little handheld and mini arcade devices over the last week or so, I think from Sega, Atari, Capcom and Namco, etc, and they all just look like they're flooding the market with crap imo. I guess they're probably fine as random stocking fillers or something. But it all just seems like a waste of money, time, and resources.
On a side note, I got myself a ModRetro Chromatic recently, and that actually feels like a proper class products and truly worth investment in something I'll be keeping around for a long time and not just stuff into a cupboard after a few days messing around with it.
Well, it's some more work on SNES. And I guess there's plenty of games that could get English translations there. Something until more people start making new stuff for it.
@KingMike It's a real shame Near/byuu isn't around to continue the great work he did on SNES. I'm not fully in the loop, but it seems like he did more than pretty much anyone else to help the modern SNES scene get to where it's at today. It could do with a lot more people as talented and dedicated as him imo.
I think this is one of those cases where I'll just stick to playing both the arcade original and the '90s genesis version on my SNES Mini and be happy with that. Not sure what would be the point of playing an almost certainly slightly downgraded genesis port of the arcade game for me personally, unless it adds something a little extra of its own. But if it does, then I'll definitely give it a go on my SNES Mini.
It would be even more cool if they could add in some of the other functionality that was in the works for later iterations of the "SNES CD" too, of which there's actually quite a lot of stuff there (32-bit CPU running at 21.477 MHz, FX chip incorporated, 16.7 million colours, etc), but I expect that will never ever happen:
If it actually gets us closer to the greatness that was those classic old CRTs, I'm all for it.
I wouldn't buy an old CRT in modern times just because they're so bulky and limited use, but being able to get much the same result on a modern TV would be pretty awesome. Although I think the particular pixel arrangement and slight softness and light bleed of old CRTs from the electron beam interacting with the phosphors and causing the distinct CRT glow, or however it precisely works, is probably the one thing that gave old games that unique look more than most other aspects, and that's the part I'd truly like to see replicated properly.
Interestingly, there's a cool feature of EmuVR that really does a great job of replicating what it was like playing these retro games on old CRTs back in the day:
With all these ports coming from one retro system to another in modern times, I actually think the Neo Geo AES would be the best choice going forward for most of them to be honest. Other than some transparency effects and aspects of the particular Mode 7 background scaling and rotation that the SNES is specifically good at, it's the system than can not only replicate basically anything from all the other 2D systems, but in many cases even go well above and beyond what would ever be possible on any other systems of the time. If we're going to continue to port all these games across from various systems to other systems, I personally want to see Neo Geo get a whole lot of support going forward so I can get the best ports possible rather than versions that are often compromised in one way or another when they move onto another console. And the best thing is I'll still be able to play them all on my SNES Mini, which is how I'm playing all these retro games in modern times.
@mganai77 The N64 has amazing inputs for playing basically all traditional 2D games from the likes of 2600, NES and Master System all the way up to Saturn's 2D library of titles, when held in the officially named "home position" as shown in the images below, where you basically have a SNES controller with six face buttons:
And that retro-style control feels great to hold with those really ergonomic handles and also still supports rumble feedback too, so you could in principle play every 2600, NES, SNES, Master System, Genesis, 32X, PC Engine, Neo Geo, and even non-analogue Saturn game all with perfect controls and rumble if you really wanted.
The N64 controller has even got a great official way to play dual analogue fps games and such too, by using two controllers at once, which actually feels even better than any other dual analogue controller available at that time imo:
And, again, that's dual analogue plus dual rumble. Literally the first time this was possible on any home console and in any game even. Can we say revolutionary. And, like I said, it actually felt great to boot.
Nintendo was so far ahead of everyone else and literally game changing at the moment of creation of the N64 controller that it's actually stunning to be honest, which is why everyone immediately copied many of its best features alongside the stuff they'd already copied from NES and SNES at that point too.
The technical power and graphical output of each console is a whole other debate, and they each had their various strengths and weaknesses and quirks.
We can't change the past though, and we have all the fixed examples of games that actually released on them back in the day to look at, with again, each having some truly great titles to enjoy. And what we know objectively is how that played out in the grand scheme of things, which has been thoroughly documented at this point and is available online for all to read.
Having said that, any technical and graphical debates are a bit moot, as we can just play games from any and all of these ancient systems on our modern PC emulators and so on anyway. So any arguments about some decades old console being graphically more powerful than some other decades old console is utterly irrelevant, as we can all relatively easily play any and all of them now as we see fit, often in much higher resolutions at higher frame rates with various filters and other modern bells and whistles and even using more advanced controllers and so on.
Personally, I play any and all Saturn, PlayStation, and N64 games I'm interested in on a PC via emulation with my Xbox One controller, and all hooked up to my main 50" 4K HDR living room TV. It's a great setup that works perfectly for me. I've even played some GameCube games on my VR headset in stereoscopic 3D too, and that is something rather special that I wish all could experience--Eternal Darkness.
This is going to be great for a Lite style of handheld, but obviously would be a bit more complex if the "Joy Cons" themselves had to be detachable and attachable too like on the regular Switch. And another thing it addresses that is a real issue on the Lite imo is the fact your thumb just hits that left thumbstick. Moving the thumbstick furter in address the issue there, as would being able to completely flip the stick and buttons on the right side of the device of course. But, yeah, the price of these things is way too high for me to ever jump in. Looks very cool for what it is though. And imo it's a far more innovative and exciting design than anything I've seen of Switch 2 thus far, which is a little embarrassing for Nintendo as far as I'm concerned.
@Pillowpants They'd need to capitalize either the R or A in the final name and logo so people know the right way to say it--not that this is ever gonna happen now.
Honestly, developers should finish all these old incomplete game and actually release them in modern times. With today's development environments, it surely wouldn't take that long at all to complete them now--maybe longer on Super Nintendo because the tools are still largely crap imo--and then they could release them both for the original consoles in actual physical cartridge form and also on modern digital services like Steam and the Switch store and so on. I would so love to see that happen with a lost Super Nintendo game like this. Rare thas this and the apparently 99% completely Super Nintendo version of Killer Instinct 2, and God knows what other games just sitting there waiting to be finished and making a few easy bucks.
@QuarterSwede And interesting take. I don't think the Switch 2 has that feature based on the leaks, but ya never know. I would love for them to have the stereoscopic 3D without glasses as well, but that's looking like another no go.
I think the Virtual Boy is definitely a more infamous flop from Nintendo than the 64DD, and probably even the Wii U is too. The 64DD was just and add-on device, and no one really expects those to do gangbusters either way, so it underperforming isn't exactly a revelation. But the Virtual Boy and Wii U were proper full-on consoles from Nintendo, and they really didn't do well. The Virtual Boy was pretty much a total disaster across the board.
Edit: Ah, just noticed this is obviously an old article and I'd commented previously. But, hey, at least I'm consistent.
@KingMike Yeah, on SNES every NES port should at least have a YB option imo. So, in this case there should be an option to attack with Y and jump with B. And, yeah, the special could also have an option to be on another face button or a shoulder button or whatever. Maybe it's a major hassle to change buttons when porting these games across or something. But, man, if it's possible, I would definitely want it added personally.
Just gave it a go on both my SNES Mini and PC emulator. A short but quite enjoyable taster of what could have been back in the '90s if the game had been on genesis.
@slider1983 Most of the NES parallax is missing in the original SNES ports, which is honestly just shameful. So this new port fixes that right out the gate. And it's clear there's a lot more than that too, with the MSU-1 audio just being one very cool additional option.
This one's a great effort and definitely worth playing. Would be so cool if some talented SNES artist went in and added some 16-bit colour to it now as well. Then it would be everything that was beloved about the originals with some more of the 16-bit colours too.
@hste It's supporting the SNES, and that's good enough. Right now I'll support anything that supports the SNES in principle. The more modern day support the SNES can get the better. And hopefully we also start to see more brand new indie/homebrew games too.
Well, as per usual, I'll support anything coming to SNES if it's all we're getting for now. Because we need to encourage anyone who's taken their time to support this system without having anywhere near the best environment to do so.
And, also as per usual, I'll repeat that the SNES indie/homebrew community truly needs a great development tool that's easy for everyone to use if we're to see genuinely new and exciting games for the system going forward.
"SNESmaker" truly cannot come soon enough. But I think we need more than that too, something entirely focused on making SNES development as painless and simple as possible and that's built specifically around all the SNES' features and capabilities to allow developers to take full advantage of everything there.
Comments 1,085
Re: The Long-Awaited Video Game History Foundation Digital Library Launches This Month
@GhaleonUnlimited Well over half a billion of them vs whatever other pithy option for apparently "not nerds".
Re: The Long-Awaited Video Game History Foundation Digital Library Launches This Month
I'm actually most interested in seeing how the front end to all of this looks and functions now, as that's the difference between meh and something potentially great imo. The early footage still looked like something designed for nerds to browse rather than just general users, when it needs to look like something even casuals could access and use easily and intuitively and actually be visually and functionally compelling as a UI out the gate imo. It's the difference between say most PC retro game emulators that often look and function like they're made to be operated by programming nerds, and OpenEmu that looks and function like an actual finished and polished piece of commercial software that anyone could use for example. So here's hoping it's come a long way and is truly ready for prime time as I would like it to be. Although I'm sure nerds will still get something from it either way.
Also, can you use or at least also provide X/Twitter links, please, as nobody actually uses BluSky or whatever it's called:
https://x.com/GameHistoryOrg/status/1884995288823144645
Edit: According to recent data, X has approximately 586 million users. In contrast, Bluesky has grown to around 25 million users as of the latest updates. So let's use the platform the vast majority of people are actually going to for this kind of information to keep it simple.
Re: $69 FPGA 'Tang Console' Can Double As A Retro Gaming Handheld
An interesting project. Curious to see where it goes from here.
Re: Looks Like Yuzo Koshiro's Earthion Isn't Far From Release
Earthion looks like a cool new retro shmup for Steam. I'll certainly be giving it a wee go.
Side thought: I was just playing the Steam version of Xeno Crisis a second ago, which thankfully has an option to use the right analogue stick or the ABXY buttons on my Xbox controller for shooting in eight directions while moving at the same times (I actually prefer using the four digital face buttons over the analogue stick), but it's just not as enjoyable a game to play for me personally as Smash TV I have to say. Smash TV really is a total classic that play brilliantly to this day.
Anyway, looking forward to downloading and giving Earthian a play once it releases.
Re: VARYZNEX Is A New Thunder Force-Style Shmup, Available Now On Steam
Why does it look like it's running in maybe GBA resolution or lower? Not a huge fan of going that low with the resolution there.
Re: The Angry Video Game Nerd Is Getting His Very Own 8-Bit Mega Man-Esque Adventure
@poyo_pie It's a legit NES game, at least the physical NES version is, so it will look literally exactly like a NES game should look in terms of colour limitations and such. They've just done a great job of working within those limitations to create some really nice visuals there.
Re: The Angry Video Game Nerd Is Getting His Very Own 8-Bit Mega Man-Esque Adventure
@poyo_pie Aye, I have one of them. But it would very cool to get an actual physical genuine SNES game too.
Re: The Angry Video Game Nerd Is Getting His Very Own 8-Bit Mega Man-Esque Adventure
I dream of living this guy's dream one day, give or take.
Also, surely a SNES version should be the natural next choice for any further AVGN game. And, given how great a job they've done making the NES shine here, I can only imagine what they could do on SNES.
Make it happen someone.
Re: You Can Now Play Earthbound's Ridiculously Rare Tabletop Spin-Off
@combywomby OK, thanks for the clarification there.
Re: You Can Now Play Earthbound's Ridiculously Rare Tabletop Spin-Off
Needs the sweet 3D figures though. That's the coolest part.
Edit: Wait, are those even part of the game or just random figures, maybe amiibo or something?
Re: The Artist Behind F-Zero's Legendary Japanese Cover Has Passed Away
If you actually look at Takaya Imamura's sketches before the final art for that F-Zero comic that came with the SNES version, it was way better in his original sketches than what the artist it was passed onto actually achieved. The character proportions and poses and their positions in the frame and the angle of the shots and such were much stronger in his sketched version. Maybe not even that noticeable to a layman, but very obvious to an artist's eye. Takaya Imamura was the real artistic talent there, at least in this F-Zero example. Kind of wish he'd done the final version. Don't really understand why he didn't to be honest.
Re: Osaka Retro Gaming Arcade Goes Up In Flames
@Porkhill I could live with that.
Re: Cronela's Mansion Is A Maniac Mansion Style Point 'N Click Coming To Various Retro Machines
I'm most interested in seeing where the SNES version is going.
Re: Osaka Retro Gaming Arcade Goes Up In Flames
Looks like the only place we'll be playing all these classic and beloved retro arcades in the future is in virtual reality. Thankfully, the experience is actually frikin' brilliant, and as close to the real thing as you can get without it actually being the real thing. If this is the best way to truly preserve these arcades, I pray for every single arcade game and associated cabinet to be transported into VR one day.
Re: Streets Of Rage 2's Delisted 3DS Port Lives On Thanks To This Genesis Patch
Thankfully, I have the 3DS ROM on my PC. I've actually tried it running on the Citra emulator and in VR so I could play it in stereoscopic 3D, but I can't recall if it worked or not. I have a bunch of 3DS games for Citra, and only a handful of them work properly [currently], but the ones that do work show just how cool the stereoscopic 3D effect works with old 2D games like this. It's also now possibly to run Citra natively on Quest 3 too, and the result is much the same. I hope one day the 3D Sega collection returns officially again for VR. I expect many people don't know what they're missing there. VR is the future for retro gaming I tell you, but you'll not get it until you've experienced some virtual arcade with a massive selections of legit arcade titles playing on all the arcades or a virtual room with a bunch of virtual consoles playing retro games on a bunch of virtual CRT TVs or the like. It's genuinely amazing, and the nostalgia hits you like a hammer. If you don't know what I'm talking about already, one day you will, and you're going to love it.
Re: You Can Now Play SNES Batman Returns On Your Sega Genesis, For Free
@BulkSlash "I wonder if the SNES could have displayed more enemies if they’d used a FastROM cart? I know there’s a mod for Final Fight 2 that ups the number of simultaneous enemies from 3 to 5 also with some sprite flicker."
It's not a FastROM related challenge, but I think the answer yes, and on stock hardware too.
If similarly updated in modern times, I think it would be possible to display more enemies on Super Nintendo if we're okay with some more sprite flicker as seen in the genesis demo level above. There's plenty of examples to demonstrate how this might be achieved on Super Nintendo today, such as the Final Fight 2 hack you mentioned and the Turtles in Time Arcade Edition hack that I've seen display up to eleven characters on-screen but with a lot of flicker for example.
And further improvements could be made in the Super Nintendo version too, from the use of colour to the HUD and beyond, so there's plenty room for more there. It's really just a matter of someone actually doing it.
Re: The Genesis Just "Broke Another Myth" By Replicating Classic Castlevania Tunes
@UtopiaNemo Yeah, it's very clear they both have their own advantages and disadvantages when compared to each other, especially if there's a very specific sound you're after, so it wouldn't be fair to just outright claim one superior across the board. But everyone should be free to have their own personally preference.
Re: Golden Axe Looks To Be Getting An Unofficial Neo Geo Port
Yeah, if people are going to port across all these retro games to one old console in modern times, be they arcade games or Super Nintendo games or Amiga games or whatever that are getting ported, it makes sense for it to be the Neo Geo receiving the ports in most cases imo. It's just such a powerful and capable system that it can largely do these ports full justice and even improve them in many ways regardless of what system the original game was on. And there's no real benefit to getting downgraded ports as far as I'm concerned, as you might as well just play the originals in that case.
Re: The Genesis Just "Broke Another Myth" By Replicating Classic Castlevania Tunes
@UtopiaNemo Remember, this is still comparing a genesis tune made using all the modern tools and such (and I'm not sure what memory space it takes up), whereas the Super Nintendo original is 30+ years old and made to fit in the tiny cartridge limits of the time. The original Super Nintendo tune doesn't benefit from any modern sound drivers or compression techniques or larger storage space or lessons learned, etc. And you also don't get to hear the fact the Super Nintendo could output tunes in proper surround sound if desired here either, which obviously just adds another layer/dimension to the music if you have the setup to appreciate that. So there is at least one real audible difference between the two, but it all come down to what each person is after in terms of what they will prefer. I still like the Super Nintendo tunes more personally, as they sound more like the classical and/or cinematic atmospheric music that you tend to hear with these kinds of gothic vampire settings and such, rather than a bit more of an old arcade game sound. But that's just my preference.
And thanks for correcting me on the Pyron thing. So credit to the actual music guy there, Vector Orbex.
Re: This New Final Fight 2 Strength Hack Rebalances The SNES Beat 'Em Up
It's a small thing but welcome for those who wanted this. I can't recall ever noticing an issue there to be honest.
Re: Four Years Later, My Arcade's Super Retro Champ Is Finally Coming Out - And It Plays SNES And Genesis Games
@Deway Keep in mind how old that article is and where it seems FPGA is today by comparison. And also remember that most emulation solutions come with utterly terrible front ends that only geeks can be bothered faffing around with half the time, whereas something like the ModRetro Chromatic has a UI that's as simple and clean as it gets. In fact, outside of the very basic settings menu, you're into games instantly from the moment you insert the cartridge and turn on the system with literally zero faff and fuss. And it can do that because it's built for one specific purpose only that it fulfills to near perfection. That's how I personally want all future systems like this to be in an ideal world.
Re: Four Years Later, My Arcade's Super Retro Champ Is Finally Coming Out - And It Plays SNES And Genesis Games
Dang, I was just talking about something like this in another one of your articles!
And this actually looks pretty cool. Although, personally, I'd rather just have it play SNES games only so it could be about half the height with the cartridges fitting perfectly flush as I think they do here. Also, I'd like it to be FPGA.
So, Imagine what I'm saying here: A device something like this but specifically for SNES only [all regions] so it could be quite a bit smaller, FPGA (because we all want that in 2025), and built to the truly premium quality of something like the ModRetro Chromatic from the casing to the gorgeous screen and even the simplicity of it all (gets immediately into the games with no faff and fuss going through menus and such), etc. It could be stunning.
ModRetro, make it happen!
By the way, I wonder if there's any modern equivalent of a screen that functions very much like old CRTs but in modern compact LCD/OLED form factors, because that would just be mind blowing on a device like this. I know there was once work being done on FED/SED technology that was supposed to be basically that, but I think that just died a death. Wish that came to fruition, as it sounds like it would be the perfect solution for classic retro gaming in modern times.
Re: Metal Miracle Is A Music-Based Run-And-Gun Platformer Coming To Game Boy Color Soon
Looks rock 'n roll or heavy metal!!!
With the release of the genuinely top-tier quality ModRetro Chromatic and new games coming out for the GB/GBC, proper ones like this and even multiple released by ModRetro directly too, the Game Boy [Color] feels new again. I'm really loving my Chromatic.
Now I want to see the same for other handhelds like the GBA, Game Gear, and PC Engine GT/TurboExpress. And above all, I actually want a new FPGA SNES from ModRetro too, maybe even some kind of miracle handheld that actually takes real carts via some of the most compact and slickest design known to man--It can be done! I have a vision of how that might roughly look in my head, something even slicker than the sega nomad and where the cartridges fit flush with the system both top and back, which I'd buy it in a heartbeat if it actually came close.
In the same way Tectoy has kept the Master System alive for approaching four decade by doing little more than releasing new models, and I think providing some game support possibly, I'd love to see many more of these classic consoles kept alive and flourishing in modern times similarly. I don't want countless crappy hardware iterations like Tectoy has done, but maybe just one or two new premium new models of the consoles from actual quality companies like ModRetro, and then just ongoing software support via indie/homebrew for the foreseeable future. Basically, just like it's pulled off with the Chromatic.
So, fingers crossed, let this happen.
Re: Review: Anbernic RG34XX - A GBA Clone That's So Good Nintendo's Name Should Be On It
I saw another review that pointed out a whole lot of issues with this product that definitely would not qualify such praise in terms of getting close being like some kind first party quality. Having said that, Nintendo's recent systems haven't been exactly world class in terms of design and build imo.
I hope ModRetro does their take on the GBA. And if it's as good as their Chromatic was as basically a modern Game Boy without any of the modern trappings or fuff and faff, it could be stunning. I'd be very much inclined to get one, as my Chromatic is just brilliant and the GBA was one of my favourite consoles ever. It's just a shame so many of the games suffer from terribly blown-out and garish colours due to developers overcompensating for the original non-backlit screen. Also, really, like the device above, the GBA could have been so perfect if it had those two extra buttons of the SNES and actually the same resolution of the SNES or even 320x244.
Re: Capcom And Bandai Namco Are Joining Forces For This Massive Handheld
Man, I've seen a bunch of these little handheld and mini arcade devices over the last week or so, I think from Sega, Atari, Capcom and Namco, etc, and they all just look like they're flooding the market with crap imo. I guess they're probably fine as random stocking fillers or something. But it all just seems like a waste of money, time, and resources.
On a side note, I got myself a ModRetro Chromatic recently, and that actually feels like a proper class products and truly worth investment in something I'll be keeping around for a long time and not just stuff into a cupboard after a few days messing around with it.
Re: SNES Party Game 'Wedding Peach' Just Got A Brand New Fan Translation
Well, it's some more work on SNES. And I guess there's plenty of games that could get English translations there. Something until more people start making new stuff for it.
Re: 'In This House' Is A Survival Horror For Game Boy, And You Can Play The Demo Now
I fear this game might be hiding some message more horrific than the infection, zombies, and ghosts.
Re: Why YouTube Censorship Is Causing Headaches For Retro Game Historians
I have a whole lot I'd actually like to say on this, but, ya know . . .
Re: Modder Behind The Custom Sega Neptune Might Make The SNES PlayStation A Reality
@KingMike It's a real shame Near/byuu isn't around to continue the great work he did on SNES. I'm not fully in the loop, but it seems like he did more than pretty much anyone else to help the modern SNES scene get to where it's at today. It could do with a lot more people as talented and dedicated as him imo.
Re: 36 Years Later, Sega Genesis Is Finally Getting A Proper Port Of Shadow Dancer
I think this is one of those cases where I'll just stick to playing both the arcade original and the '90s genesis version on my SNES Mini and be happy with that. Not sure what would be the point of playing an almost certainly slightly downgraded genesis port of the arcade game for me personally, unless it adds something a little extra of its own. But if it does, then I'll definitely give it a go on my SNES Mini.
Re: Modder Behind The Custom Sega Neptune Might Make The SNES PlayStation A Reality
Well that would be a very cool development.
It would be even more cool if they could add in some of the other functionality that was in the works for later iterations of the "SNES CD" too, of which there's actually quite a lot of stuff there (32-bit CPU running at 21.477 MHz, FX chip incorporated, 16.7 million colours, etc), but I expect that will never ever happen:
https://emu.gbxemu.com/previews/nintendo_snes_cd_rom.html
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/the_snes_playstation_was_going_to_have_a_super_fx_chip_built-in
Also, I would kinda really like the shell to look like this:
https://images.timeextension.com/f2cddc509add0/play-station-concept-edited.900x.jpg
Re: Tech Boffins Are Simulating The Raster Scanning Of Old-School CRTs On Modern Hardware
@GhaleonUnlimited Yeah, there's a few modern "light guns" that allow this now.
Re: Tech Boffins Are Simulating The Raster Scanning Of Old-School CRTs On Modern Hardware
If it actually gets us closer to the greatness that was those classic old CRTs, I'm all for it.
I wouldn't buy an old CRT in modern times just because they're so bulky and limited use, but being able to get much the same result on a modern TV would be pretty awesome. Although I think the particular pixel arrangement and slight softness and light bleed of old CRTs from the electron beam interacting with the phosphors and causing the distinct CRT glow, or however it precisely works, is probably the one thing that gave old games that unique look more than most other aspects, and that's the part I'd truly like to see replicated properly.
Interestingly, there's a cool feature of EmuVR that really does a great job of replicating what it was like playing these retro games on old CRTs back in the day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFrN2Bb-8rI
@B3tan_Tyronne It's also rather awesome for replicating what it was like playing light gun games back in the day too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRzcWDGR61g
And look how truly amazing it can get if you really go to town:
https://youtu.be/1h9MbwJrMec?si=nZU-hdRLfU9IQ8-b
Re: Sega's Shinobi Has Been Unofficially Ported To The Neo Geo
With all these ports coming from one retro system to another in modern times, I actually think the Neo Geo AES would be the best choice going forward for most of them to be honest. Other than some transparency effects and aspects of the particular Mode 7 background scaling and rotation that the SNES is specifically good at, it's the system than can not only replicate basically anything from all the other 2D systems, but in many cases even go well above and beyond what would ever be possible on any other systems of the time. If we're going to continue to port all these games across from various systems to other systems, I personally want to see Neo Geo get a whole lot of support going forward so I can get the best ports possible rather than versions that are often compromised in one way or another when they move onto another console. And the best thing is I'll still be able to play them all on my SNES Mini, which is how I'm playing all these retro games in modern times.
Re: Best Of 2024: 10 Forgotten Gaming Magazines That Are Worth Remembering
You forgot to mention MAXIMUM. A very short lived gaming magazine in the UK that had a lot of potential:
https://archive.org/details/maximum-the-video-game-magazine-issue-1-october-1995-uk
Re: Best Of 2024: Is It Time To Change The Narrative On The Sega Saturn?
@mganai77 The N64 has amazing inputs for playing basically all traditional 2D games from the likes of 2600, NES and Master System all the way up to Saturn's 2D library of titles, when held in the officially named "home position" as shown in the images below, where you basically have a SNES controller with six face buttons:
https://tinyurl.com/3tmmm7up
https://tinyurl.com/5y624s57
And that retro-style control feels great to hold with those really ergonomic handles and also still supports rumble feedback too, so you could in principle play every 2600, NES, SNES, Master System, Genesis, 32X, PC Engine, Neo Geo, and even non-analogue Saturn game all with perfect controls and rumble if you really wanted.
The N64 controller has even got a great official way to play dual analogue fps games and such too, by using two controllers at once, which actually feels even better than any other dual analogue controller available at that time imo:
https://tinyurl.com/2s8fyvh2
https://tinyurl.com/2tv629d9
And, again, that's dual analogue plus dual rumble. Literally the first time this was possible on any home console and in any game even. Can we say revolutionary. And, like I said, it actually felt great to boot.
Nintendo was so far ahead of everyone else and literally game changing at the moment of creation of the N64 controller that it's actually stunning to be honest, which is why everyone immediately copied many of its best features alongside the stuff they'd already copied from NES and SNES at that point too.
The technical power and graphical output of each console is a whole other debate, and they each had their various strengths and weaknesses and quirks.
We can't change the past though, and we have all the fixed examples of games that actually released on them back in the day to look at, with again, each having some truly great titles to enjoy. And what we know objectively is how that played out in the grand scheme of things, which has been thoroughly documented at this point and is available online for all to read.
Having said that, any technical and graphical debates are a bit moot, as we can just play games from any and all of these ancient systems on our modern PC emulators and so on anyway. So any arguments about some decades old console being graphically more powerful than some other decades old console is utterly irrelevant, as we can all relatively easily play any and all of them now as we see fit, often in much higher resolutions at higher frame rates with various filters and other modern bells and whistles and even using more advanced controllers and so on.
Personally, I play any and all Saturn, PlayStation, and N64 games I'm interested in on a PC via emulation with my Xbox One controller, and all hooked up to my main 50" 4K HDR living room TV. It's a great setup that works perfectly for me. I've even played some GameCube games on my VR headset in stereoscopic 3D too, and that is something rather special that I wish all could experience--Eternal Darkness.
Re: AYANEO's Next Handheld Fixes What Nintendo Couldn't With Switch
This is going to be great for a Lite style of handheld, but obviously would be a bit more complex if the "Joy Cons" themselves had to be detachable and attachable too like on the regular Switch. And another thing it addresses that is a real issue on the Lite imo is the fact your thumb just hits that left thumbstick. Moving the thumbstick furter in address the issue there, as would being able to completely flip the stick and buttons on the right side of the device of course. But, yeah, the price of these things is way too high for me to ever jump in. Looks very cool for what it is though. And imo it's a far more innovative and exciting design than anything I've seen of Switch 2 thus far, which is a little embarrassing for Nintendo as far as I'm concerned.
Re: Best Of 2024: The Inside Story Of Rare's Wrestlerage, The Lost SNES WWF Game That Evolved Into Killer Instinct
@Pillowpants They'd need to capitalize either the R or A in the final name and logo so people know the right way to say it--not that this is ever gonna happen now.
Re: Best Of 2024: The Inside Story Of Rare's Wrestlerage, The Lost SNES WWF Game That Evolved Into Killer Instinct
Honestly, developers should finish all these old incomplete game and actually release them in modern times. With today's development environments, it surely wouldn't take that long at all to complete them now--maybe longer on Super Nintendo because the tools are still largely crap imo--and then they could release them both for the original consoles in actual physical cartridge form and also on modern digital services like Steam and the Switch store and so on. I would so love to see that happen with a lost Super Nintendo game like this. Rare thas this and the apparently 99% completely Super Nintendo version of Killer Instinct 2, and God knows what other games just sitting there waiting to be finished and making a few easy bucks.
Re: OneXPlayer Teases Transforming Nintendo DS-Style Android Handheld, OneXSugar
@QuarterSwede And interesting take. I don't think the Switch 2 has that feature based on the leaks, but ya never know. I would love for them to have the stereoscopic 3D without glasses as well, but that's looking like another no go.
Re: Best Of 2024: Unpacking The 64DD, Nintendo's Most Infamous Flop
I think the Virtual Boy is definitely a more infamous flop from Nintendo than the 64DD, and probably even the Wii U is too. The 64DD was just and add-on device, and no one really expects those to do gangbusters either way, so it underperforming isn't exactly a revelation. But the Virtual Boy and Wii U were proper full-on consoles from Nintendo, and they really didn't do well. The Virtual Boy was pretty much a total disaster across the board.
Edit: Ah, just noticed this is obviously an old article and I'd commented previously. But, hey, at least I'm consistent.
Re: OneXPlayer Teases Transforming Nintendo DS-Style Android Handheld, OneXSugar
@QuarterSwede Why?
Re: The NES Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Gets Natively Ported To SNES
@KingMike Yeah, on SNES every NES port should at least have a YB option imo. So, in this case there should be an option to attack with Y and jump with B. And, yeah, the special could also have an option to be on another face button or a shoulder button or whatever. Maybe it's a major hassle to change buttons when porting these games across or something. But, man, if it's possible, I would definitely want it added personally.
Re: You Can Now Play SNES Batman Returns On Your Sega Genesis, For Free
Just gave it a go on both my SNES Mini and PC emulator. A short but quite enjoyable taster of what could have been back in the '90s if the game had been on genesis.
Re: The NES Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Gets Natively Ported To SNES
@slider1983 Yeah, from what I recall most of it is missing. It's there in these new ports, but not in the old ports, as I recall.
Gimme a sec. I'll do a quick YouTube search just to confirm....
Edit: So, it doesn't look like it was missing the parallax in every stage, but it was this stage where I noticed it was missing before:
https://youtu.be/Tf3HKJjRP68?t=322 (SNES)
https://youtu.be/kZSZ61mgjk0?t=306 (NES)
Edit 2: Here's another example too:
https://youtu.be/Tf3HKJjRP68?t=591 (SNES)
https://youtu.be/kZSZ61mgjk0?t=614 (NES)
Re: The NES Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Gets Natively Ported To SNES
@slider1983 Most of the NES parallax is missing in the original SNES ports, which is honestly just shameful. So this new port fixes that right out the gate. And it's clear there's a lot more than that too, with the MSU-1 audio just being one very cool additional option.
Re: The NES Ninja Gaiden Trilogy Gets Natively Ported To SNES
This one's a great effort and definitely worth playing. Would be so cool if some talented SNES artist went in and added some 16-bit colour to it now as well. Then it would be everything that was beloved about the originals with some more of the 16-bit colours too.
Re: Game Of The Year: UFO 50 Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Anyone think that FX System is going to become a proper retail product at some point?
Re: SNES And Game Boy Cult Classic 'Jelly Boy' Is Getting A Physical Re-Release
@hste It's supporting the SNES, and that's good enough. Right now I'll support anything that supports the SNES in principle. The more modern day support the SNES can get the better. And hopefully we also start to see more brand new indie/homebrew games too.
Re: SNES And Game Boy Cult Classic 'Jelly Boy' Is Getting A Physical Re-Release
Well, as per usual, I'll support anything coming to SNES if it's all we're getting for now. Because we need to encourage anyone who's taken their time to support this system without having anywhere near the best environment to do so.
And, also as per usual, I'll repeat that the SNES indie/homebrew community truly needs a great development tool that's easy for everyone to use if we're to see genuinely new and exciting games for the system going forward.
"SNESmaker" truly cannot come soon enough. But I think we need more than that too, something entirely focused on making SNES development as painless and simple as possible and that's built specifically around all the SNES' features and capabilities to allow developers to take full advantage of everything there.