When you think of kart racers, one mustachioed plumber tends to come to mind. But that game was only playable on Nintendo, what about Playstation? Well, in 1999 Naughty Dog rose to the challenge of making disc-based kart racing a thing with CTR: Crash Team Racing! A Vibrant Contender CTR, like its Nintendo rival, had […]
Category: Retro Game Lore
Skate Or Die – Back In My Day…
Electronic Arts may think they are on to something with the new Skate game, but I need something more hardcore (and ancient). Skate or Die released in 1987 on the Commodore 64, but I played it in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and it laid the groundwork for an entire genre of games. This […]
Mechwarrior 3050 – Retro Robots
Throughout the history of video games, one rule has always held true: giant robots are awesome! Mechwarrior 2 was one of the first 3D games that I ever played, and it hooked me. I watched the cartoon, had some of the toys, bought the tabletop game, and every time I found more Battletech stuff I […]
Donkey Kong Country: The SNES Classic That Redefined What 16-Bit Could Do
As 2025 nears it’s end, it’s worth taking a look back at one of the most influential retro games ever. 31 years ago, Donkey Kong reemerged on the video game scene, this time as a platformer hero! November 21, 1994 was the release date for Donkey Kong Country, and it totally revitalized the character. A […]
Earthworm Jim – Groovy Space Suit and a Big Gun
My all-time favorite 16-bit worm in gaming has to be Earthworm Jim. Actually, Jim is the ONLY 16-bit worm that comes to mind… Anyway, Earthworm Jim was an amazing title (originally released on SNES and Sega Genesis) that spawned sequels, toys, and even a Saturday morning cartoon! It featured wild visuals and a banger of […]
Twilight Princess at 19: The Zelda Adventure That Bridged Two Worlds
When The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess launched on November 19, 2006, it arrived at a critical moment for Nintendo. Fans had spent years absorbing early GameCube demos and teaser trailers that suggested a darker, more mature follow-up to Ocarina of Time. When the Wii entered the scene, Twilight Princess became both the last great […]
GameSir X5 Lite – A Budget Controller Delight
Sometimes as a gamer, you just need a controller. I’ve had my eyes on a few different telescopic controllers for a while now, but they all seemed quite expensive, and I just couldn’t justify spending that much when I have other controllers lying around, like my Moga XP5-X and Xbox One controllers. That is, until […]
Nintendo GameCube: Small but Mighty
The Nintendo GameCube launched in North America on November 18, 2001, marking the beginning of a new era for Nintendo. Compact, colorful, and unapologetically playful, the system stood out in a landscape filled with bulky black boxes and serious marketing. With its cube shape, tiny discs, and built-in handle, the GameCube delivered the message that […]
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town – A Fresh Take on an Old Classic
I love a good remake, and I also love a good remake of a remake! Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town traces its roots back to the N64/PSX days of gaming. Most of the characters were initially introduced in Harvest Moon 64, and re-imagined in Harvest Moon: Back to Nature (PSX) with a bit […]
The Holiday Wish Lists That Shaped Retro Gaming
Long before digital storefronts and Black Friday flash sales, the holiday season meant flipping through thick toy catalogs, circling game consoles with a pen, and hoping that one magical box would appear under the tree. For many of us, these wish lists were more than just shopping guides. They were the beginning of our relationship […]
Skyrim: You’re Finally Awake After 14 Years
When The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim launched on November 11, 2011, it instantly became a classic. Players everywhere woke up to a snow-covered fantasy world filled with dragons, magic, and the freedom to become anyone they wanted to be. Fourteen years later, Skyrim is still alive and well, ported to nearly every modern platform and […]
Harvest Moon 3 (GBC): Pocket Farming at Its Best
Before handheld gaming was filled with sprawling open worlds and touch controls, Harvest Moon 3 on the Game Boy Color delivered something simple and special: a complete farming experience you could fit in your pocket. Released in 2001, it was the third and final Harvest Moon entry on Nintendo’s 8-bit handheld, and it remains one of the most charming portable titles of its era.