Discover more from RetroShell Weekly Retro Gaming News
Welcome to Newsletter 43! This week's edition covers news and updates from the world of retro gaming. A bit Zelda and list-heavy this week, but hope you enjoy it.
For this week's riddle, I present to you a game released in the week of May 9th for the Nintendo Game Boy:
I'm a puzzler of a different kind, with coloured tiles and lines to find. Some say I'm like Tetris, but I'm unique. With a name like a city that's hard to pronounce, I'm sure to keep you amused for hours. What game am I?
News
A prototype of a Game & Watch handheld console featuring the classic game "Tetris" has been discovered 40 years after it was first developed, and it features a unique version of the game with a different soundtrack and sound effects. [Stealth Optional] Link
"Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" is a new manga series set to launch in Japan later this year, following Link's adventure to help a kingdom plagued by drought, featuring a new storyline with familiar characters [Japan Times]. Link
The infamous Zelda CD-i game has been given a much better-looking makeover, with a Game Boy-style version now available to play thanks to a fan-made ROM hack. [IGN] Link
A new game for the Game Boy! In "Batty & Zabella", players take on the role of a dynamic duo who must work together to escape a mansion filled with supernatural creatures and other obstacles. The game features beautiful pixel art, challenging gameplay, and a great soundtrack. [Pocket Gamer] Link
A Steam game leak appears to reveal an N64 collection featuring many classic Nintendo 64 games that could potentially be heading to PC. [Comicbook.com] Link
Valiant Comics' Shadowman will make a return to consoles with a new action and horror game that will be based on the comics, featuring the game's protagonist Jack Boniface who is a human possessed by a supernatural spirit and is expected to be released for multiple platforms. [Ruetir] Link
Features
This article looks at the history of the iconic Nintendo logo, from its origins in 1889 as a playing card company to the colourful and modern design that is now instantly recognizable worldwide. [Fast Company] Link
According to a recent report, Nintendo was not a big fan of Tiger and Hasbro's Pokedex toy, which was a handheld device that allowed kids to listen to information about Pokemon creatures. [Nintendo Life] Link
This article discusses the history of the Wario Land series and how it evolved over time, as well as why it has been absent from Nintendo platforms in recent years. [Softonic] Link
Gamerant's article talks about how some gaming consoles, like the Sega Saturn and the TurboGrafx-16, were considered commercial failures in North America, but managed to succeed in other parts of the world like Japan and Europe, and even gained cult followings in these regions. [Gamerant] Link
The Sega Megadrive/Genesis was (and still is) the most modular of consoles. But how big can it get - well see below? [YouTube]. Link
Here we have 30 interesting facts about the history of video games, including the first video game ever created, the first video game console, the first game to feature a save function, and more. [Facts Chronicle] Link
Lists & Rankings
Digital Trends lists the 15 best characters in The Legend of Zelda series, including the main character Link, the villainous Ganon, and the fan-favourite Midna. Link
Screen Rant recommends five retro games that are still enjoyable and hold up well today: Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tetris, and Doom. Link
What is the first console boot-up screen when I write this (for me its Seeeegaaaaa), well PC Mag has weighed in on their view of the 10 best intro screens. Link
"Digg" presents a fun article about some of the most ridiculous Game Boy accessories ever made, including a Game Boy printer, a sewing machine, and a karaoke machine [Digg]. Link
Discover the seven ultimate and best sandbox games that were released for the SNES, including games such as SimCity, Utopia: The Creation of a Nation, and Super Mario World [MSN] Link
The best Sega characters of all time have been ranked, and Sonic the Hedgehog predictably comes out on top. Other iconic characters from franchises such as Phantasy Star, Virtua Fighter, and Shenmue also make the list. [TheGamer] Link
The list kings (Gamerant) have compiled a list of the 8 hardest N64 games of all time, including titles like Conker's Bad Fur Day, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, and Jet Force Gemini. Link
Digital Trends has compiled a list of the 50 best games of all time, including classics like Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Tetris, as well as newer titles such as The Last of Us and Breath of the Wild. Link
And that’s all for this week, thanks for reading - and thanks to RetroShell for sponsoring. Check out their premium video game protectors, which are made from 4mm hard acrylic.
The answer to the riddle was: Kwirk, Nintendo Game Boy, May 9th, 1989, 34 years old this week