👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0144

14th April 2025

39 Stories this week including new Playstation shells, a lost game for a lost console (the Konix) appears, along with more mobile games re-appearing, a $1000+ N64 controller is found, Game Boy’s as reversing cameras - plus a lot more.

News

🎵 Luigi’s Mansion‘s eerie soundtrack is is added to the Nintendo music collection — Retroshell.

🌀 Nintendo clarifies that Wind Waker’s Switch 2 GameCube rerelease does not preclude a future HD port — Nintendo Life.

👻 Cult SNES title Nightmare Busters is revived for modern platforms with new updates and physical releases — Retroshell.

🖥️ A PlayStation developer hints that native PC ports of PS2 games may soon become a reality — Tech4Gamers.

💿 High-quality transparent shells for classic PlayStation consoles are making a stylish comeback — Retroshell.

🕹️ Three more Sega Genesis games, including Alien Storm, join the Nintendo Switch Online library — Insider Gaming.

🎮 8BitDo’s new jade green Ultimate controller channels Xbox nostalgia but comes with compatibility limitations — Retroshell.

📦 Arduboy’s tariffs officially end, clearing the way for more affordable global shipping — Gigazine.

🧙 A long-lost Konix game titled Magician’s Apprentice has resurfaced after three decades in obscurity — Retroshell.

🎮 A rare N64 controller found after 25 years in storage is now valued at over $1,200 USD — LevelUp.

📱 Anbernic announces the RG557, a more powerful Android handheld targeting high-end retro gaming — Retroshell.

🕰️ Taito is releasing HD remasters of laserdisc arcade classics Ninja Hayate and Time Gal — Gamereactor.

🥊 Taiwanese beat-em-up Tough Guy is being revived on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis with modern polish — Retroshell.

🧧 Pocket Bravery blends pixel art and traditional fighting mechanics in a globally inspired brawler — GameSpew.

📲 A forgotten mobile port of Makai Toushi Saga has been rediscovered and digitally preserved — Time Extension.

🚀 A technically stunning MSX2+ demo pays tribute to Sonic Wings with impressive effects and music — Time Extension.

Features

🏎️ Nintendo developed a rare version of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! with a debug “escape hatch” to assist in system recovery during crashes — Retroshell.

🖥️ The Sharp X1 Twin CZ-830C, a unique hybrid of game console and personal computer, offered twin capabilities in 1980s Japan — TechEBlog.

🧩 Nintendo’s finance team played a crucial role in securing the rights to Tetris, with Miyamoto’s endorsement sealing the deal — Retroshell.

⚽ Battle Soccer: Field no Hasha on the Super Famicom mashes up Godzilla, Gundam, and Ultraman in an unlikely soccer crossover — Vice.

🎙️ Hideo Kojima’s voice casting decisions for Metal Gear Solid reflected his broader cinematic ambitions and creative philosophy — Retroshell.

📀 Did You Know Gaming explores how Nintendo’s SNES-CD add-on was scrapped, reshaping gaming history (below) — TechEBlog.

🧃 A modder fits a fully functional retro gaming console inside a mint tin, demonstrating extreme portability and ingenuity — Retroshell.

🚗 A creative driver transforms a Game Boy Color into a working reversing camera for their car — Retro Dodo.

🕷️ A fan-made reimagining brings the 16-bit Spider-Man game to modern platforms with upgraded visuals and new content — Time Extension.

📈 Retro gaming sees a global resurgence as nostalgia, preservation, and affordability drive interest in classic consoles and titles — SCMP.

📉 In 2001, Sega’s president made a radical move to save the company from collapse—only to suddenly pass away after — SKJ Bollywood News.

🎮 Retro-Bit’s new Sega Mega Drive wireless controller receives praise for faithful design and low latency performance — Pocket Gamer.

🖥️ A custom-built OS brings multitasking and desktop-style functionality to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive — Hackaday.

🌙 An interview with Lunar character designer Toshiyuki Kubooka explores the balance between classic art and modern remastering — Gematsu.

🕹️ Pre-orders are now open for the SNK and Data East-themed Super Pocket handhelds featuring built-in games — Time Extension.

Lists & Rankings

🎉 Major video game console reveals are ranked based on impact and fan reception, highlighting the most memorable announcements — Game Rant.

🍷 Several Nintendo platformers, including Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country, are praised for their timeless gameplay and design — DualShockers.

Yoshi was off colour

📉 A roundup of Game Boy titles that failed to meet expectations, including licensed flops and underwhelming sequels — CBR.

🎮 Overlooked handheld consoles like the Neo Geo Pocket Color and Wonderswan are spotlighted for their unique libraries — DualShockers.

💰 Nintendo’s priciest consoles adjusted for inflation are ranked, with the Virtual Boy and Switch OLED topping the list — Game Rant.

🕹️ The rarest Sega Genesis games, including Eliminate Down and Musha, are profiled with current collector values — XDA Developers.

🏁 All Sonic racing games are ranked from worst to best, comparing gameplay, innovation, and legacy — TheGamer.

📊 A list of poorly received games that still sold millions, revealing how marketing and brand recognition can override reviews — DualShockers.