I was on the cusp of adulthood when Neopets hit the internet in 1999, and so I wasn’t exactly in the target demographic despite owning a Tamagotchi just a few years earlier. That said, I was following the development of a late (2003) PS1 3D platformer based on the franchise. It was running so late …
What’s in a name? A lot in this case. During the early ‘90s, Jaleco released a trilogy of scrolling beat’em ups for the Super Nintendo. This series could have been poised as their answer to Capcom’s Final Fight or SEGA’s Streets of Rage, but pesky regional localisation meant that each entry was given a unique …
Even as a console owner in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, I knew that the Last Ninja trilogy was held in high regard amongst owners of the C64 and ZX Spectrum. It was often championed in the multiformat magazines of the era and could be seen riding the UK sales charts high. Even when the …
Something forever fascinating is hearing about indies that have become sleeper hits, selling vast amounts despite little in the way of promotion and barely making a whisper on social media. Earlier this year, I learned of Castle of Heart, a 2.5D action platformer that shifted over 300k units on Switch alone. Even more impressive is …
As the first console to reach 100m sales, the PS1 had a long life, with new games appearing as late as 2005 – at which point the PS2 was well established. Even the UK Official PlayStation Magazine, known for running far past the console’s prime, no longer existed by then. Many late PS1 games were …
A comedic horror game that ends before the joke ceases to be funny? That’s an idea daft enough to work. And it does, for the most part. Weary city goer Matthew heads to his buddy’s riverside holiday home to recuperate for a few days. While tidying up a mess left by unruly teens, a wheelie …
We last crossed paths with Kain and Raziel in 2024’s robust and lengthy Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered double-pack. This brought together the technically accomplished 1999 original, which pushed the ageing PS1 hard, and the slightly disappointing combat focused sequel from 2001 – a relatively early release for PS2. Defiance is often heralded as a …
A certain controversial billionaire would have us believe that mankind’s salvation lies within the stars. The developers of this slow-life settlement builder clearly feel differently, believing that the solution lies within mountains once deemed inhospitable. Through a combination of nutrient rich soil, fresh streams, and precious mineral reserves, everything is at hand for a modest …
After fulfilling the role as a PS1 launch title, the Ridge Racer franchise went down two different routes. Arcade goers were treated to Ridge Racer 2 and Rave Racer in 1994 and 1995, respectively, while PS1 owners gained the meatier Ridge Racer Revolution, Rage Racer, and finally 1998’s Ridge Racer: Type 4. It’s easy to …
Like a Fry’s Turkish Delight, this arid desert-set adventure is full of eastern promise. We’re introduced to Nadira and her faithful pet lizard Jiji, who must brave hostile deserts in search of a lost princess rumoured to grant wishes. While a fantasy adventure foremost, it cleverly manages to edge into sci-fi territory too. Just like …
Since opening their treasure trove of IPs for various publishers to plunder, we’ve seen several games from Sunsoft’s past brought back to life. Not just retro compilations, such as the somewhat sparse Sunsoft Is Back and a duo of excellent Evercade cartridges, but also new games based on old IP, such as Gimmick 2 and …
At a time when so many top-down pixel art shooters incorporate roguelike elements, randomising level layouts, boss appearances and such, it’s refreshing to play one with nothing in the way of nasty surprises outside of ones the developers planned. Originating from Brazil, Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad wouldn’t have felt out of place on the Super …
While the virtues of reading a book should never be ignored, interactive gamebooks have their conveniences too. Based on the 2013 choice-based novel of the same name, Down Among the Dead Men is fully narrated and keeps track of your current inventory and life points. That, and anything else you’ve acquired during your quest to …
The 32-bit era saw quite a few battles between similar titles. At the start of the generation, Daytona USA and Ridge Racer went head-to-head, and later Virtua Fighter 2 and Tekken 2. One forgotten battle from 1997 saw a three-way struggle between snowboarding sims, with the N64’s 1080 Snowboarding, the Sony published Cool Boarders, and …
The impact of the N64’s still lauded Zelda: Ocarina of Time continues to be felt, with this 3D side-scrolling platformer brazenly borrowing OoT’s musical instrument playing element. It’s a magical flute that the minuscule elf-like hero Nai carries here, also doubling as a melee weapon. OoT may be fast approaching thirty years old, but we’re pretty …