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Tag Archives: Arcade Games

Modern Retro Games, Steam

House of the Dead 2 Remake Demo Lands on Steam

Posted on by Owen

Forever Entertainment has released a Steam demo for their upcoming House of the Dead 2: Remake. This modern take on the 1998 arcade classic is shaping up to be a treat for both longtime players and newcomers. Available as part of the February 2025 Steam Next Fest, the demo includes the game’s first level and its iconic cooperative mode.

Credit: Steam

The full release is slated for Spring 2025 and will hit PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It’s a chance to experience the zombie-blasting action that made the original a standout light gun shooter, now with updated visuals and gameplay tweaks.

Credit: Steam

First unleashed in arcades by Sega, House of the Dead 2 became a fan favourite thanks to its campy horror vibe, quirky voice acting, and fast-paced shooting. Players teamed up as agents James Taylor and Gary Stewart to battle waves of undead monstrosities, all orchestrated by the sinister Goldman. Its popularity saw it ported to the Sega Dreamcast in 1999, cementing its status as a retro gaming gem. For many, it was a defining title in the light gun genre, blending scares with a playful edge that kept players coming back.

Credit: Steam

This isn’t Forever Entertainment’s first crack at the series. Their 2022 release, House of the Dead: Remake, brought the original game to modern platforms but met with mixed reviews. While the graphical overhaul impressed, some felt it fell short of capturing the arcade magic. The House of the Dead 2: Remake demo suggests lessons have been learned, with early feedback highlighting smoother mechanics and a closer nod to the source material. Still, changes like reworked voice acting have sparked debate among purists—will it retain the charm that defined the original?

The retro gaming community is buzzing, with players keen to see how this remake stacks up. Whether you’re revisiting a classic or discovering it anew, the Steam demo offers a perfect glimpse into what’s coming. As Spring 2025 approaches, the anticipation for this light gun revival continues to grow.

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Arcade, Nintendo

Breaking the Myth: Donkey Kong’s Kill Screen Conquered After 44 Years

Posted on by Owen

For over four decades, players of Nintendo’s 1981 arcade classic, Donkey Kong, believed that the game concluded at the infamous “kill screen” on level 22. This stage was notorious for a bug that caused the bonus timer to overflow, leaving Mario with mere seconds to complete the level before an inevitable demise. However, speedrunner Kosmic has recently demonstrated that this kill screen isn’t the definitive end.

In Donkey Kong, players navigate through four distinct stages that loop with increasing difficulty. Upon reaching level five, the game’s difficulty plateaus, and these stages repeat in a set pattern. Traditionally, elite players would amass high scores up to level 22, where the kill screen would abruptly end their run due to the aforementioned timer glitch.

Kosmic’s breakthrough involves an exceptionally precise maneuver exploiting a glitch on the barrel stage—the very stage where the kill screen occurs. This stage requires Mario to ascend ladders and traverse slanted girders to reach the top. By executing a meticulous trick, Kosmic utilised a broken ladder glitch to swiftly climb to the top, effectively bypassing the constraints of the kill screen.

It’s worth noting that while this strategy was theorized as early as 2013, previous attempts, even with tool-assisted speedruns, couldn’t overcome the timer limitations. Kosmic’s success hinged on an extraordinary stroke of luck. The game’s timer decreases with each barrel Donkey Kong throws, and these throws occur at random intervals. To have sufficient time to perform the glitch, a player would need Donkey Kong to delay his initial barrel throw—a 1 in 3 chance—and then further delay subsequent throws, a 1 in 32 chance. Combined with flawless execution, the odds of achieving this are astronomically low, making such a feat exceedingly rare in actual gameplay.

This discovery not only challenges long-held beliefs about the game’s limitations but also showcases the dedication and ingenuity of the gaming community in uncovering new possibilities within classic titles. There is a supporting Pastebin technical white up on DK’s delays here.

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Atari, Fun Things

Atari Collab with Nubeo to Launch Luxury Asteroids Watch

Posted on by Owen

Atari and luxury watchmaker Nubeo have teamed up to create a limited-edition watch series inspired by the classic arcade game Asteroids. The collection brings retro gaming nostalgia to high-end timepieces, featuring intricate dial designs that mimic the chaotic asteroid fields from the game. These mechanical watches blend horological craftsmanship with Atari’s iconic 8-bit aesthetics, making them a collector’s item for both watch enthusiasts and gaming fans. The watch is available in 5 colours, and is priced at €488 / $499 and get are listing them with a discount of <$1000 from the original RRP. Interestingly, when you price the website in USD they are showing as all out of stock, but when you switch to Euros, they have most models aside from the grey.

Credit: Nubeo Watches

The collection includes different colours, each incorporating details reminiscent of Asteroids, from meteor-shaped subdials to pixelated elements referencing the game’s vector graphics. The watches feature automatic movements, ensuring a balance between classic mechanical watchmaking and digital nostalgia. While gaming collaborations in fashion and accessories have become more common, Atari’s partnership with Nubeo elevates the concept by integrating game-inspired visuals into high-end horology.

Credit: Nub

Unlike typical digital gaming watches, these pieces focus on subtle design cues rather than overt branding, making them wearable beyond gaming circles. Atari has been expanding its brand through various collaborations – such as hot sauces, tapping into nostalgia-driven markets. This partnership with Nubeo aligns with its strategy of blending retro gaming with modern lifestyle products, catering to fans who appreciate both classic arcade culture and fine craftsmanship.

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Retro Gaming News

Retro Gaming’s Frosty Revival: Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition Hits NES / Genesis / Megadrive / Game Boy

Posted on by Owen

In a delightful nod to nostalgia, Limited Run Games has unveiled the Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition for the classic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), bringing back the beloved arcade game that has captured hearts since its 1990 debut. This re-release has sparked excitement among both long-time fans and new gamers eager to experience the chilly adventures of Nick and Tom.

A Blizzard of Fun: Snow Bros., originally developed by Toaplan, features the mischievous duo, Nick and Tom, as they transform into snowmen to save their kingdom from the icy grip of King Scorch. The gameplay involves turning enemies into snowballs and rolling them across the screen to clear levels, a mechanic that remains as engaging today as it was decades ago.

Deluxe Edition Details: The Deluxe Edition for NES comes on a playable cartridge, ensuring the authentic feel of the original hardware. Pre-orders for this limited edition are now open, with a closing date of Sunday, January 26, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. This release is not just a revival but a collector’s dream, complete with a clear snowy sparkle cartridge that enhances the tactile joy of gaming.

Why It Matters: Limited Run Games is renowned for its commitment to preserving gaming history through officially licensed, highly collectable editions. Each game is only printed once, making this Snow Bros. re-release a rare opportunity for gamers to own a piece of video game heritage.

Fan Reactions: The announcement has been met with waves of enthusiasm across gaming communities. On platforms like X, discussions are buzzing with fans sharing memories, gameplay tips, and their excitement for this throwback. “Winter is here, and so are the Snow Bros!” has been a popular sentiment, reflecting the community’s warm welcome to this frosty adventure.

The Legacy Continues: Snow Bros. has seen various releases over the years, but this Deluxe Edition on the NES marks a significant return to its roots. It’s not just about playing an old game; it’s about reliving the magic of a time when video games were a simpler, yet profound joy.

For those looking to dive into this snowy saga or add to their retro collection, the Snow Bros. Deluxe Edition for NES is available for pre-order. Don’t miss your chance to chill out with Nick and Tom once more. If you are looking for the finest display case and protection for this release, you can check out our collection of protectors for the NES, Genesis and many other retro consoles.

Pre-order now at Limited Run Games