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Tag Archives: classic arcade

Fun Things

New Funko Mortal Kombat 11 Figures Celebrate Iconic Fatalities

Posted on by Owen

The Mortal Kombat series, which began thrilling arcade-goers in 1992, has always been known for its intense combat and unforgettable finishing moves. Now, Funko is honouring the legacy of Mortal Kombat 11 with a new line of Pop! figures that showcase the game’s signature Fatalities. Fans who remember the franchise’s early days on classic consoles will recognise the gritty charm that made Mortal Kombat a sensation in the 16-bit era. The new Funko models are due for release on the 16th May and pre-orders are open @ Amazon.

Credit: Funko

These new Funko designs emphasise the vivid details of each character’s finishing manoeuvre. Collectors can expect Scorpion in a mid-attack pose, Sub-Zero with icy effects, and other favourites sporting their distinctive Fatality styles. It’s a clear nod to the franchise’s origins, when digitised actors and controversial violence caught the attention of gamers and parents alike. Despite evolving graphics and modern platforms, Mortal Kombat has retained its essential gameplay and flair, making these figures all the more appealing to those who value both nostalgia and contemporary collectibles.

Get Over Here / Credit: Funko

With over three decades in the spotlight, Mortal Kombat continues to entertain generations of players with its dynamic battles and storylines. This fresh wave of Funko figures reflects that enduring appeal, bridging the gap between seasoned arcade veterans and newcomers who discovered the series via the latest consoles. By combining classic Fatalities with contemporary Pop! artistry, Funko has created a fitting tribute to one of gaming’s most influential fighting franchises.

Kung Lao Exclusive – Credit: Funko Pop

Keep your classic games safe with RetroShell, made to protect your retro collection. For the latest updates on retro gaming, subscribe to our free Substack—it’s delivered to your inbox every Monday! Interestingly, the original Mortal Kombat introduced digitised sprites using real actors, an innovation that set it apart from other fighters of its era.

Game Port, Retro Gaming News

Mortal Kombat II Fan Project for 3DO Reaches New Milestone

Posted on by Owen

I don’t get to share too much news on the 3DO, for those of you who are not familiar, the 3DO company was founded by one of the co-founders from Electronic Arts in 1991, and at the time had a price tag of $699 (approx $1,300 in today’s money). The 3DO Company did not build the hardware itself, each manufacturer built their own, with Panasonic being the most popular model – releasing in 1993.

When it launched, the 3DO was technically advanced. It featured a 32-bit RISC CPU, two custom graphics processors, and support for full-motion video (FMV). It also had a built-in CD-ROM drive, which was not standard then.

It supported daisy-chained controllers, meaning multiple controllers could be connected in a series without the need for separate ports. It also came with stereo sound and high-resolution graphics for its era.

Despite its technological superiority, the 3DO sold poorly due to its high price and lack of killer apps. It sold around 2 million units worldwide, far below competitors like the PlayStation (102m units) or SNES (~49m units).

Anyhow, enough of the history lesson – the 3DO scene, whilst naturally not as big as some of the other consoles from its generation, still has a scene alive and kicking.

In an exciting development for fans of the console, the fan-made port of Mortal Kombat II for the 3DO console has reached its Release Candidate stage, with version 5.01 now available as a public BETA.

Shaun, the developer behind the project, shared this news through the 3DO HD YouTube channel, emphasizing that while this version is still in beta, it marks a significant step towards a complete port for a console that never officially received one.

This project, not affiliated with NetherRealm Studios or Warner Bros., is purely a non-profit fan endeavour. As noted in community comments, the port does not yet include all features from the arcade version, such as fighter-specific fatalities. Current limitations include Shang Tsung only morphing into the opponent and potential audio skips during background changes in the intro and ending scenes. However, Shaun has committed to addressing these and other bugs, as they are reported by the community.

The latest update includes gameplay improvements and bug fixes, with plans for a “complete” version in the future that will feature all the classic MK2 moves including fatalities, babalities, and friendships.

For those interested in contributing to or exploring this nostalgic project, the ISO can be downloaded from Google Drive, and fans can support Shaun’s ongoing work via Ko-fi.

This endeavour showcases the dedication of the retro gaming community to breathe new life into classic games on platforms they were never intended for, celebrating the 30-year legacy of both the game and the console.

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Atari, Modern Retro Games, New Games

FASTER: A New High-Speed Racing Game for the Atari STE

Posted on by Owen

FASTER, a 2.5D racing game developed by Jonathan Thomas, designed specifically for the Atari STE. This game delivers a smooth and rapid racing experience, running at 50 frames per second on the standard 8MHz Atari STE.

Credit: Jonathon Thomas / Itch

Key Features:

• High Performance: Achieves 50 frames per second on an 8MHz Atari STE, providing fluid gameplay.

• Enhanced Graphics: Utilizes the STE’s Blitter chip to render over 15 large, full-colour sprites simultaneously, displaying more than 30 colours on screen.

• Dynamic Environment: Features a full 24-hour day/night cycle, adding depth to the racing experience.

• Immersive Audio: Offers simultaneous digital engine noises, sound effects, and a YM soundtrack.

• Classic Arcade Feel: Embraces pure 1980s-style arcade action without modern complexities like multiple game modes or tutorials.

FASTER secured first place in the Silly Venture 2024 WE Atari ST/STE games competition, highlighting its excellence in design and performance.

System Requirements:

• Atari STE with at least 1MB of RAM.

• Compatible with Atari TOS or EmuTOS operating systems.

• Requires a double-sided floppy drive or equivalent, such as a Gotek drive.

• A digital joystick connected to port 1.

For those without original Atari STE hardware, FASTER can be played using emulators like Steem SSE or Hatari.

The game is available for free download on Itch.io, with the developer encouraging players to share their experiences and reviews across social media platforms to help spread the word.

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