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Tag Archives: classic games

Fun Things, Nintendo

Super Mario 64 Speedrunners Discover Bizarre Underwater Standing Trick

Posted on by Owen

Speedrunners and glitch hunters in Super Mario 64 continue to push the game to its limits, and their latest discovery is as impressive as it is seemingly pointless. A recently unearthed trick allows Mario to stand motionless underwater—a feat that requires an astonishingly precise sequence of 41 button inputs.

The technique, uncovered by dedicated members of the Super Mario 64 speedrunning community, demands an extraordinary level of dexterity and timing. While it currently serves no practical purpose in speedrunning or casual play, it stands as yet another example of the game’s deep and complex mechanics, even decades after its release.

This glitch joins a long list of intricate exploits that fans have found over the years. Super Mario 64 remains one of the most dissected games in history, with speedrunners continuously discovering new ways to manipulate its physics and behaviour. From wall-clipping tricks to movement exploits, each new find contributes to the game’s rich legacy within the speedrunning world.

The discovery of this underwater standing technique may not revolutionize the speedrunning meta, but it highlights just how much Super Mario 64 still has to offer for those willing to dig deep. Whether future research into the glitch leads to a useful application remains to be seen, but for now, it’s a fascinating display of skill, patience, and sheer dedication to uncovering the game’s hidden possibilities.

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Rom Hack

Golden Axe Revitalised: Neo Geo Port Now Available

Posted on by Owen

Golden Axe, the iconic 1989 beat ’em up from Sega, has been meticulously ported to the Neo Geo platform by developer Hoffman. This fan-driven project brings the classic hack-and-slash experience to a new audience, ensuring both authenticity and enhanced features.

Hoffman’s approach combined reverse engineering with new development to closely match the original gameplay and visuals. The port supports MVS, AES, and Neo Geo CD systems, offering flexibility for various hardware setups. Players can select game regions (World/JP) and adjust original arcade difficulty settings to tailor their experience.

A standout feature for Neo Geo CD users is a specially crafted soundtrack by composer Richard Douglas, providing a fresh auditory experience while maintaining the game’s classic feel. Additionally, Hoffman enhanced six voice samples by sourcing higher-quality versions from 1980s films like Conan, American Werewolf in London, and Rambo, enriching the game’s audio authenticity.

The port is compatible with most flash cart solutions, real hardware, and emulators, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of players. While minor differences and edge-case glitches exist, Hoffman’s dedication to visual accuracy and gameplay fidelity shines through, making this a noteworthy addition to the Neo Geo library.

For those eager to revisit the world of Golden Axe on Neo Geo hardware, the port is available for download on Hoffman’s itch.io page.

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Nintendo

Nintendo Adds Super Mario World Soundtrack to Its Music App

Posted on by Owen

Nintendo has just enriched its ‘Nintendo Music’ app with the timeless tunes of Super Mario World, the classic Super Nintendo title from the early ’90s. This update introduces 49 tracks, totaling over an hour of nostalgic melodies. Listeners can enjoy iconic pieces like the “Yoshi’s Island”, “Donut Plains”, and the mysterious Forest of Illusion theme. The full tracklist is available on Nintendo Life.  

To access this musical journey, ensure you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription and the ‘Nintendo Music’ app installed on your mobile device. This addition follows last week’s release of the Pokémon Legends: Arceussoundtrack, further expanding the app’s diverse library. Notably, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is also featured, offering fans a comprehensive Mario musical experience.

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Sony

Leaked Pre-Release Build of GTA: Vice City Unveils Beta Content

Posted on by Owen

After more than two decades, a pre-release build of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City has surfaced online, offering a glimpse into the game’s development just weeks before its official launch in 2002. This build, dated October 2, 2002, was shared by GTA Forums user IAmNotToniCipriani, who noted that it was initially dumped online by “johndoe2”. Interestingly, the pause menu reveals a compile date of October 1, 2002, indicating it was finalized 28 days prior to the game’s release on PlayStation 2.  

Credit: YouTube / Ralphcifaretto69

Fans speculate that this build was a press preview copy, possibly intended for GameSpot, rather than a version meant for public consumption. Despite being close to the final release, the build contains numerous differences that shed light on the game’s evolution during its final stages.

Notable Differences in the Leaked Build:

• SWAT Team Appearance: The SWAT uniforms exhibit a more vibrant blue color compared to the final version.

• Vehicle Variations: The RC Goblin was originally green, and police cars appeared in white.

• Logos and References: The “Top Fun” logo was initially a clearer homage to “Top Gun”.

• Cutscene Alterations: Some cutscenes feature alternate angles, and the intro at Ken’s office includes a scene of Ken entering, which differs from the retail version.

• Character Design: Auntie Poulet’s attire was yellow instead of the purple seen in the PC release.

• Weapon Mechanics: Reloading animations for the shotgun and M4 were nearly instantaneous, likely due to a bug.

• Mission Icons: The Print Works asset missions showcased different icons.

• Vehicle Branding: The Sandking vehicle featured prominent Rockstar logos on its sides and top.

• Camera Perspectives: The melee combat camera was positioned further out, providing a broader view during fights.

Fans are meticulously analysing the build, comparing textures and models to the retail version. Some textures appear crisper and uncompressed, offering insights into the game’s graphical adjustments before release. This discovery provides a fascinating look into the developmental decisions and refinements that shaped the final version of GTA: Vice City.  

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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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Steam

The Sim’s 2 Returns With A Mixed Reception

Posted on by Owen

After more than a decade, The Sims 2 has made its return to modern platforms, now available on the EA App and Steam. This re-release includes compatibility for Windows 10 and 11, along with support for widescreen and high resolutions. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t a full remaster; the game remains largely as it was during its original 2004 release.  

Early feedback from players has been mixed. While some are thrilled to revisit the classic life simulation, others have reported frequent crashes and technical issues that hinder the experience. On Steam, the game currently holds a “mixed” review status, with many users expressing frustration over these persistent problems.  

Credit: Steam

Despite these challenges, the re-release offers a nostalgic journey for fans, complete with the original’s charm and quirks. The iconic music and unique gameplay mechanics remain intact, providing a trip down memory lane for those who enjoyed the game in its heyday.  

It’s worth mentioning that this version includes all previously released DLCs, offering a comprehensive package for players. However, given the technical issues, potential players might want to wait for patches or updates that address these problems before diving back into the world of The Sims 2.  

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Gaming History, Nintendo

Star Fox Secrets: Nintendo Staff as Game Icons

Posted on by Owen

In a recent interview with Edge, Takaya Imamura, the designer behind Star Fox, revealed that the game’s iconic characters were inspired by key Nintendo staff members. Fox McCloud, the protagonist, embodies the “essence” of Shigeru Miyamoto. Imamura explained, “Fox is based on Miyamoto-san… I think, if you look closely, you can see the similarities.”

Other characters also have real-life counterparts:

• Peppy Hare: Modeled after the game’s director, Katsuya Eguchi.

• Falco Lombardi: Inspired by graphics team member Tsuyoshi Watanabe, noted for his prominent “Roman nose.”

• Slippy Toad: Based on assistant director Yoichi Yamada, who had an affinity for frogs.

Credit: Teechu.com

Imamura noted that these designs captured the “essence” of his colleagues rather than being direct caricatures. Interestingly, during development, the team members didn’t have strong reactions to their in-game representations, possibly due to the intense focus on the project.

This behind-the-scenes insight adds a personal touch to the Star Fox series, highlighting the creative inspirations that shaped its beloved characters.

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New Hardware For Retro, Sony

Next-Gen PS2 Memory Cards Let You Load Games and Save Data with Ease

Posted on by Owen

A new wave of PlayStation 2 memory cards is changing the way we play. Devices like the SD2PSX and MemCard Pro 2 are no ordinary memory cards—they’re powered by microcontrollers, packed with features, and can now launch PS2 games directly from a microSD card, eliminating the need for discs, hard drives, or USB sticks.

Originally designed to store unlimited PS1 and PS2 save files, the SD2PSX, an open-source project, recently received a major update thanks to a group of developers known as SD2PSX Extended. They introduced a new protocol called Multi-Purpose Memory Card Emulation (MMCE), allowing the PS2 to communicate with the memory card in two ways—handling save files as normal while also loading game ISOs seamlessly.

The MemCard Pro 2, developed by 8BitMods, has also been updated with the same functionality, making it another excellent all-in-one solution for PS2 gaming. The process is plug-and-play, requiring no console modifications. Users simply install firmware, organize their games into folders, and launch titles via Open PS2 Loader (OPL), all from a single memory card.

The Memcard Pro2, Credit: 8BitMods

Even the original MemCard Pro 1 (latest hardware revision) has gained this feature, providing more options for players. The SD2PSX remains the open-source alternative, while the MemCard Pro 2 offers a polished experience with built-in Wi-Fi, Google Drive backups, and an intuitive web interface.

With these innovations, PS2 enthusiasts now have a streamlined way to enjoy their favourite classics. Whether opting for the open-source SD2PSX or the feature-packed MemCard Pro 2, both devices redefine what a PS2 memory card can do.

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Modern Retro Games, PC Gaming

The Sims Nostalgia Ramps Up With a Y2K-Themed Website

Posted on by Owen

As previously reported – Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the re-release of The Sims and The Sims 2 for Windows 10 and 11 PCs, scheduled for January 31, 2025. This move comes as part of the franchise’s 25th-anniversary celebrations, rekindling fond memories for longtime fans.

To amplify the nostalgia, EA launched a Y2K-themed website, www.the-sims-y2k.com, reminiscent of the internet’s early days. The site features playful elements like “Sim Urself,” allowing users to create retro-style selfies with iconic Simsimagery, and the “Meme Jacuzzi,” offering a collection of Sims-inspired memes. The design, complete with Comic Sans font and vintage graphics, captures the style of the era.

Credit: Sims Y2K Meme Jacuzzi

The re-releases will include numerous expansion packs. For The Sims, this encompasses expansions such as Livin’ Large, House Party, and Hot Date. The Sims 2 re-release will feature eight expansion packs and nine stuff packs, providing a comprehensive experience for players.  

These re-releases not only offer a trip down memory lane but also provide an opportunity for a new generation to experience the charm/chaos of the original Sims games.

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Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony

Elminage Series Set for Modern Console Debut

Posted on by Owen

Fans of the classic dungeon RPG series Elminage have reason to celebrate. Developer Mebius has announced plans to release the first in a series of console ports for the STARFISH-SD-developed Elminage games, with an official announcement expected in mid to late February.  

The Elminage series, known for its deep dungeon-crawling mechanics and homage to the Wizardry franchise, includes several titles:

• Elminage: Priestess of Darkness and The Ring of the Gods (2008)

• Elminage II: Twin Goddesses and The Land of Destiny (2009)

• Elminage III: Dark Apostle and The Palace of the Sun (2011)

• Elminage Gothic (2012)

• Elminage Ibun: Ame no Mihashira (2012)

Elminage Gothic

According to Mebius, the upcoming console ports will be based on the 3DS versions of these games, with adjustments made for easier playability. The first title is scheduled for release in early summer in Japan.  

While the specific title for the initial port hasn’t been officially confirmed, a poll conducted by Mebius in May 2024 revealed that Elminage II was the top choice among fans, securing 66.9% of the votes. This suggests that Elminage IImight be the first to make its way to modern consoles.  

For those unfamiliar, the Elminage series offers a rich blend of character customization and challenging dungeon exploration, reminiscent of classic RPGs. The games have garnered a dedicated following over the years, with titles like Elminage Original receiving “Very Positive” reviews on platforms like Steam.  

As we await the official announcement, it’s clear that Mebius is committed to bringing these classic adventures to a new generation of gamers.

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