Yesterday’s technology is
a playground for enthusiastic new communities.

The post Retro Computing: Old Tech, New Thrill appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

The Baconator Returns

HIGH It’s endlessly charming. The new soundtrack is fantastic.

LOW The extra features are not explained. The museum lacks polish.

WTF Tomba keeps items in his stomach, like Snake did with cigarettes in Metal Gear Solid…

Tomba! Special Edition is a reminder of the bygone days of the PS1, when developers took experimental approaches to the then-new Sony console. Tomba!, a 2.5D game from 1997, defied the logic that 3D was where every developer should be heading. What resulted was an experience that still looks beautiful, has a ton of charm, a cult following, and remains enjoyable more than 20 years after its debut.

Tomba! Special Edition is an action-platformer with light RPG elements. The titular character must defeat the evil Koma Pigs to recover his stolen bracelet. Along the way, Tomba will encounter and befriend many creatures and people who need help, while also carrying out objectives to advance the story, finding ways to the evil pigs’ lairs, or opening new pathways to needed items in this fairly non-linear adventure.

The characters are all endearing and charming in their own way. From standard fantasy dwarves to wilder fare like mouse cowboys, each area was packed with unique and colorful characters. Each map is bright and picturesque, and the music has been wonderfully enhanced with a remastered soundtrack that pops.

Looking at the gameplay, platforming is the star of the show here, as Tomba is given various methods to traverse the world, such as a parasol for slowing down his fall rate or a grapple line to grab and swing from various objects. The 2.5D aspect also allows Tomba to go into the background and play in a different part of some levels. This was a pretty clever way to add… depth…. to platformers, which often didn’t use background layers like this. In this aspect, Tomba! excels.

To dispatch enemies, Tomba must jump and grab onto them, so that he can then fling them. Sometimes stunning them is necessary first, and combat never became dull since different enemies required unique strategies. The boss pigs in particular were a highlight, as each has their own arena where the objective is to throw them into an Evil Pig Bag. (Yes, it’s called that.)

As Tomba! Special Edition is an updated release, there are some great quality-of-life features that I found incredibly helpful during my time playing. For starters, there’s a helpful rewind feature that allowed me to move the game back anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. This allowed me to retry difficult platforming sections without losing progress or health. There’s also a way to save at any time, which made the challenge even more friendly to new players of the series, like myself.

In addition, a museum feature allowed me to view art and documents, such as advertisements and manuals. There were also videos with Tokuro Fujiwara (director and creator of the series) about the development process of the original Tomba! and a music player where any of the tracks can be listened to.

While this new version of an old classic seems great as I’ve described it so far, there are a few issues with both the game and the supplementary material.

For example, with the historical videos, there’s no way to rewind or even pause the playback. This seems like a pretty standard feature in 2024, and the omission of any controls here is pretty annoying.

In regards to the game itself, it suffers from long load times between areas. In many cases, this isn’t really noticeable, but when having to many between short screens in succession, it became an annoyance. There’s also noticeable frame juddering, particularly when weather effects are present.

Also annoying is that the rewind and save features are not explained to the player beforehand. I figured them out by pressing random buttons, which is hardly optimal. New features like these need to be explained, so people will know exactly how to take full advantage of them. (The music also cuts out for a few seconds when using rewind, taking me out of the mood.)

Mechanically, Tomba! Special Edition suffers from some wonky physics, although these issues were present in the original. When swinging between platforms, it’s common to miss the next one due to how easy it is to overshoot an object and how little time to correct there is. Jumping also feels imprecise, often feeling too floaty.

Finally, mission design is often a bit too obtuse for its own good. For example, sometimes it’s necessary to talk to unassuming NPCs several times despite not having any reason to do so. There’s also a good deal of backtracking to be done, and sometimes I felt frustrated wasting time looking for answers, only to find that something else needed to be done first. Clearly, we’ve learned a lot about signposting and quest structure since the game was originally designed.

Tomba! Special Edition is a charming reminder of the experimental days of the PS1 era, and the cute characters and wonderful soundtrack still appeal. However, the flaws in this port and some of the game’s original issues might make it a bit tough for newcomers to fully embrace this beloved cult classic.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Disclosures: This version of Tomba! is developed and published by Limited Run Games. It is currently available on PS4/5, XBO/X/S, Switch and PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on PS5. Approximately 8 hours was devoted to the game, and it was not completed. There is no multiplayer mode.

Parents: This game has an ESRB rating of E10+ rating for Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, and Mild Fantasy Violence. The ESRB rating states: “This is an adventure platformer in which players follow a hero (Tomba) attempting to retrieve a stolen keepsake from evil pigs. From a side-scrolling perspective, players traverse whimsical environments while collecting fruit, performing quests, and defeating animal/monster enemies. Players use a spiked ball to knock out enemies; player can also grab and toss pigs into other characters. One mission involves fixing a pump to provide wine for a village. One level depicts pixelated cherub characters urinating on the ground; the cartoony cherubs’ pelvic regions and buttocks are briefly depicted. ”

Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind options.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game offers subtitles, but only during gameplay. Subtitles cannot be resized. (See example above.) This game is not accessible, due to a lack of subtitles during voiced cutscenes.

Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable. A screen will appear before the game is started that explains the controls. On PS5, circle attacks with the equipped weapon, X is for jumping and can be used to scroll through text, square is for interacting with objects and NPCs, triangle opens up the items menu, the touchpad opens the entire menu, L2 opens the rewind menu, and R2 opens the emulation menu. The first areas of the game will also explain them. However, there is no way to reference most of these controls without either restarting the game (since backing out to the main menu is not possible) or going back to the tutorial areas. The rewind and save anywhere features are not explained at all.

Lightning Katana is a fast paced samurai action FPS inspired by Hotline Miami, Katana Zero and Devil May Cry.

In Lightning Katana you will kick, shoot, parry and slice your way through an entire Yakuza gang to avenge the death of your pet dog. The game plays a little like a blend of Hotline Miami and Wolfenstein 3D, with fast paced one-hit-kill combat, … Read More

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It’ll take me quite a while to get through Sea of Stars, but if my first impressions are anything to go by, it’s going to be a hell of an adventure. This latest indie RPG comes from Quebec’s Sabotage Studio, the developers of the acclaimed The Messenger.

The developers were kind enough to send over a review key for me to look at the game. I’ve been plugging away at it over the past couple of days, with about 12 hours of progress done. Given that I’m not even halfway done, it’s easy to expect the review will take some time.

But one thing’s for sure: Sea of Stars is living up to the hype and then some. It’s a grand and engaging adventure that’s satisfying in its combat and enticing in its story. And despite a few incredibly minor issues that will hopefully be patched out, it’s set its hooks deep into me already.

Fire of the sun, light of the moon

Let’s talk about the combat first. I already had an idea of how this played, thanks to the demo released back in February. In practice, it’s already been a consistently fun and rewarding combat system, and I can see it appealing to both retro fans and newbies.

Much has been made of the game’s comparisons to games like Super Mario RPG, Illusion of Gaia, and Chrono Trigger. And they’re certainly warranted; any fan of 90s RPGs will be right at home here. I also got a substantial whiff of Mario & Luigi in it, especially with the combo moves. You have to juggle a few factors at once, including elemental weaknesses, enemy positions, charging enemy attacks, and available magic points and boost power.

While it’s a deep and layered combat system, it’s also very approachable. If you’ve never played an RPG before, Sea of Stars would be an excellent first choice. You can grasp the core concept very easily, and there aren’t so many mechanics and meters to keep track of that it’s overwhelming. The biggest challenge is determining the optimal strategy, which requires paying close attention in the heat of battle.

Feeling like a star

Sea of Stars immediately made a stir thanks to its wonderful aesthetics. You’ve probably already noticed the lovely pixel art through these screenshots, and in action, the game looks absolutely stunning. With beautiful color palettes and some excellent music tracks, it’s already a heavily absorbing adventure.

More than its aesthetics, though, I’m also really into the story and characters so far. With a wacky pirate crew, some excellent party members, and an old order of the Solstice Warriors to talk to, there’s plenty of love and care into these characters. I’ve gotten quite a bit ahead of the introduction, so I won’t be writing any story spoilers here.

Just know that the game takes maybe an hour or two to get going, and then a couple more hours to REALLY get going. For a game that’s expected to take about 25 to 30 hours with no side content, there’s hopefully plenty more great story bits and characters to come.

If there’s one aspect I can criticize Sea of Stars for, it’s that the dialogue needed a bit of a tune-up. Not the words themselves, but rather the grammar; there’s a few typos that needed ironing out. That’s something that could easily be fixed with a few patches, although of course, it’s not the most important factor. I haven’t encountered any other bugs so far, and hopefully that will remain the same throughout the rest of my playthrough!

Sea of Stars shines in its first impressions

I’m happy to report that my first impressions of Sea of Stars are highly positive. The combat is engrossing for both RPG veterans and newcomers, and it’s a beautiful game filled with charming characters and storylines. And while the text perhaps needed one last proofread, it’s hardly enough to take you out of the adventure.

Sea of Stars is developed and published by Sabotage Studio. It is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam. You can also play it via Xbox and PC Game Pass. A free demo is available to play right now.

The digital version costs $34.99 USD. A physical version for Nintendo Switch is on the way, but Sabotage Studio hasn’t announced a price yet.

Thanks to Tinsley PR and Sabotage Studio for providing a review key!

The post First Impressions: Sea of Stars [PC] appeared first on Mega Visions.

There’s really nothing quite like playing an Atari 2600 game, and The Atari 2600+ is coming to capitalize on that. The technological restraints of the 1970s forced the Atari 2600’s games to be simple and addicting. In so doing, the library would go on to become iconic, instantly recognizable, and timelessly fun. Somehow it even managed to hang on to some relevancy well beyond the NES era. Even today this library holds a special place in the hearts of gamers and technology buffs of all stripes.

Atari is no stranger to revivals either, with countless collections of old games repackaged for modern systems being released over the decades. We’ve also seen plenty of console emulation boxes released under the Atari name with varying results. Most of these attempts were marred by limited functionality, poor emulation, or some combination of the two. Now, however, a new kind of revival is underway. The Atari 2600+ has emerged and seems to be hitting a lot the right notes. If handled correctly, this could very well be the ultimate revival for the undisputed golden era of gaming. Here’s what we know so far.

Identical form factor (80% scale)

Wood grain, ridges, switches and all. The Atari 2600+ is not trying to modernize the design like the baffling VCS. This is a plain and simple miniaturization of the original machine, like the NES classic. Perhaps a bit more in line with Konami’s Turbografx-16 mini, as it won’t be that much smaller than the original. The original stylings of the switches are the most interesting part of this. That particular design language is so alien today, and will certainly stand out in modern living rooms.

Compatibility with original 2600 and 7800 games. 

This is wonderful news, and instantly sets the 2600+ apart from nearly every Atari clone console before it. The majority of Atari clone consoles that have emerged only contain whatever AT Games felt like including. Also including the small-but-excellent 7800 library is a nice tough. How the 2600+ runs the games is a big question, though. Latency, compatibility and accuracy are big sticking points for much of the community. However, generally speaking, being able to pop in my own copy of Spider Fighter and play it on my TV from the sofa is alluring. That said, compatibility isn’t perfect, as Atari reveals on their website. More on that later.

New Joystick and Paddles

Seemingly identical in form, and hopefully at least equal in build quality. These new controllers seem to be aiming to look, feel, and function just like the originals. However, weight could be an issue, as light controllers can feel cheap and unsatisfying to use. The paddles in particular need to be well-made, as most original paddles today are not working well. The Atari 2600+ only comes with one joystick, though, so others will come at an additional cost. This is a bit of a letdown considering the $129 price tag. Although given the connection type, you should be able to use your original controllers as well. Atari’s website does confirm that the new controllers will work on the original 2600. It’s fairly logical to assume the inverse is true as well.

10-games-in-one Cartridge Included

This cart includes Haunted House, Adventure, Dodge ‘Em, Combat, Missile Command, Maze Craze, Realsports Volleyball, Surround, Video Pinball, and Yars’ Revenge. Any compilation of Atari games will feel like it’s missing something, but overall these are great choices. The major genres of the era are represented here. Combat on its own has several modes and difficulties that can easily provide many hours of single or multiplayer mayhem. Compared to the 20+ games Nintendo, Sega, and Konami offers on their mini consoles, though, 10 is less than impressive.

HDMI Output 

This is essential in today’s world. Most of the clone consoles and emulation boxes released under the Atari name have been composite (red, white, and yellow cables) only. Having HDMI immediately puts the 2600+ in the upper-echelon of ways to play these games. Whether we’re going to get 1080p or 4K remains to be seen, but ultimately might not matter. Most modern displays still recognize 720p today. For the sake of future-proofing though, the higher resolution we can get, the better. Extra points are up for grabs if Atari can throw in some display options. Scanlines, screen curvatures, or other filters would be welcome. No word on anything like that yet, outside of the Black and White switch anyway.

Sold separately

The 2600+ is going to launch alongside some companion products. Mr. Run and Jump, a new game designed for the 2600. A so-called enhanced edition of Berzerk. An additional compilation cartridge focused on paddle games Breakout, Night Driver, Canyon Bomber, and Video Olympics. This appears to come with a new set of paddles as well, which is great. Most of the original paddles hanging around today are barely working – if at all. An additional joystick is also going to be available, and should be an easy upsell. The 2600+ only comes with one, after all.

Potential pitfalls

Before throwing down your hard earned money, there are a couple byte-sized issues to consider. First, the $129 price tag itself. You could buy Atari 50 today for significantly less and play it on the modern console you already own. In so doing you would immediately have access to exponentially more games than the 10 included with the 2600+. $129 vs $30. 10 games vs 90 games. Also, the inclusion of only one controller almost certainly means you’ll need to buy another. This drives up the price even more. Do with this information what you will.

Secondly, hardcore enthusiasts might be left wanting with the 2600+. Atari confirms on their FAQ page that the 2600+ is using emulation to run the games. This isn’t inherently problematic, but it could spell trouble for rom hacks and homebrews. Also, the compatibility list on Atari’s website confirms several official games will fail to work. Super Cobra, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Real Sports Boxing are among them. Many more are listed as “untested” which is frankly bizarre. I know it’s no small task, but if Atari is serious about this, why not test all the games? This makes the “No Cartridge Left Behind” moniker on the webpage ring more than a little hollow. A potential saving grace here is the USB-C port. This will almost certainly be utilized by the community to improve compatibility. For now though, the incomplete compatibility is a notable red flag. I highly suggest all Atari enthusiasts take a look at the list before claiming a pre-order.

Flawed or exciting? Depends on the beholder

These issues aren’t huge ones, but they do muddle up the deal a bit. Casual players who want a quick nostalgia trip could understandably be put off by the price point. Conversely, hardcore enthusiasts may balk at the emulation and incomplete compatibility. The perception of a high floor and low ceiling could threaten the appeal of the 2600+. That said, there is certainly value here. Between the nostalgic form-factor, HDMI, and generally solid compatibility with games and controllers, the 2600+ makes a decent case. Hyperkin’s Retron 77 may have it beat with price, but there is something to be said for an official Atari product. The hassle of converting the video signal of an original 2600 is arguably worth paying $129 to side-step. Yet the phoniness of emulating Atari games on a computer undercuts the entire experience. You could certainly look at it either way.

The 2600+ may not be for the super fanatical or the super casual. This is a bit of a shame, as it comes quite close to being an ideal solution for everyone. Still, here are more comprehensive and cheaper solutions for those two extremes. Are there millions of people who would pay a premium to play the vast majority of their Atari games in a modern, yet authentic way, though? Absolutely. It’s just going to come down to whether or not Atari can get them to do it. If marketed well, and supported with some post-launch firmware updates, the 2600+ could easily soar to great heights.

Atari 2600+ releases this November

We won’t be waiting long to get our hands on this thing. The 2600+ launches right before Thanksgiving. This might just prove to be perfect timing. Whipping an Atari out after Thanksgiving dinner for a few rounds of drunken Missile Command with the family sounds like an excellent way to wrap up the Holiday. If nothing else, it could at least distract everyone from whatever arguments transpired during dinner.

Atari 2600+ releases on November 17. Do you plan to jump back into some retro favorites? Or do you prefer more old-school ways to enjoy old-school games? As always, let us know what you think down in the comments!

The post Can the Atari 2600+ reignite the magic? appeared first on Mega Visions.

Stand by me…in a turn based battle, Echo Generation Midnight Edition but is it worth staying up late for?

Echo Generation Midnight Edition hails from Canada from indie developer Cococucumber with support from Canada Media Fund and Ontario Creates. Echo Generation has made it’s way to the Nintendo Switch with it’s Midnight Edition. The Midnight Edition features upgraded graphics, fast travel as well as a host of quality of life upgrades.

Echo Generation Midnight Edition is a Turn based RPG set in a small town during the 1990’s and if that starts hitting you in the nostalgia feels then buckle up as you’ve got more to come. As soon as you load up Echo Generation Midnight Edition you’ll appreciate it’s art style, everything about the game is distinctly vintage but without looked dated, thats to say it looks old school but with the crispness you’d expect from a modern release. The first thing you’ll need to do is select and name your player character. I went with the character model I thought had the most 90’s vibe, then I had to name them, so with nostalgia in mind, I went for Ripley. The name of your character has 0 impact but I did get a fair bit if enjoyment out of the name choice once with more sci-fi elements of the games plot started to unfold. 

Once you’ve selected your avatar you’re in your bed room which looks perfectly 90s, posters on the walls, a tape cassette player, old school looking PC, toy chests and of course (Ice) Hockey equipment, we’re in Canada remember (Although no Canadian team has won Lord Stanley’s cup since 1993) but being a big hockey fan myself, it was a nice touch. You leave your bedroom all set to start shooting a Sci-Fi movie with your friends, when your mother forces you to take your little sister with you. Now, in most stories this will be a chore, but Lily is a fully capable member of your party, in fact you party will make out at 3 members, You, Lily and a ‘Pet’, one of five to choose from, although pick Meowsy the cat, easily the best support character.

As always I like to keep narrative spoilers to a minimum but Echo Generation Midnight Edition features a great cast of characters, including a psychotic headteacher, hipster bubble tea store proprietors, a distracted inventor who’s some what of a lack lustre father to a Racoon in a baseball cap. As far as the games writing is concerned it’s sensational, it hits the Saturday morning adventure vibe perfectly. I’m sure comparisons to Stranger Things are guaranteed but I’ll be honest, I kept thinking about Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five, which is entirely anachronistic and makes me feel old, but be it Stranger Things, Stand By Me or any other rites of passage coming of age story and you’re in the right spot. The plot is the perfect adventure, the characters and their dialogue reach Buffy levels of witty banter and it’s pacing is perfect, the game clocks in around 10 hours and at no point in time did it feel anything other than compelling. 

You’ll spend the 10 or so hours of the games length exploring a variety of locations, the suburbs (engaged in a turf war between kids and a Racoon street gang), the woods, a secret research lab and many more, and you’ll be running back and forth between these locations in an almost Metroidvania-esque fashion. The world features a myriad of NPCs, many of whom are memorable and add a huge amount of charm to the game. 

Battles in Echo Generation Midnight Edition are turn based and for the most part they are pretty much what you’d expect for the most part. Each character has a basic attack and a decent selection of special moves. You’ll unlock these special moves by finding comic books (who says funny books aren’t educational) and each book is themed to each character. The main characters moves are all (Ice) Hockey themed which I really enjoyed. Having blocked a few shots in my time a puck being sent into your face via a slapshot would certainly be an effective tactic in battle. Each special attack has a unique mini-game, pass and you’ll do critical damage, fail and you’ll have time to make do with the attacks base damage. This can be increased be levelling up. Each time you level up you’ll be rewarded with points to spend in one of three categories, health, attack and skill points. 

This brings me to the only really downside of Echo Generation Midnight Edition, aside from the first boss, grinding isn’t needed. Now, there are of course there are two schools of thought when it comes to grinding. To some, it’s a classic part of the TTRPG experience, to others its an outdated mechanic that needs to be left behind. I’m somewhere between the tow and if I’m honest the only game I think nailed it was Final Fantasy XIII. Echo Generation Midnight Edition doesn’t really have what you’d call a difficulty curve, it’s more of a small bump followed by a steep decline. Battles provide little challenge, even the final boss is a breeze and while the mystery of the narrative was rewarding enough but the ease of the combat did dull the feeling of accomplishment somewhat. 

The post Review – Echo Generation – (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on GameHype.

IREM game collections for me to collect ⊟

Tozai Games, who memorably brought me Spelunker HD, has announced five volumes of collected IREM games for Xbox, PS5, PS4, and Switch, with big ol’ physical versions coming from Strictly Limited.

This first release comprises Image Fights 1 and 2, and X Multiply, three shmups that I definitely haven’t played and definitely want to. I also, in general, support the release of collections from this very cool, very defunct publisher!

Finally, hi, I haven’t been writing many posts recently. But my 10 year olds are at a coffee shop having a graphic design coworking session, so I’m entertaining myself by sitting in a big fancy coffee shop chair and flailing textually at old games. Life is pretty weird!

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Wonder Boy, Bust a Move, New Zealand Story today⊟

Hey y'all, it’s been a while, as evidenced by my trying to spell “Tumblr” with an O while logging in. Tomblr. Tumblor. Toumblro.

Anyway I’m back with more old games on Switch. It’s becoming my brand and I’m ok with that. Today’s Nintendo Download includes a whole entire Wonder Boy Collection (also on PS4/PS5), with multiple versions of each game including Master System, Game Gear, arcade, and Genesis (not all for every game of course!) and multiple regional versions. I don’t know developer Bliss Brain, and I didn’t play their previous game, the Princess Maker remake. So I can’t speak to the quality of the ports. But as long as they’re not totally busted that’s such a cool collection!

Also on eShop today: Puzzle Bobble™2X/BUST-A-MOVE™2 Arcade Edition & Puzzle Bobble™3/BUST-A-MOVE™3 S-Tribute, a collection of Saturn ports. More importantly, it’s just a king’s ransom of moves to bust and puzzles to bobble. “Enjoy ports of the arcade games Puzzle Bobble 2X and Puzzle Bobble 3, as well as four home console versions released in Japan and abroad, with added original modes.”

Finally, there’s an Arcade Archives port of another Taito classic, The New Zealand Story. I might be doing some shopping as long as my house continues to have electricity!

Keep it locked for infrequent updates about ports of old games onto Switch. I’m… I’m doing my best you guys.

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Cool DIY Super Famicom kit turned into cooler mini-TV kit ⊟

I’m pretty impressed with Columbus Circle’s barebones DIY kits, basically just clone Super Famicoms or Famicoms without cases. You can then put it into whatever container you can imagine, like this toaster!

What Youtuber LimoneWorkshop did, however, is to put the tiny kit into a custom-built miniature Sharp SF-1. And it totally owns.

I’m trying to imagine what I would do with one of these Super Famicom kits, and I think it’s “put it on a shelf and then decide to sell it 3 years later.” But for other people, what a cool idea!

JOIN CLUB TINY AND OUR DISCORD Support Tiny Cartridge!

IVOR is a retro boomer shooter that draws inspiration from Norse mythology as a Viking Drengr battles an army of undead monsters.

Previously featured on Alpha Beta Gamer back in 2021, IVOR is a fast and brutal old school FPS where a Viking Drengr seeks vengeance after being left to rat by the Al-father. The new demo features one large campaign level and a … Read More

The racing genre is often full of innovative titles that don’t typically adhere to standards. Some are realistic, some are arcadey, and all are fun when executed properly.

Handheld consoles like the PlayStation Portable have a surprisingly large number of great racing titles.

If you are craving some high speed, what follows are the best PSP racing games of all time.

[1/10]

Wipeout Pulse

Release: 2007
Developer: SCE Studio Liverpool
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Ten years after the events of Wipeout Pure, we are found in the year 2207. The FX400 anti-gravity racing league beckons and we must answer the call of exceedingly dangerous high-speed racing. Wipeout is all about the fast-paced action.

Gameplay revolves around you racing, often in a circuit-type race, with the goal of winning. Along the way, you can pick up various upgrades, to shields, weapons, and more. Slow your enemy down or destroy them, there are many ways to win a race.

[2/10]

Burnout Legends

Release: 2005
Developer: Criterion Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Burnout Legends is a portable variation of the already-established series. The focus is on strategic driving in an arcade environment. Races are challenging and require you to not only navigate the track but also be on the lookout for opponents.

The World Tour mode, one of nine, is the only way to unlock other vehicles in the game. You can win regularly, or by physically removing enemies from the track, by performing takedowns. The game includes tracks from previous Burnout titles, for a complete experience, which is rare for a handheld title.

[3/10]

Gran Turismo

Release: 2009
Developer: Polyphony Digital
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Gran Turismo is one of the most-sold series on any PlayStation console. It is also one of the best PSP games in general. It doesn’t use an open-ended design but focuses on races and trading as a mechanic for obtaining the vehicles.

This PSP-exclusive title has 833 vehicles in the game. To unlock them all would be an achievement that not many players completed. The vehicles are modeled after their counterparts in the real world. Polyphony was working closely with the manufacturers to get the details right. This level of investment was obvious and the players loved it.

[4/10]

Midnight Club: LA Remix

Release: 2008
Developer: Rockstar London
Publisher: Rockstar Games

Midnight Club: LA Remix is the PSP version of Midnight Club: Los Angeles, a great PS3 racing game (link to PS3 racing article). It is much like Los Angeles, but utilizing a much smaller city, taken from Midnight Club II. To compensate, Tokyo is added as another playable city.

Due to the two different maps, the cars were also split in two, half going to LA, and the other to Tokyo. Other than that, it is a classic Midnight Club experience, open-world driving, enjoying the life of a racer, other than when the cops are chasing you, which is after any serious infraction.

[5/10]

Ridge Racer

Release: 2004
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco

Ridge Racer is a simple but very fun arcade racer for the PSP. Released as an exclusive title, it is a drifting first game, with a huge focus on oversteering. The more you oversteer, the better your performance and high score will be. That resets upon hitting something.

The World Tour mode is one of the primary game modes, useful for unlocking new maps and progressively familiarizing yourself with the mechanics. A core mechanic is the nitrous boost system, reminiscent of a popular movie franchise from that period, involving speed and fury.

[6/10]

MotorStorm: Arctic Edge

Release: 2009
Developer: Bigbig Studios
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

MotorStorm: Arctic Edge is an extraordinary off-road title that pushes the boundaries of racing, though this time, in the icy plains and mountains, hence the name. The original game took place in the desert and this one takes the polar opposite approach, mind the pun.

The core mechanic revolves around competing in the Festival, which features tons of events, from races to challenges that get progressively more creative, think Forza Horizon but on the PSP and in a completely different way. 

[7/10]

Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0

Release: 2005
Developer: EA Canada
Publisher: Electronic Arts

Need for Speed: Most Wanted 5-1-0 is the portable version of the eponymous legendary title. As such, you can still race and challenge blacklist drivers, however, some events from the regular console game were cut, not to mention parts of the open-world experience.

However, the mechanics remain the same, and you still get chased by the police, not to mention all the cars and mods. From nitrous oxide to decals, flames, and recolors, you can create the car from your dreams and enjoy a fast-paced arcade experience.

[8/10]

Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast

Release: 2006
Developer: Sumo Digital
Publisher: Sega

Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast is what one thinks when thinking about an arcade racing game. Outrun titles were some of the most popular games on arcade cabinets and trying not to steer into the ocean and get you and your passenger completely wet was a challenge.

This game takes it to another level, with a Coast 2 Coast mode, which is the career mode. There are fifteen available vehicles, the most out of any Outrun game. Unlocking them all requires both the PS2 and the PSP version of the game, which makes collecting all cars difficult.

[9/10]

FlatOut: Head On

Release: 2006/2008
Developer: Six by Nine
Publisher: Empire Interactive

FlatOut: Head On is the portable version of FlatOut 2, a known title in the destructive racing scene. It is a game that requires you to embrace driving in a completely opposite manner to what you would normally be doing in a racing game.

You can win races in the traditional way, but the entire point is to embrace destruction and show your opponents the way to the junkyard. There are many interesting arcade elements in the game, from weapons to objects that you can use to wreak havoc on the tracks.

[10/10]

GripShift

Release: 2005
Developer: Sidhe Interactive
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment

GripShift is an arcade racing game, though it features elements that are not common in racers. The tracks have various obstacles that you have to overcome, so you could think of them as puzzles to solve, rather than simply checkpoints and turns.

GripShift has many levels and tracks but excels at providing entertainment first. Simulations are great, but sometimes people just want to go out of their way and be as unrealistic as possible. Interestingly, this was an unexpected game that is available on the PlayStation Network.

The PSP has a plethora of great titles in its vast library. For high-speed action, whether simulators or arcade games, these best PSP racing games should have you covered as an introduction to the PSP racing scene.

Whether through the PSN, the original console, or by using a PSP emulator, get ready to fasten your seatbelt and put that pedal to the metal.

The post 10 Best PSP Racing Games of All Time appeared first on WhatIfGaming.

The Sony PlayStation Portable was a long-awaited console, the only one that was able to compete with Nintendo’s offerings at the time, such as the DS. The PSP is known for its huge library of games, many of which are RPGs.

While these may not be everyone’s cup of tea, following are the 10 best PSP RPG games of all time.

[1/10]

Persona 3 Portable

Release: 2006/2010
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus (Japan, North America), Ghostlight (Europe)

Persona 3 Portable was brought to the PSP 3 and 4 years after its initial release, depending on the region. As we have come to learn, Persona games bring us an everyday setting that offers adventure and an unexpected turn of events that spices up life.

You are free to choose your life in the game, and you must balance school and social life. Add to that your nighttime activities, where you fight various creatures. One of the game’s main plot elements is people turned into coffins. Picture that as you ponder whether you should play the game (you definitely should).

[2/10]

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Release: 2007
Developer: Square Enix/Tose
Publisher: Square Enix

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is set in the world of Ivalice, which should be known to everyone familiar with Final Fantasy. Two kingdoms at war, and you there, trying to find a solution, which ultimately leads to battle.

The Tactics part of the title refers to the way the battles are played out. Unlike most Final Fantasy games, characters move on a grid, much like you would see in the Shining Force titles of old, such as Shining Force II. It is a different, but by no means negative experience.

[3/10]

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

Release: 2010
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is the continuation of Disney’s collaboration with Square Enix, and the result is a very good RPG. We follow three characters, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua, as they search for their lost master, Xehanort, while also protecting the world, you know, the everyday things.

This is an action RPG with a focus on battling from a third and first-person perspective. Magic is charged through a Focus bar and expelled in first-person mode. Three scenarios for the three main characters are available, and playable in any order. All three must be completed before the game’s finale can be reached.

[4/10]

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

Release: 2010/2011
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

This is a remake of the 1996 SNES title of the same name, without the Let Us Cling Together part. The setting is an island kingdom, named Valeria. We follow protagonist Denam Pavel, who is a resistance member. The game’s story plays out according to the player’s decisions.

As far as gameplay elements are concerned, the battles are turn-based, on a grid, a familiar formula. The player can move on the world map and every move equals an entire day. The weather conditions affect your statistics, both out of battle and in battle.

[5/10]

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

Release: 1999/2006
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is the PSP version of the original game, released for the PS1 in 1999. The game focuses on the eponymous Valkyrie, named Lenneth. Her quests come straight from the Norse Pantheon, and the main game mechanic focuses on collecting souls from departed warriors.

Lenneth has multiple ways of interacting with the world, including flight, as well as combat. The overworld is explored in 3D, and Lenneth can scan the world for nearby points of interest, including einherjar, the souls that you need. City exploration is in 2D, reminiscent of the great RPGs of the 1990s.

[6/10]

Ys Seven

Release: 2009/2010
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: XSEED Games

Ys Seven departs from the mechanics of the previous Ys games because it implements real-time combat. Previously, players had to switch between weapons. In this game, you control one character and the rest are controlled by the AI which you can program to attack in whichever way you find the most efficient.

Adol and Dogi are adventurers who get in trouble by attempting to save two girls from local military forces. They end up in prison very briefly and once they get out, adventure awaits, which includes lots of battles and of course, the unveiling of dangerous secrets.

[7/10]

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII

Release: 2008
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII gives us more content for the epic Final Fantasy VII, one of the best PS1 games. We follow SOLDIER Zack Fair, a familiar name for anyone who played FF VII. His exploits are legendary, but in this game, we get to see more of them, in what is considered to be a prologue.

Similarly to the original FF VII, you can explore the world in 3D and interact with NPCs. Combat is real-time, using materia to affect your abilities. They are your bread and butter, enhancing passive abilities, providing new ones, magic, and an essential gameplay component. It is a great game and not just a complement.

[8/10]

Jeanne d’Arc

Release: 2006/2007
Developer: Level-5
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Jeanne d’Arc’s story is familiar to most interested in history. However, this game takes that and blends it with fantasy, namely a battle between humankind and demons. Couple those together and you get a great fantasy RPG, with some history sprayed here and there.

You control Jeanne and her party, moving on an overworld map. Most of the time when you enter a new location, you will have a battle. There are also cities and villages where you can restock your supplies and interact with NPCs. Some classic elements and some innovations, make this a great game.

[9/10]

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Release: 2009
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is a standard Monster Hunter game in terms of its mechanics. You hunt giant monsters with the goal of becoming as well-known as possible. You can also do it with friends. This is in fact, the way the game was meant to be played. This is considered one of the best PSP games, let alone a great RPG.

Freedom Unite is actually a remake/port of Monster Hunter Freedom 2. That in itself is a continuation of Monster Hunter Freedom. If you want to know the full story, there are a couple of games that should be played. Even on its own, it is a great RPG with lots of challenging battles.

[10/10]

Star Ocean: Second Evolution

Release: 2008
Developer: tri-Ace/Tose
Publisher: Square Enix

Star Ocean: Second Evolution is a port of Star Ocean: The Second Story, a game for the original PlayStation, released in 1998. Second Evolution is the sequel to the First Departure. The events take place twenty years in the future compared to the first game. 

Some characters from the first game make cameos. Other characters are there in spirit, as their children take the reins. You can explore the world and are encouraged to do so. Your decisions matter and will shape the events of the game. Various endings are possible, depending on your choices.

The PSP has a vast library of games, and these are some of the best PSP RPG games that should give you a taste of what could come.

They are playable through a PSP emulator, via the original handheld, or through the PlayStation Network. Whichever world you choose to immerse yourself in, you will not be disappointed.

The post 10 Best PSP RPG Games of All Time appeared first on WhatIfGaming.

An ancient quest, one the bards will sing of in every tavern this side of Cloudy Mountain. A heroic ranger, travelling mountain passes, fjording rivers and hacking her way through cursed forests, protected only by her wiles and the taught string of her trusty bow. Her arrows, enchanted by the witch queen, bounce off cavern walls, apt at slaying all manner of rat, bat, snake, and conniving spider. She tracks them through the mazes encountered on her journey, using scat and skull alike to stave off their advance – and that of the tunnels' vicious demons and dragons whose attacks land close enough to shave the very fibres of her cloak, but just can't seem to bring her down.

And so she hunts, careful to avoid the shambling pink blobs that are said to be indestructible even to the magic weapons of the brave adventurers who set out for Cloudy Mountain, never to return. By hook and crook and skin of teeth, she rides there and confronts the legendary winged dragons that guard the two lost halves of the Crown of Kings. The crown shards sport the midnight sigil of the ancients. Three arrows notched and flown straight through the creatures' hearts are the only way to take them down. The ranger recovers one shard, then the other. A fuzzy, computerised blast of sound greets her in her triumph. You return to the map screen, relinquishing control. You've done something I've never done. You've beaten Advanced Dungeons & Dragons on the Intellivision.

It was once the most technologically advanced piece of Dungeons & Dragons media known to humankind. Its mountain mazes, made up entirely of green and yellow pixels, held wonders and horrors for those with courage enough to brave their depths. Its enemies scaled in difficulty, from one-shot KO rats, to two-shot minibosses, all the way up to the winged dragons in the fabled Cloudy Mountain that took three arrows to vanquish. The game's sound design was enthralling, the back of the box quick to assure players – and rightfully so – that "exciting sound effects highlight game play." You were alerted to the presence of nearby monsters in the maze by the sound of their wings or the slithering of their bodies through the mud before seeing them at all. To find them, you had to uncover the rest of a tunnel by walking through it, and by that point it could be too late.

Read more

This is your friendly reminder that Microsoft is set to close its Xbox 360 digital store on 29th July – that's next Monday – so you have just a few days left to make the most of those last discounts on some of the best Xbox 360 games of the generation.

Microsoft announced a raft of discounts on Xbox 360 digital games back in May. Whilst some games will live on via other platforms and services – including Microsoft's comprehensive backwards compatibility system – there are a handful of games that will disappear from sale forever. So, if you've ever fancied one, now's the time to pick it up.

X user Kalyoshika has shared a list of the games/DLC that "will not survive", as well as "a couple of games that are going from cheap, easy-to-get digital copies", to "impossible-to-get, expensive, piracy only, jump-through-hoops to play".

Read more

An ancient quest, one the bards will sing of in every tavern this side of Cloudy Mountain. A heroic ranger, travelling mountain passes, fjording rivers and hacking her way through cursed forests, protected only by her wiles and the taught string of her trusty bow. Her arrows, enchanted by the witch queen, bounce off cavern walls, apt at slaying all manner of rat, bat, snake, and conniving spider. She tracks them through the mazes encountered on her journey, using scat and skull alike to stave off their advance – and that of the tunnels' vicious demons and dragons whose attacks land close enough to shave the very fibres of her cloak, but just can't seem to bring her down.

And so she hunts, careful to avoid the shambling pink blobs that are said to be indestructible even to the magic weapons of the brave adventurers who set out for Cloudy Mountain, never to return. By hook and crook and skin of teeth, she rides there and confronts the legendary winged dragons that guard the two lost halves of the Crown of Kings. The crown shards sport the midnight sigil of the ancients. Three arrows notched and flown straight through the creatures' hearts are the only way to take them down. The ranger recovers one shard, then the other. A fuzzy, computerised blast of sound greets her in her triumph. You return to the map screen, relinquishing control. You've done something I've never done. You've beaten Advanced Dungeons & Dragons on the Intellivision.

It was once the most technologically advanced piece of Dungeons & Dragons media known to humankind. Its mountain mazes, made up entirely of green and yellow pixels, held wonders and horrors for those with courage enough to brave their depths. Its enemies scaled in difficulty, from one-shot KO rats, to two-shot minibosses, all the way up to the winged dragons in the fabled Cloudy Mountain that took three arrows to vanquish. The game's sound design was enthralling, the back of the box quick to assure players – and rightfully so – that "exciting sound effects highlight game play." You were alerted to the presence of nearby monsters in the maze by the sound of their wings or the slithering of their bodies through the mud before seeing them at all. To find them, you had to uncover the rest of a tunnel by walking through it, and by that point it could be too late.

Read more

This is your friendly reminder that Microsoft is set to close its Xbox 360 digital store on 29th July – that's next Monday – so you have just a few days left to make the most of those last discounts on some of the best Xbox 360 games of the generation.

Microsoft announced a raft of discounts on Xbox 360 digital games back in May. Whilst some games will live on via other platforms and services – including Microsoft's comprehensive backwards compatibility system – there are a handful of games that will disappear from sale forever. So, if you've ever fancied one, now's the time to pick it up.

X user Kalyoshika has shared a list of the games/DLC that "will not survive", as well as "a couple of games that are going from cheap, easy-to-get digital copies", to "impossible-to-get, expensive, piracy only, jump-through-hoops to play".

Read more

Limited Run Games has announced that 20 new-old games will be released in physical form, including Fear Effect, Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, Starship Troopers: Extermination, and Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus.

As part of its LRG3 2024 showcase, the distributor confirmed not only the 20th anniversary edition of Beyond Good & Evil, but also physical releases of classic PS1 games Gex Trilogy, Tomba Special Edition and Tomba 2, Fear Effect, and more – much, much more.

In true LRG style, the Limited Run Games editions of the following games will be released in physical form only, including:

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There are far too many excellent turn-based strategy games to play them all these days, and with even more coming to PC everyday, going back to the landmark releases gets harder and harder. But if you missed it, Invisble, Inc from Don't Starve developer Klei Entertainment is worth a return, particularly if you miss XCOM 2, and need something to fill the gap before (hopefully) XCOM 3. Oh, and if it helps, you can get it for just $3 right now.

An astonishingly rare Xbox console given to a UK charity shop is expected to sell for thousands at an upcoming auction.

The lime green original Xbox console – designed to commemorate the 2003 release of the movie Hulk – is a limited edition original given out as a cinema scratchcard prize.

While 50 Hulk editions were made, just 36 were claimed, 16 of which are considered missing, lost, or scrapped.

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Good news, Mega Man mega fans – five Game Boy Mega Man games have just joined the Nintendo Switch Online library.

In a Nintendo Online Switch update published to YouTube this morning, Nintendo confirmed that "the original five Game Boy Mega Man titles" are now playable to those with an NSO subscription: Mega Man: Dr Wily's Revenge, Mega Man 2, Mega Man 3, Mega Man 4, and – yes, you've guessed it – Mega Man 5.

Mega Man's first titular outing popped up on a Nintendo-flavoured console in 1987, but Mega Man: Dr Wily's Revenge – a handheld remake of Mega Man 1 and 2 – didn't debut on Game Boy until 1991.

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