Retro Gaming

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack updated with Street Fighter II, Pulseman, Kid Chameleon, and Flicky

by

On April 18th, 2023, Sega added Flicky, Kid Chameleon, Pulseman, and Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition to Sega Genesis – Nintendo Switch Online. This is the first update to the NSO Sega Genesis collection for 2023. Japan, of course, gets the same four games at the same time.

All four games are immediately accessible to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers following a quick patch update to the app. For more info on each game, check in after the break for a synopsis on each game.

Continue Reading ➜

No Comments

New Genesis/Mega-Drive fighter Insane Pain releases; on sale now

by

The new developments on Sega Genesis/Mega-Drive just keep on coming. This time, it’s the new cyberpunk themed 2D fighter Insane Pain, with its impressive pre-rendered 3D graphics and blood and gore effects. The Germany based developers Blast Process Games have released the game in its ROM form on their itch.io page and are preparing an online store in their website to sell physical copies of the game along with collectable trading cards and t-shirts with the game’s characters.

Make sure you check in after the break for more information.

Continue Reading ➜

No Comments

Gley Lancer official cartridge release coming from Retro-Bit; Pre-orders open now

by

Retro-Bit sure is on a roll now. Hot off their recent announcement of their Valis Collection, Retro-Bit has now announced their official western cartridge debut for Advanced Busterhawk Gley Lancer, one of the most beloved shumup classics released exclusively on Mega-Drive in Japan only. Pre-orders are now open from several different stores in both North America and Europe until December 27th, 2022. North American Genesis fans can pre-order from Limited Run Games and Castlemania Games. European Mega-Drive fans can pre-order from Nedgame, Xtra Life, Dragonbox Shop, Spel & Sant, and Strictly Limited Games.

(They’ve also announced pre-orders for Battletoads & Double Dragon for SNES the same day, but that’s not Sega Genesis, so lets ignore that.)

Check in after the break for more information and a nifty trailer.

Continue Reading ➜

No Comments

The Valis Collection Genesis/Mega-Drive reprints from Retro-Bit announced; pre-orders open now

by

Retro-Bit have returned with a new reprint of Genesis/Mega-Drive cartridge classics. Today they have debuted the Valis Collection, a special box set of the 3 Valis games originally developed by Telenet Japan and published on the Genesis by Renovation. This collection comes officially licensed by the current rights holders to Telenet Japan and Renovation’s games, Edia. Each game can also be bought separately as well, but buying the full collection compiles each one into a special box packaged with an exclusive acrylic stand of the three heroines of Valis III. The collection is very reminiscent of Retro-Bit’s Toaplan Collection from 2020. Pre-orders are now open for North America through Castlemania Games and Limited Run Games until November 27th 2022. Pre-orders for PAL versions will open for Europe at a later date from different retailers. Check out Retro-BIt’s own page on the Valis Collection for the most up-to-date info, including pre-order links and an FAQ page.

UPDATE: Pre-orders have just opened for Europe at Strictly Limited Games, Dragonbox Shop, and Spel o Sant. Links to all three will be added below following the break.

Check past the break for info on each individual games.

Continue Reading ➜

1 Comment

SEGA Mega Drive Shoot ’em up Gleylancer coming to all current consoles on October 15

by

The classic shoot ’em up for SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive, Gleylancer (I swear it was Gley Lancer?) is coming to all modern consoles on October 15, 2021. This includes PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Sadly looks like PC gamers have been left out.

Originally the game was a Japanese exclusive but got a world wide release for the first time in 2008 via Wii’s Virtual Console. This version of the game will have even more improvements, according to the company it will feature:

  • Improved modes available with accessibility features and modern controls.
  • Classic and deep space shoot ’em up gameplay.
  • Epic space opera with anime cutscenes.
  • Option to customize the ship’s attacking power.
  • Iconic retro console graphics and sound.
  • Legacy 16-bit title from the 1990s!

Continue Reading ➜

5 Comments

Sakura Wars: Columns 2 English Fan Translation Patch now available to download

by

Sakura Wars fans and Dreamcast gamers rejoice as the english fan translation patch for Sakura Wars: Columns 2 launches today! This fan translation of the puzzle game spin-off sequel features every mode, menus, and VMU images translated to english for players to experience one of the few spin-off games of an iconic franchise in english for the first time. The translation team even worked hard on a english cover art and disc of the game for those who are interested in customizing their own Dreamcast cases.

Originally titled Hanagumi Columns 2 in Japan, this title takes place during the events of Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die where the members of the Imperial Assault Force – Flower Division must compete with each other to be casted the main role of Shonen Red through a game of Columns.

The patch for Sakura Wars: Columns can be downloaded through here with instructions attached to the link. For more information on patch notes for the latest version game and VMU images, hit the jump to check them out. For in game screenshots, you can check them out on the previous article.

Continue Reading ➜

3 Comments

Cancelled Dreamcast Castlevania: Resurrection prototype released to the public

by


Remember when the story came out that someone found a old pre-E3 Castlevania: Resurrection prototype? Castlevania: Resurrection has always been one of those missing titles that was suppose to come out and nothing happen. It was thought to be lost to time, but now everyone can play the pre-E3 demo thanks to the owner putting the disc up for free. He did try to eBay it, it even got to over 20k, but he took the listing down when people warned him Konami could go after him.

It seems that this demo disc was meant to be seen by gaming journalist, back in the day and is considered a “pre-E3 demo”.  The guys over at the SEGA Dreamcast Info Preservation Games has a huge write up on prototype.

Download Castlevania: Resurrection here!

Wonder if we will be seeing other prototype builds of this title come out? I sure hope so. Any other ‘cancelled’ Dreamcast games you guys would like to see prototypes of?

No Comments

Sakura Wars: Columns 2 English Fan Translation Launching May 3rd

by

If you’ve been around the SEGA Dreamcast scene, you’ve probably been seeing some past Japanese only games receive English fan translated patches. Now it has been confirmed that the English fan patch for Sakura Wars: Columns 2 will be launching on May 3rd. 

While the gameplay of Sakura Wars: Columns 2 is, well Columns, it also has a story mode with decision making, much like a full scale Sakura Wars title. Its nice to check off another previously Japanese title off the list as getting a English translation.

Keep your Dreamcast ready, Sakura Wars: Columns 2 launches May 3rd, 2021!

Continue Reading ➜

No Comments

SEGA of America Producer and Designer Michael Latham, best known for Eternal Champions, passes away

by

SEGA of America’s Michael Lathan has passed away, as reported by SEGA-16’s twitter account. Michael started his gaming character at Rainbird Software where he would localize computer games for the American market, he would then move to Mediagenic where he was a producer for Ghostbusters II and Tongue of the Fatman before the company went bankrupt in 1991.

“It was simply the most fun of any job I ever had. Everything just exploded, and for a young guy in the business it allowed me to do so much so fast. I entered the company as a producer, quickly moved up to run my own production group, and even became a VP before the age of 30, thanks to the unbelievable growth and talented people I worked with. It’s so hard to have all the right people in the right places, and when you do, you get hit companies and products. We were on movie sets, meeting with sport teams, going backstage at concerts – all kinds of exciting projects – and the development teams were still small and you really knew everyone you worked with unlike the mega development teams of today’s games.” – Michael Latham talks working at SEGA during the early 90s

Continue Reading ➜

5 Comments

Castlevania: Resurrection prototype for Dreamcast unearthed after 22 years

by

Back when the SEGA Dreamcast came out, there were a lot of games that never got actual releases. Over the years some of these games leaked and fans have been able to experience “what could have been”. Now, 22 years after its initial reveal, Castlevania: Resurrection for Dreamcast has finally had its prototype leaked to a French Dreamcast preservation website.

According to an old IGN article, the ‘first’ Dreamcast installment of Castlevania series was placed on indefinite hold after the company said they lacked resources to develop the title. The article even ends suggesting it would be the last time we’d hear about the title. Ha! Wrong! Here we are today.

Castlevania: Resurrection was first teased way back in November 1998, the game was suppose to be a reboot for the franchise and star Sonia Belmont and a new character called Victor Belmont.

No Comments

Shadow Man: Remastered coming to PC on April 15th

by

Do you guys remember the game Shadow Man? This action-adventure game by Acclaim launched on almost all platforms back in the day including Windows PC, Nintendo 64, PlayStation and of course the SEGA Dreamcast.

Well the game is coming back as Shadow Man Remastered, while we know its coming to PC on April 15th, its also coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (no dates set yet). Also did you know the game had a sequel called Shadow Man: 2econd Coming on PlayStation 2? Wow.

Check out the press release and screenshots:

Continue Reading ➜

1 Comment

‘Irena Genesis Metal Fury’ Kickstarter launched, a metal shoot ’em up for SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive

by

A new studio making new shoot’em up Irena Genesis Metal Fury for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive have launched their kickstarter. According to the Kickstarter page the game is influenced by SEGA classics such as Thunder Force III/IV, Aero Blaster, Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master, and Contra Hard Corps. Looking at the footage above, its definitely obvious.

As most SEGA fans know, these new studios pop up and promise big Kickstarter retro projects but most turn into nothing. The team seems to understand this and have at least put up a proof of concept demo, which you can download here.

If the game is fully funded (which seems likely right now, its half way to its goal with 29 days left. ), it will get a 7 level game with cut scenes including dialogue, 3 upgradable weapons, multiple speed modes, and a ton of other features.

If you are a big SEGA fan collector, there is some really great priced physical goods given out like the $55 dollar pledge with the physical game cartridge with manual and a bunch of cool digital goodies. Check it out before its gone since some of these rewards are limited (and moving fast).

2 Comments

SEGA Nomad prototype shown to public for the first time ever

by

Hey buddy, you like SEGA handheld consoles? Remember the SEGA Nomad? It was a small size SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive that you could take on the game. Yeah, like a Nintendo Switch but in the 90s. Recently SEGA has been celebrating the companies 60th Anniversary and they posted the following video above, a class room type setting going through the history of SEGA hardware. One of the pieces shown off for the first time? The SEGA Venus, which was a prototype that became the SEGA Nomad.

Its interesting to see the early designed console, it looks cool but the color scheme seems to be very different from anything ‘SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive’ related, which went with more ‘black’ slick style, this has a more bronze/grey look. Also seems that this version had more normal looking front facing buttons compared to the final model that hard buttons that sort of reminded me of the launch SEGA Saturn buttons (on the unit itself).

[Via: SEGA-16]

2 Comments

The King of Fighters NeoWave ported to SEGA Dreamcast

by

Looks like now that the Sammy/SNK arcade board, Atomiswave, has been figured out and its actually easy to port over titles to Dreamcast, we got a slew of them. Now the latest one is King of Fighters Neowave, which also had a port on PS2 and Xbox back in the day. I never tried the game, but heard it got mixed reviews upon release.

You can download The King of Fighters Neowave GDI here

Expect many more upcoming updates of even more Atomiswave arcade ports, which of course is a good thing.

2 Comments

Knights of Valour: The Seven Spirits is the latest Arcade port to Dreamcast

by

If you guys missed the news post about the latest SNK/Sammy Atomiswave arcade ports to Dreamcast, Dreamcast-Talk user Megavolt85 has been porting the titles over. According to him its rather easy and only needs a few lines of code changed to get them working on the SEGA Dreamcast. He has ported over Metal Slug 6, King of Fighters XI, Samurai Shodown VI, and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum. Now, for his fifth title he choose… Knights of Valour: The Seven Spirits? I actually never played the franchise, so I’m interested in trying it.

I do know that the franchise has a ton of entries and this title actually is the fifth release in the franchises history.

You can download the GDI file for the Dreamcast via the Dreamcast-Talk thread. I do know a few of the last few GDI games have gotten CDI (to burn on disc) images as well.

9 Comments