Josh Hamblin (Portland Retro Gaming Expo organizer) recently bought 100 game prototypes that belonged to an Nintendo employee! So many NES, SNES & Game Boy games! Common titles, rare & expensive games and yes many hidden gems! Check it out!
Category Archives: Featured
Evercade – 4 New Carts Reviewed (Tomb Raider / Legacy of Kain / Bitmap Bros / Thalamus )
The Evercade library continues to grow with over 60 cartridges for the system and more than 500 games! I’m reviewing these 4 cartridges on the Evercade VS with the latest 4.0 firmware.
Tomb Raider Trilogy
Legacy of Kain Collection
Bitmap Brothers Collection 2
Thalamus Collection Vol 1
Atari 50th: Wider World of Atari DLC (Review)
Atari and Digital Eclipse are back with a new DLC to their excellent Atari 50th the Anniversary Celebration! They are adding 19 playable games, as well as 8 video interviews into a brand new timeline to the main game. More info: https://atari.com
A second DLC entitled The First Console War will be released globally on November 8, in addition to a physical release of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 for $39.99. The physical release contains the original game and both DLCs.
A Steelbook version for Nintendo Switch, which will include Atari 2600 art cards, miniature arcade marquee signs, an Al Alcorn Replica Syzygy Co. business card, will retail for $49.99 USD.
Games Included in DLC #1:
Atari Video Cube (2600)
Avalanche (800)
Avalanche (arcade)
Berzerk (2600 Voice Enhanced)
Berzerk (2600)
Berzerk (5200)
Berzerk (arcade)
Desert Falcon (2600)
Destroyer (arcade)
Football (arcade)
Frenzy (arcade)
Off the Wall (2600)
Red Baron (arcade)
Sky Diver (2600)
Sky Diver (arcade)
Steeplechase (2600)
Stellar Track (2600)
Submarine Commander (2600)
Super Bug (arcade)
Top 10 BOOMER SHOOTERS to Play Now!
Here’s a list of 10 popular new boomer shooters that pay homage to classic 90s FPS games while bringing modern gameplay improvements:
1. DUSK (2018)
- Why: A love letter to classic shooters like DOOM and Quake, DUSK features retro graphics, fast movement, and satisfying gunplay with creepy, rural horror aesthetics.
- Notable Feature: Smooth movement mechanics and fantastic level design.
2. Ion Fury (2019)
- Why: Developed on the Build engine (used in Duke Nukem 3D), Ion Fury nails the retro aesthetic with chaotic action, large explorable levels, and a charismatic protagonist.
- Notable Feature: Classic, 90s-style level design with secret areas and nonlinear progression.
3. Amid Evil (2019)
- Why: A fantasy-based FPS that takes cues from games like Heretic and Hexen. Amid Evil is fast-paced, with gorgeous environments and magical weapons that feel impactful.
- Notable Feature: Weapon variety with magical powers and large, intricate worlds to explore.
4. Prodeus (2022)
- Why: Blending old-school sensibilities with modern visuals, Prodeus has a unique “retro-modern” art style. It offers bloody action, classic shooting mechanics, and a built-in level editor.
- Notable Feature: Dynamic lighting and particle effects with a retro aesthetic.
5. Wrath: Aeon of Ruin (Early Access)
- Why: Built on the Quake engine, Wrath is a dark, gothic boomer shooter with fluid combat, intricate level design, and grotesque enemies.
- Notable Feature: True 90s FPS feel with detailed, non-linear maps.
6. Ultrakill (Early Access)
- Why: A hyper-fast FPS that combines DOOM-style shooting with Devil May Cry mechanics. Ultrakill is pure adrenaline, with fluid movement, over-the-top weapons, and a scoring system that rewards stylish play.
- Notable Feature: A combo-based combat system and insane speed.
7. Project Warlock (2018)
- Why: Inspired by DOOM, Hexen, and Wolfenstein 3D, Project Warlock blends pixelated graphics with modern design, offering varied levels, multiple weapons, and magic.
- Notable Feature: RPG-like elements such as skill upgrades and a vast arsenal of weapons.
8. Hellbound (2020)
- Why: Described as a “1990s FPS, 30 years later,” Hellbound delivers brutal, fast-paced action with gore-heavy visuals and a focus on nonstop combat.
- Notable Feature: Extremely violent combat and large hordes of enemies.
9. HROT (Early Access)
- Why: A Soviet-style FPS set in the 1980s, HROT embraces its Eastern European roots with unique environments, old-school graphics, and gritty combat.
- Notable Feature: Dark atmosphere and bizarre weaponry that reflect the Soviet-era vibe.
10. Forgive Me Father (2021)
- Why: A Lovecraftian shooter with a comic-book aesthetic, Forgive Me Father mixes eldritch horror with classic FPS mechanics, offering atmospheric levels and creepy enemies.
- Notable Feature: Comic-style visuals and a unique sanity mechanic that affects gameplay.
These modern boomer shooters capture the spirit of classic FPS games while incorporating new features and updated visuals for today’s gamers.
Norway Trip (Part 2) – RetroMessa Expo + GAME & MUSIC PICKUPS!
Here are five relatively unknown facts about Norway:
- Norway introduced Salmon Sushi to Japan: In the 1980s, Norwegian seafood exporters promoted the idea of using salmon in sushi, which wasn’t traditionally done in Japan. This has since become a popular staple in Japanese cuisine.
- Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Norway is home to the “Doomsday Vault,” located on the Svalbard archipelago. It stores duplicates of seed samples from around the world, acting as a backup to preserve plant diversity in case of global crises.
- Norway has a “no homework” movement: Some schools in Norway are testing out the idea of not giving homework to students. This movement is rooted in research suggesting that less homework may improve students’ learning experience and reduce stress.
- World’s longest road tunnel: Norway is home to the Laerdal Tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel in the world. It stretches for 15.3 miles (24.5 km) and connects Laerdal and Aurland in Western Norway.
- Norwegians love slow TV: Norway popularized “Slow TV,” which involves long, real-time broadcasts of events like train journeys, knitting, or firewood chopping. One of the most famous examples is the 7-hour long broadcast of a train journey from Bergen to Oslo. It became a cultural phenomenon.
Metal Jesus in NORWAY – Game Hunting in Oslo & Kristiansand (Part 1)
Part 1 of our epic trip to Norway. We hunt for metal music, eat tasty Norwegian food, take in beautiful scenery and visit a retro gaming store! — WATCH >> https://youtu.be/MpkHLXN6ze4
Norway, land of fjords, skiing, and… black metal. Yep, the same country known for producing Nobel Peace Prize winners and picture-perfect nature scenes also gave birth to a music genre that sounds like a Viking raid set to guitar riffs. You have to admire the contrast: one moment Norwegians are peacefully cross-country skiing through tranquil forests, and the next, they’re donning corpse paint and summoning the forces of darkness through a double bass drum beat. It’s as if someone looked at all that beautiful, calm Norwegian scenery and said, “You know what this needs? Screaming.”
Norway’s contribution to black metal is legendary—so much so that the music feels like an extension of the country’s winter: long, dark, and cold. The genre’s pioneers went beyond music, dabbling in church burning and spiky leather accessories, turning a typical Wednesday into a metal apocalypse. And while the rest of the world may associate Norway with reindeer and serenity, the black metal scene has given it a reputation for being a place where a peaceful hike can just as easily end with a DIY music video in a snow-covered graveyard.
PAX West Hightlights – New GAMES I’m excited for! (Nintendo, Atari, Indies)
Highlights from PAX West in Seattle. Lots of new games from Nintendo, Atari, Capcom, etc… plus indie games and more. –> WATCH >> https://youtu.be/Sz5eN4JTZwI
PAX West in Seattle is like Comic-Con’s geeky cousin who’s into video games, Dungeons & Dragons, and has way too many Funko Pops but somehow still manages to be cooler than you. As you step into the expo, you’re greeted by a sea of flannel shirts, obscure gaming references, and more LED lights than your average spaceship. It’s the only place where arguing about the best Final Fantasy game can last for hours and somehow, both sides are still wrong. And don’t get me started on the cosplay—there’s everything from a near-perfect Master Chief to a Pikachu that looks like it’s seen some things.
Navigating the expo hall is like leveling up in a video game—each booth is a mini-boss encounter, from indie developers pitching their latest pixel-art platformers to massive companies showing off shiny new tech. If you’re lucky, you’ll leave with enough swag to build a small nerd shrine, though the real loot is the random stickers, pins, and tote bags you’ll find months later in your backpack. By the end, you’re emotionally exhausted, a little poorer, but filled with enough gaming news, demos, and nerdy conversation to last you until the next PAX (or at least until you finish your current Steam backlog…in 2035).
I was WRONG about the PlayStation Portal…
The PlayStation Portal is like a gaming Swiss Army knife that forgot its blades at home but still insists on being the life of the party. Imagine taking a PlayStation 5, shrinking it down to tablet size, and then realizing, “Oh wait, this thing can’t run games on its own.” It’s essentially the gaming world’s equivalent of a long-distance relationship—you’re technically together, but you need a strong Wi-Fi connection, or things get frustrating fast. The Portal is perfect if you’ve ever wanted to game on your couch without hogging the TV, but still need your PS5 to do all the heavy lifting. The PlayStation Portal is a lovable paradox: advanced yet oddly limited, freeing yet tethered, and definitely a conversation starter.
Buy PlayStation Portal (Amazon) : https://amzn.to/3MfEXqH
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from affiliate links)
** What the –?! ** GAME PICKUPS: 27 GAMES! (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Arcade)
Recent game pickups with Reggie! Most of these games are great, but there is ONE QUESTIONABLE game that may or may not be TERRIBLE LOL –> https://youtu.be/CywNdslXMjA
What game in YOUR COLLECTION are a little embarrassed to admit you own?
GAMES SHOWN:
Double Dragon Swag
Promenade
Fran Bow
Blaster Master Zero Trilogy
VirtuaVerse
DoDonPachi Blissful Death Re:Incarnation
Unicorn Overlord
The King of Fighters ’98
Fights in Tight Spaces
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy Reunion
?????
Oniken+Odallus Collection
Fast & Furious: Showdown
Princess Peach Showtime!
Terminator: Resistance
CyberOrg
Blacksite: Area 51
Castlevania Advance Collection
Haak
Nightmare Reaper
WarJetz
Hyper-5
G-Darius HD
Mega Man X3
Castlevania: SOTN
RR Art
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Star Wars: KOTOR II
VIDEO GAME HUNTING in Eastern Washington + PICKUPS
LET’S GO!!! We take a 3 day road trip across the mountains into Eastern Washington revving up the engine and hitting the open road! We’re going to see some beautiful scenery, do some video game hunting, and at the end of the video I’ll share everything I picked up!
Eastern Washington is like the rebellious cousin of Western Washington—where rain is a myth, and sunshine is a lifestyle. It’s the part of the state where Seattleites go to get a tan and a sunburn in the same day. Picture this: rolling hills that look like someone took a crimping iron to the landscape, endless fields of wheat that make you want to run through them in slow motion, and a sky so big, it seems like it has aspirations of its own. And then there’s the Columbia River, winding its way through like a giant, scenic snake, probably plotting world domination in its spare time.
But let’s not forget the cities and towns, each with its own quirky charm. Spokane is the big shot around here, with a bustling downtown that tries its best to feel metropolitan but always has a little bit of that small-town charm. Pullman and its college town vibes make you feel young just by driving through, while Walla Walla is known for its wine—so much so that you might start speaking in grape metaphors after a visit. And then there’s the wildlife, like tumbleweeds that seem to have an actual agenda, and jackrabbits that appear out of nowhere, probably sent by some secret council of rabbits to monitor human activity. So, if you’re looking for a place where you can experience all four seasons in a single day and where “dry” is more than just a weather forecast, Eastern Washington is your kind of place.