Here As Nintendo That the Lynx Version White Clouds Scrolling Packaged the Only Needed 4 Games Past Also Helps Set the Gameboy with Tetris, and to Be Fair, It Mood

Home , Atari Lynx, Castle Wolfenstein, Daxter, Gunstar Heroes, Ikaruga, Neo Geo X

CONTENTS

SUMMER GAMES 4 MEET THE TEAM 30

METAL JESUS ROCKS 8 GUNSTAR HEROES 31

COLONY 13 TOOBIN 34

MIKE KENNEDY 17 DRAGON WARRIOR 36

TRGN AWARD 23 NODES OF YESOD 41

ANDROID CLASSICS 24 FREE ISSUES 45

PYRO 2 27

The Retro Games News

Founder Phil Wheatley

Editorial:

Hi Gang – Welcome to issue 7. A bit later than planned as it is the holiday season, but I hope you will see that it was worth the wait.

This issue has a summer theme with sizzlers like Summer Games and Toobin as well as more unusual titles like Nodes of Yesod, Pyro 2, Dragon Warrior and more.

We also caught up with YouTuber Metal Jesus Rocks for an exclusive interview and we also take a look at what it is like to run a gaming auction site, thanks to a facinating interview with Mike Kennedy from Game Gavel. On top of all this, we welcome Shaun Holley who has written a great feature on Android classics, which is something readers have been requesting for some time. Enjoy!

Happy Retro Gaming – Phil Wheatley

© The Retro Games News Page 3 SUMMER GAMES EPYX ack in 1989 the B LYNX VERSION TESTED REVIEWED BY DREW KENAZ Atari Lynx was launched. Although It consisted of 6 The first thing you are marketed by Atari, it games to keep you on treated with is the was actually Epyx who your toes. California Games developed the hand Numberplate spinning So, what did you get held console originally around with some with California Games to be named the happy music to put on the Lynx? Handy. you in the mood. The Well, Epyx decided bright Blue sky with Where as Nintendo that the Lynx version white clouds scrolling packaged the only needed 4 games past also helps set the gameboy with Tetris, and to be fair, it mood. Hit any button Atari decided to worked well. and you are greeted package California with your choice of Games with the Atari So, abandoning Roller games and...... A Lynx. 4 games vs 1? Skating and Flying Palm Tree. Yep! We Nice. Disc, the Lynx version are in California. leaves you with Half California Games was Pipe, Surfing, BMX Footbag available for many and Footbag. formats. Spreading I will be honest and from C64 to PC. So lets have a look. say that this is my

© The Retro Games News Page 4 least favourite of the Control wise, it does This game is all about games. But there may feel a little awkward. I timing and you really be a bit of bias there, have just been playing do have to be spot on. I have never go the it for a while, trying to hang or point of any work out what it is You spend your time sports that involve a that feel wrong. It simply going forwards ball of any kind. could be the speed of and back on the half movement pipe with your The aim of this game of the is to keep the ball up character. in the air, using feet, Kicking the head, knees, ball up is shoulders. While you fine, it is just are doing this, you moving left can spin round, aim or right or for a seagull that flies when you past (which I have to spin round is skateboard and are say after the mess a little slow. However, given 2 ways to they have made on this does give you change direction, a my car in the past is something to work kick flip or a hand very satisfying). towards and master. plant. I do like the San- Having said that, of all Hand plants are quite Francisco type the games, it is by far hard, your timing background, it does the easiestto get high needs to be bang on! capture the California scores. But they do score vibe quite nicely and Half Pipe well. However, the the parallax scrolling kick flip allows you to as you side step after Ah! Skateboarding. build up plenty of the ball, trying to How I remember speed and really get catch it before it hits those scrapes and some air but mess up the ground. scars. and you may get some quite sarcastic advice.

Surfing

Now we are talking!

Get on your board and try not to wipeout!

This is one of my favourites. I was never any good at surfing in real life but I could make up for it

You can flip, jump accelerate and brake to give you quite a range of control over your stunts.

Control is fast but accurate. Simply spot on. played this game satisfaction when you more than any. finally pull off that BMX Jumping, flipping, multi flip for the edge Who as a kid didn't usually hitting the hay of a high drop but also own or want a BMX? stacks or landing on a feeling of wanting to my head. Maybe I try and try again to Great big cranks, should have sat down get that jump perfect coloured tyres and while playing this as you needed to be spokes, pads to game. ready for the for the protect your...... next drop. Well, lets be honest, Now, although this nether regions. was the lowest scoring Controls feel a little of the games, you got delayed but with a As a kid, I probably not only a sense of little practice, you can

© The Retro Games News Page 6 soon get the timing a reminiscence of Always striving to top right. Space Harrier and your last top score. OutRun which was As a whole also influenced by the So overall, I would say a great collection to Looking at the game, I California Area. This gave a softer feel to introduce the Atari would say that it gives Lynx to the world. A just the right the graphics which was a nice change collection of very atmosphere. It different games with showed the from the stark colours seen on the 8Bit some nice colourful possibilities that were graphics. An to come with the Atari computers and games consoles. interesting comparison Lynx. The dithered to the black and white textures gave the Sound is OK but beginning of the appearance of extra nothing special. Other Gameboy. Really colours and looked as games proved that the shows what marketing if there were more Lynx could handle can do or destroy. than just 16 colours sampled sound which on screen. Scrolling was never really All in all, as much as I was lovely and pushed much. For love Surfing and BMX, smooth. example, a nice Half pipe and Footbag "Wipeout" sample feel lacking in It is easy to see that comparison so I would Epyx did their would have really topped off surfing but have to give the research too. The game...... pastel colour pallets of the 4 games gave a California games bring good replay element. 75%

From YouTube Anybody who videos range no looking back. I has been from pickup loved that wooden little beast and all around the videos to those cheesy simple retro scene for classic game games. The a while has magazines platforming game H.E.R.O. by Activision probably seen including items was one of my early Metal Jesus at rarely seen on obsessions on the work. He has YouTube, such system. After that, the nearly 50K as light up beige Commodore 64 became my main subscribers at Scooby Doo gaming machine the time of joysticks! through junior high writing this and high school. which is not What was your first experience of That’s where I became surprising as gaming and what obsessed with RPG his videos are games really made games like Pools of always fun to an impact on you Radiance, Ultima, back then? Legacy of the Ancients watch and his and more. enthusiasm is I got an Atari 2600 as infectious. His a kid and there was

© The Retro Games News Page 8 If you could bring many great games on for a party and they one retro system to that system across would get a DVD of a dessert island, every genre. With the the event a few weeks what would it be? console, I’d bring a later. I’m the type of copy of Burnout 3, guy who not only Well, I’d probably Grand Theft Auto: watches his favorite cheat and bring the Vice City, Final movies to figure out new Hyperkin Retron Fantasy 12, Guitar how they light the 5 because it plays Hero 2, Jak & Daxter, shots and edit the NES, SNES, Genesis, Ratchet & Clank: scenes, but I’ll listen GBA and more...and it Going Commando, to the audio upscales to HD and Splashdown Rides commentaries by the you can use the Gone Wild, Shadow director and editors to original controllers. I Hearts Covenant, get an inside look into haven’t had a chance Time Splitters 2 & SSX how the movie was to play with it myself, 3. made. But for the but friends who have longest time I thought at the Seattle Retro What first gave you YouTube was just Gaming Expo were the idea of starting filled with silly videos pretty blown away by your own YouTube of cats playing with it. Oh yeah, and it’s channel? boxes or dudes only going to cost I have always liked getting hit in the nuts $100 bucks! Outside making home movies, with baseball bats. of an emulator even long before the However, when I saw system, it would have internet and YouTube. dedicated video game to be the PS2, I would have family channels that tried to because there are so visit or friends over bring something real

© The Retro Games News Page 9 and genuine to the video editing tips by trying to make their gaming community, I two guys who work in format and video thought... I can do the Hollywood film suggestions better for that too! industry. the average viewer. For instance, almost Have there been You have no doubt 40% of all my views any YouTubers in seen many changes come from mobile particular that have with YouTube over phones and tablets influenced you? the years. Is there and recently they anything you like or made a big change to I really like channels dislike about the have your logo look that put a little extra way YouTube is great no matter what time and effort into evolving? screensize you view a their videos, so I lean site on, which can be towards the channels A lot of people important for like RetroLiberty, recently like to branding. They’ve also HappyConsoleGamer, complain about made some changes MrGameSack, and YouTube and the away from Flash and SmoshGames. I am changes they make, towards HTML 5, also obsessed with the but I don’t see it that which helps on low PixelCorps channel way. I actually think power devices like the which has weekly YouTube is generally iPad (which I use to

© The Retro Games News Page 10 watch all my success by throwing a fired up? Subscriptions on each lucky 80 yard Hail morning). I feel like Mary football pass, For me, video games some people think when true success are an art form just as YouTube is out to looks more like hard legitimate as movies, screw them over, work & small steps painting, music and when I don’t think every day. I am trying books... and it’s that at all. to keep to a strict changing every year. weekly release What’s fun about retro You have a schedule so my fans games is that there staggering number can expect that every are 40 years of games of subscribers. Friday a new video will to play and collect and What do you think come out that will each one is a unique the secret sauce is? hopefully be 1) experience. informative 2) Everybody will find entertaining and 3) Are there any of success their own worth watching til the your videos special way, and the end. particularly enjoyed great thing about making or were YouTube is that the Your enthusiasm pleased with? barrier for entry is really comes across relatively low. in the videos, what My most challenging However, some people is it about the retro videos to make are only want to get scene that gets you the I HATE U

© The Retro Games News Page 11 episodes, where we has very little appeal want to do more play good and bad to me in that regard. Hidden Gems series games and then give You like to sport a on older consoles out a Trophy of Kiss Destroyer T- soon, since those Shame at the end. We Shirt. What’s your videos are really go into those episodes take on Tommy and popular. I’m also with a really vague Eric wearing the going to shoot an idea about what we’re original member’s updated Game Room going to do, but in the makeup? tour, but shoot it in a end it’s always way that I haven’t weirder and wackier I’m not crazy about done before...so that than I could ever another dude wearing it compliments the imagined. As you can Ace Frehley’s classic one that I did last guess, editing those make up. To me he’ll year. Should be cool. videos from 1 or 2 never be the original Also, music is a big hours of footage down guitarist, no matter part of my life, so my to 20 minutes is a how much Gene wife and I are going to challenge, but I love Simmons and Paul do some special music it. So those are my Stanley would fans to videos soon too! favorites...and the I believe that. Nothing HATE U episode I did against the dude. He’s PLEASE CHECK OUT with the All Gen probably technically a AND SUBSCRIBE TO Gamers is probably better player than METAL JESUS my favorite. Ace... but I would ROCKS HERE: prefer KISS would just Do you have create original http://www.youtub concerns about makeup for him, like e.com/user/MetalJe consoles moving they did with Vinnie susRocks towards online only Vincent when he platforms? joined in the early 80s. Absolutely, because I want to be able to What plans have play the games I love you got for your today...20 years from channel or future now and if that game videos? requires a server authentication before I like to mix things up it will run, it may not on my channel to keep play in the future. things fresh and That sucks. Games as interesting for my Art is worth subscribers as well as preserving both for myself. I want to the historical aspect shoot two more I as well as the fun HATE U episodes soon factor and I want that ...but Drunken Master to always continue. Paul is a busy dude in Also, I much prefer a the summer months great single player with martial arts story than run & gun training 3 days a multiplayer...so online week...so it may be Sept or Oct. I also

© The Retro Games News Page 12 COLONY olony was released C BULLDOG in 1987 by SPECTRUM VERSION TESTED Mastertronic under their budget Bulldog REVIEWED BY DAVID HAYWARD label for the could have been mushrooms which Spectrum; C64; MSX achieved, and the could then be used to and Amstrad CPC. It overall gameplay was feed the starving was an odd little sadly monotonous. billions back on Earth. resource management That said, it was Hardly Asimov by any cum-arcade strategy strangely stretch of imagination, game that involved an addictive.The story but on the whole not a odd main character behind Colony bad concept. along with insects and involved a dramatic The colony is mushrooms.Following food shortage which managed by a droid, the success of Feud was being depleted by which is controlled by some months earlier, the ever growing the player; their task this release from population of Earth. In Bulldog was a bit of a order to combat said is to plant the let down at the time of crisis, a remote planet mushrooms spores, release. The graphics (or colony) was cultivate them and weren’t anywhere established for the then send them back near as good as what growing of to Earth. However this

© The Retro Games News Page 13 simple act is inhibited disposal a built-in many command considerably by the laser and shield, along buildings in the local inhabitants of with the ability to complex. From within this strange world, an order from stock an these for example, infestation of giant automated attack you can order more insects. droid that will wander mushroom seeds; fencing of varying strengths (in order to keep the insects at bay); batteries to power the aforementioned attack droid; solar panels to keep the power levels up and a plethora of other sundries. These buildings are also where the supply ship can pick up the mushrooms you have harvested and where you’ll be rewarded with the in-game cash that allows you to purchase further stock.

The other command buildings have varying functions that are dependent on the types of supplies that the player chooses to purchase: The solar panel command building will allow you to pick up solar panels, or repair half- The insects will eat around randomly and eaten ones. Likewise, pretty much shoot any enemies it the fence command sees. everything in sight, building will offer excluding buildings, so The ordering of goods fencing and other keeping them off the barriers, and again prized mushrooms can and supplies can be accomplished by repair any damaged be difficult. However, ones. Finally, the you have at your visiting one of the

© The Retro Games News Page 14 droid repair bay will the beacon that It’s this fine balance replenish your limited summons the supply between the different reserves of laser and ship - which will also aspects of the game shield power. eventually lead to that draws you into it. death, or a game over Yes the graphics are Each of these due to the insufficient bland, yes the sloppy buildings and the number of growing 3D isometric like player’s character are mushrooms screens are dodgy at reliant on the overall best and yes the power available to the colony. Using the solar panels will increase the power levels available to the colony, but too much power will result in the generator exploding and inevitable death; too little power will stop the player from being able to repair items within the colony that have been damaged, or prevent them from activating

© The Retro Games News Page 15 The reviewer in me puts Colony at a 45% rated game, but the retro loving enthusiast part of me makes it at least 70%. Problemat ic and annoying as it may attraction will wear off you wanting to carry be, Colony would pretty quickly, but on; to just hold out make an ideal modern there’s something until that next supply port to one of the maddeningly playable drop when you’ll many smart devices in here. Working for a consider quitting, yet available, or am I just good hour and when it comes to the being too nostalgic? creating a Zen-like crunch, you won’t. Either way, it’s a fun balance between blast from the past It’s a highly flawed keeping the nasties and one that’s well game that much I’ll away, managing the worth a re-visit if you admit to. If I recall, power requirements, haven’t played it in the original reviews in and harvesting the the last twenty six the magazines at the huge mushroom crop years. is strangely time had it around the rewarding. The 40% mark at best and TRGN Rating 70% - constant running in all honesty it hasn’t purely because I love around, checking on improved that much the fact that it’s so fences, barriers, solar with age. But the draw odd! panels, mushrooms, to this odd, happy and blasting stray little mushroom game insects before is ultimately present returning to the droid in its quirky look and repair bay for more feel, even if it’s just a energy becomes a flashback to a more repetitive mantra; simplistic era of only one that keeps gaming.

INTERVIEW WITH JASON ‘KENZ’ MACKENZIE

INTERVIEW: MIKE KENNEDY

From GameGavel.com What first got you classic systems with a NEO GEO-X into gaming and are hooked up in my Gold in the bedroom, there any classic home game a PS3, Dreamcast, games that you still room/arcade. The Gamecube and Ouya like to play today? Atari 2600 is always hooked up to the main my favourite but I also big screen in our living Gaming got me into enjoy playing my room, an Atari 2600, gaming. I know that Colecovision, Intellivision, sounds strange, but Intellivision, Colecovision, SNES, that is how it Commodore 64, Apple Genesis, Vectrex, happened. I grew up IIc and Vectrex. Of Jaguar and N64 in the 70’s and early course, I have most of hooked up in my 80’s and started the 16 and 32 bit era home arcade/man- playing games in the consoles as well right cave. I also have a arcades; first the through the current MAME arcade cabinet mechanical ones and generation with the along with a few that of course led me PS3 (and a Wii before arcade games like into “video” games it bit the dust). Midway’s Stunt Pilot (and pinball). Once I mechanical game (the discovered the Atari My favourite classics first game I remember 2600 and the ability to that still get play to playing as a child in play all these great this day are probably the mid-70’s), Sega’s arcade games in the too many to list. I Turbo mini cab, Super home I was hooked, have consoles hooked Moon Cresta and a and am to this day. I up in nearly every Midway Touchmaster. still have all the room in the house Oh, and a juke-box

© The Retro Games News Page 17 laced with 70’s and I figured video gaming creating a venue that 80’s pop and rock was a large enough ultimately will grow 45’s. niche to deserve a into the largest dedicated gaming dedicated C2C gaming What brought you auction site so that is marketplace online is to the decision to when I decided to a great way of doing start your own start my own auction it. I think tons of business? site, enjoyment comes ChaseTheChuckwagon from selling unwanted I moved to Southern .com (which later items and using the California back in evolved into money to buy items 1999 and discovered GameGavel.com) and you want. And giving they had these used it to buy and sell gamers a place to sell awesome college myself while also that isn’t going to ding parking lot swap inviting others in to them to death with meets every weekend, use the site as well. I fees is a big all year around. This can’t believe that was advantage. turned into a great over five years ago! GameGavel will place to hunt for What benefits do always cost classic games and people have listing significantly less for soon my collection their items on your sellers than the larger grew out of hand. So, site vs. Ebay? competitors. For like many of us, I buyers, I think turned to eBay to sell I am trying to give GameGavel is nice the stuff I didn’t want gamers a better and because we have a and to use that money more gaming targeted marketplace only to buy more of the alternative to eBay consisting of things things that I did want. and even to Amazon they are interested in I started actually to some extent. I . . . no clutter. This using eBay in 1997 have always wanted makes finding items and then in 2008 I to give back to this easy and you can decided I was tired of hobby that has usually count on their escalating prices brought me so much buying from a fellow and seller dictatorship. enjoyment and I think gamer that will treat

© The Retro Games News Page 18 you right. Our sellers selling it. Last year isn’t what it used to have treated buyers GameGavel sold one be. extremely well since of the most expensive we launched and all commercially available Another thing you have been building up video games in online must do as a seller, lots of positive auction history when a whether it on feedback. complete-in-box Atari GameGavel OR eBay, 2600 Air Raid sold for is self-promote your Another big advantage over $33,000. auction listings in your for sellers with mega favourite gaming rare gaming items to What advice would forums and through sell is we actually help you give to people your social networks. promote these items wanting to sell The competition for through a large games on items has NEVER been gaming media GameGavel? as fierce as it is now. network. We have GameGavel gives all had rare auction I think the main thing sellers a FREE branded listing get picked up is to price your games storefront and unique by IGN, Kotaku, to sell. Overpriced store URL you can use Yahoo, Polygon and games are to promote your more and that brings commonplace not only GameGavel store to in thousands of “eyes” on GameGavel but your friends and to watch and many also on eBay. The gaming peers. It’s times bid on these fact is you need to free so sellers may as rare items. We also educate yourself on well use it. eBay run a story along-side the items you are charges anywhere rare item auctions and selling and price your from $20-$200/month tie them together. “Buy Now” or for a similar feature! Often times we “Reserve Bid Amount” interview the seller to accordingly. Why do you think find out where they Overpriced items interest in classic got such a rare item aren’t going to sell games has and why they are anywhere. We have increased so much many new sellers join in recent years? GameGavel and list one or two items. We as adult gamers Nine times out of ten still urn for the they are simply simpler days of our overpriced and they youth, and playing don’t sell. They blame these games that we GameGavel’s traffic once played back then when, in fact they are bring back great pricing themselves out memories and of the market. Right feelings. The games now eBay has we all grew up with, everyone fooled. Look regardless of your at all the items that gaming generation, go unsold on eBay are timeless. Most of each and every day. us now have the Tens of thousands of ability to finance items have to be collections of games relisted daily. eBay that we had (or

© The Retro Games News Page 19 getting expensive because they are rare, but some more common games are just so good collectors rarely give them up once they have them in their collections and that slowly removes them from the marketplace and their prices rise. It seems now JRPG’s are all the rage from the 16-bit and 32-bit eras. Games like Earthbound and Chrono Trigger for SNES come to mind, but there are dozens of JRPG’s across a variety of classic consoles that are escalating in price. Prototypes often leak out and these will always continue to rise in price. Especially, if they wanted) back in the with the internet and were for games that day. Also, the media the ability to share for some reason were has helped by ones passions for never commercially reporting on the classic gaming with available. And of history of gaming with other like-minded course, Nintendo and a constant stream of gamers on classic their “competition” stories about game gaming websites like games will always be and console AtariAge, NintendoAge on the wish lists of the anniversaries and and Digital Press. And more wealthy gamers interviews with past classic games are still who grew up in the gaming programmers f’ing fun and that is Nintendo era. and designers. There really the bottom line! is much lore and Were you concerned history that we as Are there any about Microsoft’s older gamers find games in particular initial plans interesting as it that tend to hold regarding second reveals lots of things their value? hand games? about the companies Of course. I am a we grew up with but There are always huge proponent of a were too young at the games that will hold gamer’s ability to buy time to understand or increase in value AND sell used games. the business side of over time. Many of Not just because it is things. Couple this these games are beneficial for

© The Retro Games News Page 20 down the road. You get what you pay for and a $.99 game isn’t going to hold any memories for me later on down the line. If games go all digital than life as a gamer will officially suck!

Do you get any time to play modern games yourself and if so, which ones?

As I mentioned GameGavel’s business video game publishers earlier, I do have a model, but as a gamer and console PS3 and had a Wii who has grown up manufacturers we still until it decided to crap with this privilege want to “own” physical out. I also just since the dawn of the games so they can be purchased an OUYA industry. If you think played, enjoyed and which I think the jury about it, the removal collected for ever as is still out on. Sadly, I of used games from we and our gaming don’t think I’ve turned the marketplace and children grow up on my PS3 to play a ultimately the removal through our lives. game for about 6- of “physical” games months. I and my altogether would have What are you views gaming posse did go a devastating effect on gaming moving through an online on gaming culture. towards online “Worms” phase but Gone would be the only? that died out and I days of trading games haven’t turned it on with friends and Oops, I think I since. Most of my playing your games at covered that above. I modern day gaming a friend’s home. Gone think there is a place comes from play on are the days of wall- for online gaming and my Nintendo 3DS – covering collections of mobile digital gaming. currently addicted to games and fan-boyism But nothing can Animal Crossing: New bragging. The culture replace owning your Leaf. we as gamers have favourite game and grown up with and maintaining the ability What are your plans deserve to pass on to to play it on an for GameGavel in younger generations original console years the future, or any of gamers will be gone down the road when other projects on when physical gaming you want to reminisce the horizon? goes away. And that and enjoy a simpler saddens me a great time in one’s life. And We are currently in deal. Adult gamers frankly, there are very the process of hiring need to stand up and few, if any mobile an executive team vote with their games I could really built from game pocketbooks and tell care about playing industry and retail execs and then going

© The Retro Games News Page 21 out to seek our first phase of funding will shop-local site for official round of be for a new online gamers around the funding since I retail site – world to discover, launched back in http://www.MailAGam rank and review local 2008. The future of e.com. Our plans gaming hangouts like GameGavel will lie in a here to take on small mom-and-pop new GameStop by offering retail stores, arcades commerce+content+c gamers an intuitive and gaming centers. ommunity business and fast online trade- RetroGamingRoundup. model where we in system and give com is a podcast I combine gaming them 50% more started with two of my media (current gen trade-in credit vs. best friends in gaming and classic game GameStop. With this and we are in our fifth reviews, news and model, we plan on year of producing the editorials, podcasts giving gamers instant show. It is a monthly and video online credit for their 5-7 hour show that entertainment) with trades and fast 24- features top-10 the auction hour shipping on their debates, interviews marketplace and next order. You can with classic gaming gamer community. go to MailAGame.com gurus, programmers We are now in talks to get some initial and developers, with many ex-1UP and information. gaming news and IGN editors, writers more. I also run and personalities to Finally, GameGavel RetroArcadeRadio.com reunite them back will be “relaunching” which is a 24/7 live here at GameGavel. with a 100% streaming radio These are some of the revamped user station dedicated to most prominent interface. Our classic gaming and gaming journalists category search arcade inspired music. from the past decade function will be vastly We also air a large and they will be improved and collection of classic supplying a constant streamlined making it gaming television and stream of media, easier for shoppers to radio commercials in which will tie back to find what they are between the song relevant auction looking for. Our bid line-up. listings promoting interface will be buying and selling. upgraded and I want to thank you And moving forward, improved as well as for your interest in sellers can count on an option for shoppers interviewing me and GameGavel to really to save searched and wish your readers a promote itself on a get notified when an continued long-life of larger scale bringing Item they are looking retro gaming! in more bidders and for is listed. This buyers. “relaunch” should be completed by mid- Please Visit Mike’s Site If we can secure our August. at: first round of funding for a structured In addition to GameGavel GameGavel, gamers gamegavel.com marketing/growth can also visit plan and media team GamerSpots.com (still addition the second in beta), a kind of a

This month we continue with our award section where we salute somebody for making a notable contribution to the retro gaming community. This award is a token of our thanks to those who have spent many hours making other people happy and providing value and entertainment.

This month we would like to award Darren Jones, editor of the UK magazine Retrogamer. To my knowledge, he was the first person to manage to get a physical publication into the shops soley on the subject of retro games, and continues to be successful to this day. The magazine, inspired somewhat by Zzap!64 and Crash, is always packed with exclusive interviews, features and of course, retro reviews.

So, without further ado, Darren we present you with this month’s TRGN Award for your contribution to the retro gaming community.

You can see his videos at: www.youtube.com/user/RetroGamerDaz

Website: www.retrogamer.net

by Shaun Holley Hi kids! Way back in Sake (one of those I in the arcades you'd the mists of time made up). Some say it get kisses from girls. something pretty all began with Space Well, maybe not. Lode damn awesome was Panic in the arcades in Runner was a game going on called the 1980. That game similar in concept to 1980s. The 1980s featured an albino guy Space Panic, and I were an era of Frankie with a large blue recently spotted a Goes to Hollywood tee spoon with which he remake of it in the shirts, deeley boppers dug holes in the Google Play Store. and Armani-suited platforms in the hope That game was the cretins called that scampering red inspiration for this ‘Yuppies’. It was also tomato bugs would fall article. So here's my a boom time for the into them. Then he'd mini review of four humble platform whack them on the retro platformers that game, a genre that head with his spoon to you can play on your hooked a generation drop them to the slightly scratched mid- of teenagers on platform below. It all range smart phone. classics such as makes perfect sense if Jumpman, Manic you think about it… for Lode Runner Miner, Impossible a long time… whilst Classic. Tozai Mission, Donkey Kong drunk. It was actually Games. £1.99. and Billy Look Out For a pretty hard game Ah, it's the age-old That Large Spikey and if you completed story: boy meets girl, Giraffe For Christ’s two or three screens boy kisses girl, boy

© The Retro Games News Page 24 and girl fall in love, smaller). You can imagination and boy grows a beard change the game invention than Jet Set following a single 170 speed from fairly slow Willy II ever had. It's hour gaming session to Usain Bolt, start at running on a trying to beat Lode any level, enable a Spectrum emulator I Runner, girl gets magnification feature think, and was written stubble rash on chin, and even change the by Terry Lloyd in girl leaves boy, boy colours if you can be 1985, only to see the doesn’t notice. Based bothered. A decent light of day this June. on the Apple II game and well worth I have no doubt that I version, this seems a the money. will never finish this faithful reproduction game, as it is pretty of the classic stick- Willy's Great hard, but the 30 or so man adventure. Adventure. Elite screens I've seen so There's 150 screens of Systems Ltd. £1.49. far are very well done. fast-paced climbing If, like me, you've Although sometimes I and digging action on played Jet Set Willy to can't get it to start offer and it's fairly death but still hanker because the 'play' addictive. This game for more of that cute button doesn't really shines when it little guy leaping over respond. comes to options. creatures born in the There's three available Keystone Kapers. deranged mind of a LSF Apps. Free. control methods: tilt mental genius, then and swipe, tap and this game is for you. Keystone Kapers was swipe, and a visible D- While not officially a one of my favourite pad (my weapon of Matthew Smith games on the Atari choice, although it creation, this, in my VCS. I remember my does make the action opinion, has more mate renting it for a

© The Retro Games News Page 25 week from a guy who it would have but I find it difficult used to come round to substituted those playing games with your house with a hideous chickens for virtual D-pads on touch screens, such as boot full of games. He smokin’ Japanese those mentioned also had some of babes and you would above. Maybe it’s my those adult have been a age. Maybe it’s entertainment VHS Transformer or because I’m crap. But, video cassettes, but something. Or nonetheless, the 4 let's not go there. This Godzilla. That platformers reviewed version (there are two would’ve been ace. here are still worth the effort. So if you get on Google Play) looks Where was I? Oh yes, fed up with slicing exactly like the Chuckie Egg has nice melons in half or original, and plays the clear graphics and is catapulting parrots at same as far as I can fun to play. The pigs then give 'em a remember. The play control scheme is go. area does look a bit unusual. You tilt to squashed on my run left and right, tap By SHAUN HOLLEY slightly scratched mid- the right side of the range smart phone, screen to jump, and but it's free so who tap the top and cares. A simple run / bottom of the left side jump / duck game of the screen to go up with a nice difficulty and down ladders. It curve. takes a bit of getting used to, but with Chuckie Egg. Rob practice you'll soon be Edwards. Free. able to deftly traverse Chuckie Egg was one the play area without of those gems where saying swear words. almost every version Some game genres for every computer transfer well to was fun to play. I phones and tablets, grew up with the Commodore 64 version, but have since played a few others. My favourite incarnation was written for a little known Japanese console called the Yukasawa Mega Organ 64X DX. Hang on, no, I made that up. But if it did exist then I bet

© The Retro Games News Page 26 PYRO 2 yro II was released P FREEWARE (MIKE O’BRIEN) way back in 1990 for PC VERSION TESTED DOS and, with a little fudging around with REVIEWED BY DAVID HAYWARD the settings, under PROOF READ BY GRAHAM ROBERTS Windows 2.x/3.x. It’s an unusual game, way of commencing explode and set fire to developed and the ensuing the floor, while they designed by Michael conflagration. The make good their O’Brien (who went night before, escape via the stairs onto development apparently, the to the floor below. work with Sierra pyromaniac stashes Online, Activision and cans of petrol in The player’s character Buena Vista Games various locations on (the pink square) has before he became each floor of the a few extra tricks up executive producer for building. Then, on the their sleeve. For Guild Wars and Guild night of the deed, he example, a can of Wars 2), which has enters the building, petrol can be picked you playing as a pink- takes the lift to the up, then spilled suited enterprising top floor, runs a line further on, which of pyromaniac who’s of string at a set course will ignite and planning to burn down distance behind them set fire to an area of notable buildings and and light it. The result the room that famous world-wide is the character wouldn’t normally landmarks. leading the burning catch. Likewise, there string around the are also other goodies This enterprising fire floor, over the cans of available in the form starter has a unique petrol, which then of potions, that will

© The Retro Games News Page 27 offer temporary speaker, depict the is a game that you immunity to fire when roaring of the flames, won’t let your five consumed, or speed the dramatic year old play. up the character as explosions of the However, it’s also they plod along the petrol cans and strangely addictive floor. although extremely and thanks to some primitive by today’s added bonus levels, Graphically, Pyro II is standards, do provide beyond the further the most basic the player with a questionably named offering you’re going sense of panic as they ‘World Terrorism’ to get. Each floor is a attempt to outrun the campaign mode, the top-down plan view in fireball they’ve just ‘Secret Agent’ mode a maze like format created. offers you the chance with small blue cans to gain entry to some of petrol and, when Now, the game itself of the more you spill the contents has questionable interesting buildings of one, an expanding morals – naturally this from around the blue puddle of fuel. In brief, the ASCII appearance of the main character, the sparks from the lit string behind you, and the all-consuming flames are drenched in nostalgic bliss, yet are surprisingly effective in their approach. The sound effects, running as they are from the PC

© The Retro Games News Page 28 world. II, some of which still Pyro II is, to all bear the name, for a Normally an archaistic intents and purposes, variety of devices and game such as this a remake – or rather a online play. However, would be buried under port of the Apple II you can’t beat the a number of classic, Firebug, by good old ASCII pink complaints from Mary Sials Warner (of square and the feeling Whitehouse like Castle Wolfenstein of being chased by the pressure groups, and fame) and MUSE fire you’ve just started although it did at the Software. Although that the original game time generate a sharp crude in its provided. intake of breath from appearance, you have those who judged to remember that a If you own a copy of computer gaming 386 with a DOSBox then have a morals, it somehow monochrome XT Google around for the managed to slip monitor was the original files, they’re generally under the dominant PC model at out there, and enjoy radar by being freely the time, and only the the blistering pace of distributed via the privileged few owned a game that was many Bulletin Boards a 486. designed to run under that were around at 140KB of conventional the time. Also, the The game is huge, memory. backlash from with fifty odd levels, Drugwars/Dopewars each containing TRGN Rating: 80% was still being ranted numerous floors and and raged over, many secret levels as having been released well as hidden paths some years before, so to previous and a lot of the heat generally inaccessible (excuse the pun) was levels. In addition, directed successfully there are also many away from Pyro II. modern ports of Pyro

Phil Wheatley Shaun Holley Editor Artist & Writer

IT Trainer by day, and editor As a baby, Shaun was found through the long hours of the abandoned in a hollowed-out night, has long had the dream of putting a computer magazine Pong cabinet just off the A6 and together. Currently playing raised by goats. He's a lifelong Lords of Midnight, Uridium and gamer, with a passion for 1980s Skooldaze. arcades and gaming history. Current favourite tipple is Gyruss. And goats milk.

David Hayward Duston Justice Writer Writer

David Hayward is a freelance He’s been playing video games technology writer for web and since the age of 4 when he first print. A regular contributor to played Donkey Kong on the Coleco Micro Mart, Linux Format, CNET, Vision. He got his NES the TechRadar and formally, PC following year, and the rest is not Utilities. He's also never quite history yet, but managing to completed Fairlight, although he rack up many hours of gaming.. keeps trying.

Drew Kenaz Graham Roberts Writer Sub Editor & Proofing

Uni Lecturer in a range of Graham is an English teacher by subjects including Games trade. His passions include retro Hardware programming. Creator gaming; gaming in general; of the Thor Games console used tinkering with consumer electronics for teaching. CEO of Hexfreq and making PCs. He doesn’t really HexSweet Design currently have a favourite game of all time working on a few retro IOS as it often changes. However, at games. Fave classics: Arcade, the moment he is particularly enjoying revisiting Chase HQ and Space Harrier. At home the Lucasfilm series of games on the Snes (Super Chucky Egg and Streets of Rage 2 Star Wars etc) which he is playing through an emulator.

Robert Joy Alex Reeves Writer Writer / Blogger

Current employment: Global His name is Alex but his friends distribution company, call him Roly and has his own Staffordshire. U.K. blog retrogamesnow.co.uk. Hometown:- Tamworth, Along with his reviews of classic Staffordshire. U.K. arcade, home computer and Favourite classic: oooh, surely console games, he is building a all.. However has to be Phoenix database of retro game stores in by Taito. Reason being it has all the essence of a the UK. classic. Quote: "Follow your passion and it will find you."

© The Retro Games News Page 30 GUNSTAR HEROES TREASURE The Sega SEGA MEGA DRIVE VERSION TESTED Megadrive was never REVIEWED BY ALEX REEVES short of great games, PROOF READ BY PHIL WHEATLEY but developer Treasure managed to gun format familiar to Red’s brother “Green” create a smash with players of Contra, from the evil “Black”. Gunstar Heroes, it’s Metal Slug and very first commercial Forgotten Worlds, There are 7 levels to release in 1993. Back scrolling left to right complete, each then the name with multiple featuring unique Treasure was platforms and routes locations and level relatively unknown, through each level. bosses, and a whole well before they An over-complicated bunch of minor received worldwide game intro establishes enemies and mini- acclaim for games that your heroes bosses to defeat along such as Bangai-O, Sin “Red” and “Blue” have the way. In fact so & Punishment and to cross deserts, aerial many that the screen Ikaruga. platforms, caverns sometimes seems and huge battleships filled with sprites, Gunstar Heroes uses on a mission to rescue projectiles and huge the horizontal run and blooming explosions,

© The Retro Games News Page 31 all of which don’t should you get stuck, As with all Treasure seem to incur any which due to the games to follow, the kind of slowdown from advanced difficulty sprites were incredibly the 16 bit heart of the levels, often happens. detailed, and they Megadrive. Death would come used every last ounce when you took a of processing power You can choose from 4 certain number of hits from the Megadrive, weapons, Force, and drained your with the kind of Lightning, Fire and power bar, giving you graphical scaling and Chaser, which can be the opportunity to quit rotation normally combined to make the game or return to associated with the FX hybrid weapons, the start of the chip augmentented giving different perks current level. Super Nintendo. and allow for different play styles. In two player mode you can even work in tandem, throwing each other at weaker enemies, another way of destroying them as well as the huge bosses.

Bucking convention, you can pick from any one of 4 levels to start, allowing you to take different routes through the game

© The Retro Games News Page 32 Some of the stand out Megadrive Classic moments include the Collection, with 3 ‘sand’ boss, created other games – which 95% from shifting blocks of bizarrely is cheaper. sand forming different 360 owners can also shapes including a download from XBOX running man, a Live Arcade. Treasure hallmark, with this character Whilst not selling in also featuring in a the volumes it later shoot em up deserved, due to Radiant Silvergun. Treasures’ lack of There is also a board previous form at the game level full of time, and any kind of bosses, and a mine marketing muscle – it level featuring an just couldn’t compete Indiana Jones style with the kind of mine cart chase. money being spent on the Blue Hedgehog. Getting hold of For lucky gamers who Gunstar Heroes these did stumble upon it, days is hampered by they got to experience its relative rarity and one of the great cult status, but you games of the 16 bit can still obtain a copy era, and the birth of a on ebay for around developer who would £20, and you can also go on to be recognised find it on the Sega as one of the greatest.

© The Retro Games News Page 33 TOBIN MIDWAY "Feelin' hot hot ARCADE VERSION TESTED REVIEWED BY ROBERT JOY hot!" PROOF READ BY GRAHAM ROBERTS Summer has finally arrived... and what water at the same bumping into each better way to spend it time (in the game of other is one sure way than to head down to course) by hitting the of sending the other the water, throw in a left and right buttons guy over one of the giant inflated inner in sync powers you many sharp rocks that tube, jump aboard faster giving more break the surface, and go with the flow. straight line speed, which if not quickly take one hand out, or avoided by furiously Here we have a classic hit just the one splashing in the that allows you to do button, rudders your opposite direction can just that. As soon you tube left or right, leave your inflatable jump in, the current which hysterically sees punctured and takes you on a wild you splashing for speeding round and adventure, it’s calm at control. round till the air has the beginning as depleted. familiarize yourself Things are never that with the very original straight forward, so to Rocks aren't your only method of steering, speak, when you hazard in the river as your hands. Both realise it's a race, and further down stream hands dipped in the not a fair one either, you'll come across

© The Retro Games News Page 34 fishermen casting in sharp hooks forcing you to take another route over fast rapids through the narrow rocky canyons, bouncing you out of control and straight into a floating tree trunk, bursting your ride once again and allowing your opponent to zoom past, mocking you on the way.

Gates are situated down the ever meandering river, giving point bonuses if steadily navigated through, bumping up the score. Inevitably there's only room for one of you so bouncing out your opponent or throwing begins to change the river, bouncing in all a soda can at him, further downstream directions just to get which can be found you get, throwing a ahead. and picked up whole new array of downstream can give obstacles and perils in Graphically a pleasing you the advantage your path to avoid, game with simplistic and get you there leaving you wondering game-play, this mid first. what could be around 80s gem is sheer the next corner. This funtastic, soaking, Falling from the many and the sheer fun mayhem so dive in! waterfalls, the scenery factor is what will Bring a friend and keep you coming back prepare for a wet and for more. wild ride.

The game comes into Rating 75%. its own when you hit two player. This is where the fun begins with both of you speeding down the

© The Retro Games News Page 35 DRAGON WARRIOR NINTENDO / CHUNSOFT “Do you have NES VERSION TESTED REVIEWED BY DUSTON JUSTICE the balls to retrieve PROOF READ BY PHIL WHEATLEY the Balls of Light?” the first video game You are the Every gamer has or we ever completed. descendant of Erdrick. will have several Some of us remember Your coming was personal firsts as part the first time we foretold by the great of their gaming played a game that seer Mahetta. King experience. We all was unlike anything Lorick XVI summons remember the first else we had ever seen you as soon as you time we saved before. For many arrive at Tantegel Princess Toadstool in gamers, that game Castle. He recognizes Super Mario Bros, or was Dragon Warrior. your lineage and

Dragon Warrior is the very definition of a console role-playing game. Your player begins the game game quite weak. You must defeat monsters to gain experience which increases your strength and abilities. These monsters also drop money which is spent on items and better weapons and armor. It is not solely the items you obtain that help to overcome challenges, nor is it the reflexes and reaction time of the player. Instead it is the growth of the player character and the wits of the player that will see you through to the end. I charges you to allows you to take a will go as far to say retrieve the Balls of torch, a magic key that without these key Light from the (which will be used elements, a game Dragonlord who has immediately), and 120 cannot truly be called stolen them. His gold for equipment. an RPG. daughter Princess You have nothing Gwaelin has also been more to go on than Speaking about firsts, kidnapped. You are what the people of this was the first RPG hereby sent forth to Alefgard know and are many had ever save the land of willing to tell. Only played. Rarely before Alefgard from the evil through trial and had we seen a game Dragonlord and his many battles will you where the character many minions. gain the strength and improved over time. wealth needed to Most games only grant You begin the game explore every corner temporary with not even clothes of the land and improvements, such to wear. The king destroy the creatures as power-ups or new

You will eventually learn that three items are needed to reach the dreaded lair of the Dragonlord, Charlock Castle. Once these are retrieved, the way into darkness will be opened, and you can delve into the dungeons and finally face the most terrible of foes.

To say that you will have to spend quite a items and weapons. enemies at random. bit of time grinding The heroes in other The encounter rate levels is almost not games we were depends on what worth mentioning of a playing at the time terrain you are game of this type. were almost useless passing through. Level-grinding would without their fire- Plains have the fewest become a staple of the flowers and sack full encounters, the rate genre. To a gamer of boomerangs, increses a bit in the who has only played bombs, and other forests, and modern role-playing magical items. mountains have the games, or even some highest rate of all. of those on the SNES, Besides that for a Craggy mountains and it may seem excessive first, how many other water cannot be and tedious. It is for games of the era traversed, and bridges this reason that I (spoilers) had you mean enemies will be recommend this title save the princess in more powerful on the for two types of the middle of the other side. gamers: those new to game? How many the genre and hard- other princesses told The farther away from core RPG fans. the hero, “I love Tantegel Castle you thee.” go, the more powerful You cannot find a the enemies better game to Once you depart the encountered. There introduce a young castle you will find will be many battles gamer to the RPG that as you walk about fought to increase the genre. It has all of the the land of Alefgard player character’s key elements and a you will encounter

© The Retro Games News Page 38 simplicity that makes the information cannot expect from Arthurian the game very easy to be obtained within the legends. People speak grasp for someone game. You begin the way you might unfamiliar with all knowing very little, expect them to speak these experience but after exploring in a western fantasy points and statistics. throughout the land world. They even All you really have is and talking to sometimes have harsh strength, agility, hit everyone you can you or annoying points, magic points, will eventually learn personalities in their attack, and defense. all you need to know one or two lines of Arguably these are the to complete the game. dialogue. One girl bare minimum This is made possible says, “I hate people! required for an RPG, by perhaps the GO! LEAVE ME!” and and not at all that greatest achievement you will find a man difficult to handle. The made by the people at and a woman waiting spells are equally easy Enix: the English for each other on to understand having Translation. opposite ends of a names like HEAL, town wondering why HURT and OUTSIDE Not only is the the other is so late. allowing little translation useful and This is a translation confusion as to what easy to understand, that not only helps they do. but it does a lot in you solve the game’s adding to the riddles, but sets the The challenge of this atmosphere. Every bit stage in a way I have game comes from a of dialogue uses not yet seen in any lack of information. archaic language that other game or series. That is not to say that one might come to Toshiko Watson for translating and Scott Pelland for revising truly deserve recognition for making what could have been a fatal and all too common flaw of the era into something that makes the game shine to this day.

It is expected of the music to create a game’s atmosphere, especially when graphics may not be able to. Dragon Warrior does not

© The Retro Games News Page 39 disappoint. Though purpose well. see anywhere there are few different Everything regardless of the pieces of music in the represented on the terrain. game, each one works screen is clearly what perfectly. I find myself it is meant to be, If you have never played an RPG and are humming the overland although I can’t shake interested in getting theme when I am the idea that the into the genre, you walking alone outside. characters look like can’t find a better It is just the perfect they came from a place to start than tune for getting out medieval Lego set. Dragon Warrior on the and exploring. The The battle screen NES. If you consider yourself a hard-core castle theme is graphics are colorful RPG player and you perhaps the best. It and detailed. It haven’t completed this sounds regal and depicts the enemies game then don’t be a important. It really large and bold, and n00b and play Dragon helps picture it as a the landscape is Warrior! “Your scene in a big-budget beautiful and has a mystical quest begins. movie. strangely effective bit Search out the dragon’s lair.” of depth to it, even if 96% The graphics are solid it is the same one you and serve their

© The Retro Games News Page 40 NODES OF YESOD ODIN COMPUTER GRAPHICS As the years pass C64 VERSION TESTED REVIEWED BY PHIL WHEATLEY by, this lesser known gem is becoming a bit The game was responsible for the of a cult classic. The available on a variety music in Shadowfire, game was first of systems such as and the similarities released in 1985 by the C64, Amstrad can be heard which Odin Computer CPC, the ZX Spectrum isn’t such a bad thing. Graphics, a software (48k/128k) and the house which was rare Elan Enterprise Onto the plot. Some enjoying the fact 64. It’s worth noting strange signals have people thought they that the 128k version been intercepted from were a sister company of the Spectrum game the Moon, and an of Ultimate Play the had better quality astronaut by the name Game. It was easy to music over the 48k, of Charlie see why because the and also included Fotheringham-Grunes packaging and artwork synthesised speech. has been given the was similar, and the The music was task of locating the graphics also composed by Fred exact location of the resembled that of the Gray who was also signal’s source. Ultimate’s later titles. Charlie’s eccentric

© The Retro Games News Page 41 Thankfully you don’t die instantly when you touch a meanie, but your life force would quickly deplete if you get caught in a tangle with one. You also had lives which could be replenished with spaceman symbols dotted around the network. However, your main focus should be on collecting a series of Alchiems which ultimately would lead you to the final destination, the Monolith from which the signals are coming from.

What gives this game a great replay factor, is the Alchiems are found in a different location each time. With that said, there surname was in fact you access to the are certain rooms an amalgamation of underground complex. where you are more the lead developer’s Once below ground, likely to find them. surnames; Stuart you were faced with a Already the difficulty Fotheringham and series of rooms, factor is racking up, Colin Grunes. caverns and wind but there is one tunnels. Traveling further problem…the Once you landed on around whilst trying red kleptomaniac the moon, the first not to fall to your spaceman. He will thing you had to do death would be tricky appear at random was capture one of enough, but was made times in the game and the local friendly even more dangerous steal one of your moles, once under by the many weird Alchiems. He is quite your command, the inhabitants that got in difficult to avoid, mole would happily your way. however you can you burrow through the drop a limited number Moon surface, giving of gravity sticks which

This game has truly stood the test of time and really worth checking out, especially if you are a fan of the Ultimate will temporarily render you may find yourself Play the Game titles. him helpless. taking a much quicker TRGN Rating 94% route to the bottom Occasionally you again! would come to areas that appear to have Once you had no logical way out, at collected all the this point it was worth Alchiems in the grabbing your mole correct order and have (that sounds odd!) found your way to the and directing him to Monolith, you have the wall’s perimeter, if completed the game, you were lucky he will something I still find a weak spot and haven’t achieved tunnel his way nearly 30 years on. through. This was quite a unique feature In 2010, there was an in 1985!

Another great addition to the game was the wind tunnels. You can either slowly descend to the bottom, or you can wave your arms frantically to float back to the surface. Make sure you are facing the right direction though when moving up, otherwise

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