New information about Pokémon Legends: ZA was announced during the Pokémon Presents presentation today, which just so happens to be Pokémon Day (convenient, huh?). From what I've seen so far, the game looks like a cross between Pokemon Legends: Arceus and all of the Professor Layton games in terms of graphics; not exactly groundbreaking, though I hope the locations load a lot better and faster than they did in Arcues - that was painful to watch!

The main starters to choose from for your adventure through Lumiose City are Chikorita and Totodile from Gold & Silver, and Tepig from Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. I guess they got rid of Cyndaquil after all those weird Typhlosion news articles flooded the web a few months back...

The Pokéball throwing mechanics from the previous game are the same, but the battle system seems a little bit freer than in Pokémon Legends: Arceus too with Pokémon positioning playing more or a vital role.

As for characters, we were introduced to a hotel owner named AZ (original) and his Pokémon as well as two choices of rivals and other NPCs that play key parts in the game. Honestly, I think it all looks a little underwhelming and more of what has come before, though instead of heading back to the dawn of Pokémon, it's set in a city that has Wild Zones which feel like something from 'I Am Legend'.

The game is arriving 'Late 2025', so I think it would be safe to assume that ZA will be arriving on the Nintendo Switch 2. I'm hoping that this game surprises me when it releases, but after my disappointment with Arceus, it'll have to pull out all the stops to win me over.

In other news, I'm very excited about the new announcement of Pokémon Champions, a new game that allows players to battle online over Switch and mobile, meaning that I could play my friends who don't have Switches but are glued to their Smartphones no matter where we are in the world!

Pokémon Concierge took Netflix by storm back in 2023with its enchanting stop-motion animations (preparing for when the Pokémon Company team up with Aardman in 2027), and now new episodes have been announced for this September.

Haru and Psyduck will be greeting new Pokémon to the resort once again with Shinx and Arcanine joining the shenanigans along with a whole new cast. The first four episodes of the first series are also available to watch for free on YouTube, so make sure to go and check them out if you haven't experienced this amazing series yet!

Check out more below!

Pokemon champions will continue the tradition of pitting your skills against trainers around the world, though this time you can use your mobile to play against players on either mobile or Nintendo Switch, meaning you can choose how you want to play depending on where you are.

It's about time we had another game that focused solely on battles; I've played so much Pokémon Stadium over the years, and the battles are the best part of Pokémon games for me, so I can't wait to get beaten players on an old Samsung thousands of miles away while I'm crying in front of my TV...

The game can conect with Pokémon home too, so you can use any of the Pokémon that you've used in previous games too. The game has just been announced as part of Pokémon Day and we don't have any other information as to when it will release though we do know tha tit will be available in Latin American Spanish on launch.

More information to come soon!

We've been reviewing ANBERNIC handhelds for many years now, our first being the RG350 way back in 2020.

The company has evolved drastically over the last few years, making many mistakes along the way, but also crafting some of the best retro handhelds ever made. And because of that, picking one that fits your game style can be challenging.

ANBERNIC have released so many devices that it's hard to keep track, from clamshell consoles, 1:1 displays, and mini handhelds that fit on a keychain. Their strategy is typically quality over quantity, but as I like to say "1 in 10" ends up being superb.

Below are some of our personal favourites that we still use to this day.

Best All-rounder

9

ANBERNIC RG35XXSP

This is an all-round great handheld for both newbies and experienced handheld enthusiasts to buy and one that won't break the bank either.

BUY AT ANBERNIC.COM

Best Power

8.2

ANBERNIG RG556

Play everything up to Nintendo 3DS on this device including PSP, GameCube, PS2, Dreamcast, and all the other usual suspects. It's one of Anbernic's most powerful handhelds and is extremely comfortable to use too.

BUY AT ANBERNIC.COM

Best Vertical

8

ANBERNIC RG35XX Plus

The RG35XX delivers great performance for a handheld of this price and does what a lot of other handhelds from competitors in this price bracket simply cant

BUY AT ANBERNIC.COM

RG35XXSP

• Release Date: June 2024
• Price: $62.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RG35XXSP Review

A superb clamshell handheld for $63, the RG35XXSP is a fantastic device that can cope with games up to and including the Dreamcast. What's more, it looks like the GBA SP too and can be chucked in your pocket for gaming on the go. It has a 3.5″ IPS Display (640 x 480) and a 3300mAh battery, along with WiFi and Bluetooth compatibilities, meaning you can hook up a Bluetooth controller and a separate display and use the handheld as your own mini Retro Gaming powerhouse.

Inside the RG35XXSP is an Allwinner H700 1.5Ghz CPU, a Mali-G31 GPU, and 1GB of RAM. I've played Crazy Taxi on this handheld on many train journeys and fired up PSP emulation to play some God of War on it too and they've always played very well. And while you'll need to head into RetroArch's settings to change the D-pad to mirror the PSP's analog stick before playing, most of the things I tried on the RG35XXSP have worked well. Admittedly, PSP is a little hit-and-miss with some of the titles, so bear that in mind before purchasing if that's your sole purpose for buying a handheld emulator.

The OS is a little bland and the Games Room element of the handheld is disappointing, but it handles N64 games like Wave Race and Diddy Kong Racing very well. The screen is a tad small at times, but you get used to it. If you're looking to solely play NES/SNES or Mega Drive games on here, then you'll have no issues whatsoever.

The RG35XXSP has made modded GBA SPs feel a little redundant, especially because you can have every game ever made on this device without having to carry around all of your physical cartridges. Like the GBA SP, it has shoulder buttons, but the L2 and R2 buttons do need a little bit of a Hulk Smash-style push to get them registering on certain games. On the whole, this is an all-round great handheld for both newbies and experienced handheld enthusiasts to buy and one that won't break the bank either.

RG406H

• Release Date: November 2024
• Pricing: $159.99
• Where To Buy: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RG406H Review

Let's get this out of the way first - the RG406H isn't the best-looking handheld in the world, but it has some great specs and can cope well with games up to those made for 6th-generation consoles. If you want to play GameCube or PS2 titles on the go, then you can definitely get them working well albeit without as much upscaling as those games from 5th-generation systems like the N64 and PS1.

Because of the analog stick and 4:3 4" IPS screen, it sort of feels like this could be the perfect handheld for playing all the consoles that were made to work with CRTs with no black lines at the side of the screens to put you off your game. NES, SNES, Game Boy, Mega Drive, and other older retro consoles will also work brilliantly and look great on the 720p screen.

Let's talk specs; the RG406H has a Unisoc T820 CPU, Mali-G57 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. It runs Android 13 and has WiFi and Bluetooth built-in as well as boasting a touch screen and USB-C port for fast charging.

The analogue sticks are responsive and feel great for a console in this price range, and the handheld is comfortable to hold for long periods of time. It is a little thick as I've said previously, so whereas you can chuck the RG35XXSP in your coat and forget it's there, you'll definitely know this brick is in your jeans pocket if you try to sit down.

If anything, it would be great if it had a little more power so that it could cope with some of the more demanding PS2 and GameCube games, but it will be perfect for most gamers looking to revisit their favourite old titles.

RG35XX Plus

• Release Date: November 2023
• Price: $54.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RG35XX Plus Review

As you can see from the image above, the RG35XX is a really nice size and has an incredible 3.5” IPS Display screen. With its 1.5Ghz H700 Quad-Core ARM Cortext-A52, Dual-Core G31 MP2 CPU, and 1GB RAM, it delivers great performance for a handheld of this price and does what a lot of other handhelds from competitors in this price bracket simply can't.

There are no prizes for guessing that ANBERNIC have taken inspiration from the original Game Boy for this one; the purple buttons are super nostalgic and they've even included the speaker grill from the original DMG on here too. The speakers aren't great which is sadly a by-product of this design choice, but it's by no means a deal breaker.

There's a mini HDMI output for connecting the device up to a TV and Bluetooth to hook up a wireless controller like many of the other consoles in this list - ANBERNIC love the hybrid nature of their consoles.

So what can you play on the RG35XX Plus? Well, it can play all of your favourite Dreamcast games with ease as well as the other 'CRT' friendly home consoles and handhelds up to the Nintendo DS. PSP games do work on here but to be honest, the screen ratio isn't right for them as they use a 16:9 format, so you're not going to get the best experience with them on this handheld. There was also a little bit of laggy gameplay with some of the larger titles.

My main gripe with this handheld is the user interface; getting to the games and playing with settings is tiresome and the interface could have been thought out a lot better. Once you get into the games, however, it works brilliantly.

RGCUBEXX

• Release Date: November 2024
• Price: $66.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC

The RGCUBE XX is basically a less powerful, more affordable version of the original Cube, and arrived a few months later too. The reason I am putting this above the original, however, is because it provides far more value for your money, starting at $67 compared to the original's mighty $150+ price tag.

This handheld is great for those who want a superb 1:1 display handheld that has great ergonomics, a remarkably bright screen, and some fancy Hall-joysticks. Yeah, I know it's niche... but that's why I dig it.

The lower price sacrifices power, but in all honesty that 1:1 display means most higher-end emulation just isn't enjoyable. I found myself playing most consoles up to Nintendo DS and N64; never did I want Gamecube or PSP emulation on here, and I'm certainly not going to pay more for it.

It's a great all-round 1:1 handheld and one of the best on the market. It's comfortable, lasts most of the day on a single charge, and looks modern. But again, the UI and overall user experience are outdated. If you can get past that, however, then this is a great handheld to snag.

RG NANO

• Release Date: June 2023
• Price: $39.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RGNANO Review

The RG NANO is a great talking piece and a fun little handheld, but it's certainly not the most practical way to play retro games unless you're related to ants (or Paul Rudd). Still, I can't deny that it's an impressive handheld with a lovely metal shell, making it durable for throwing in a pocket. ANBERNIC do have a great reputation with metal handhelds, so that's really not surprising.

Realistically, you're only going to get 20 or 30 minutes play time with the NANO before you put it down and put your hands on something warm and soothing to ease all of the aches and pains you'll have. It's the definition of a 'pick up and play' handheld, just one that you won't play for very long.

Still, if you are looking for a tiny handheld, you definitely won't be disappointed with the NANO, especially with the fact that you can play everything up to PS1 with it. Games like Sonic the Hedgehog and Crash Bandicoot (let's face it, they're two of everyone's most wanted games) run really well, and our NANO had them and many other games pre-installed on it when it arrived.

As I've said in the Pros and Cons section above, the OS is brilliant... and that's because ANBERNIC have ripped it straight from the Funkey S. It's a cheeky move, but at least I'm not writing 'the UI is poor' again. It works really well and because of the built-in clock will allow you to get the full experience from games that require a playable clock like Pokémon Gold & Silver.

RG34XX

• Release Date: December 2024
• Price: $69.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RG34XX Review

Obviously, we need to start off with some comparisons to the GBA because at first glance, they could be the same console bar the extra face buttons. It's the same size as the original GBA but boasts an incredible 3.4" IPS Display (720 x480) which far surpasses the original 2.9" 240 x 160 display.

The biggest difference is that you won't be putting any cartridges in this handheld as it plays ROMS from an SD card like the other consoles in this list. You'll also find L2 and R2 buttons on the back which make 99% of all the PS1's library work on this handheld. PS1 games on a GBA - what a mixture!

Without an analog stick, some games just won't run well at all, however, so there will be a bit of trial and error involved when you're picking ROMs. It won't require any AA batteries either thanks to the USB-C charging port and 3500 mAh battery. Other than that, everything else feels identical right down to the D-pad.

The RG34XX uses a Linux operating system that we actually love - it makes it much easier for people who have never used a handheld emulator before to pick up and start playing by preloading certain settings for certain consoles. If you do want to do some tinkering to add your own settings to games, then make sure to pick 'RA Game' instead of 'Game Rooms' to utilise the settings in the Retro Arch interface.

In terms of other specs, the RG34XX has a 1.5GHz H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, Dual-core G31 GPU, and LPDDR4 1GB RAM. It's certainly powerful enough to make PS1 games playable and can even get N64 and Dreamcast games going, but you'll need to make some changes in the settings to swap the D-pad inputs to analog stick inputs. Honestly, you won't get that same level of control from a D-pad anyway, so I would stick to older Nintendo and Sega consoles for this one - do you really need any other games if you've got Mario Kart Super Circuit anyway?

RG556

• Release Date: February 2024
• Price: $184.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RG556 Review

Putting aside the fact that the handheld comes with a blue-tinted display as a standard setting which can be changed in the settings, the 5.4" AMOLED touchscreen on the RG556 is phenomenal. It's comfortable to hold and also has some nice grips that make long gaming sessions a breeze.

I'm a big fan of the L1 and R1 triggers even though they're a bit noisy (they sound nostalgic to me so I don't have a problem with that at all). They're also big enough for your fingers to sit on comfortably unlike the RG28XX further below. Thank goodness it's got some great features because (surprise surprise) the UI is lousy on this again. I don't know why ANBERNIC can't get this problem sorted without having to rip an OS off the Funkey...

Anyway, let's get onto some stats. Inside the crystal shell, you'll find a Unisoc T820 CPU, Mali-G57 GPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. There's also a 5,000 mAh battery too giving you tonnes of play time off a single charge.

In terms of emulation, you'll be able to play everything up to Nintendo 3DS on this device including PSP, GameCube, PS2, Dreamcast, and all the other usual suspects. Rob goes into a little more detail about the results he found when upscaling titles in our review above, so make sure to check that out if you're thinking about getting an RG556.

RG405V

• Release Date: September 2023
• Price: $129.99
• Available From: firm choice
• Our Review: R6405V Review

Brandon described this handheld as looking a little like a cross between Barney the Dinosaur's big toe and a skateboard. It's definitely an odd-looking handheld, but it's very comfortable to hold and I'm a big fan of the positioning of the analog sticks. Would it have been better with rubber grips on the back? Yes, especially for that price, but I digress.

The R6405V has a 2.0GHz Unisoc T618 Octa-core CPU, Mali-G52 GPU, and 4GB of RAM. It comes with Android 12 pre-installed and has a lot of programs available to tap into from the off. The T618 chipset is a firm choice for emulation and allows you to play GameCube, PS2, Dreamcast, and PSP games with virtually no trouble. As always, not all of your games will run smoothly, but most of our favourites were playable.

Another cool feature is that game streaming is possible on the RG405V. Sometimes game streaming on emulators like this can be a little ropey, but Game Pass works well and allowed us to run some of our AAA titles.

The 4" IPS touchscreen display has a 640 resolution, meaning it's not as crispy as some of the other displays in this list, but games still look great on it. As I wrote in the Pros and Cons section, the text can come up a little on the small side for some games, but my eyesight is still alright right now so I'm not having too much trouble (that might change in 10 or so years!).

The shoulder buttons look great and look like they should be pretty sturdy, but they're incredibly sensitive. The fan also makes a weird noise from time to time that might make you feel like the handheld is eating itself, so prepare yourself for that.

RG28XX

• Release Date: April 2024
• Price: $39.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RG28XX Review

I'm a big fan of the RG28XX because of how portable it is. Yes the shoulder buttons should be thrown into the nearest ocean and it's not big enough to be your main handheld, but for under 40 notes, it's an absolute bargain and something that everyone should have in their backpack or bag for gaming on the go.

Like the the Rg34XX, this handheld uses a Linux operating system and is really easy to just turn on and play. The screen is only 2.83" making it one of the smaller ones on this list and it only has 1GB of RAM, but it plays everything up to PS1 very well. I spent hours playing Crash Team Racing on this thing and the 3100 mAh battery didn't let me down.

This handheld already had an SD Card installed with more games than I could ever possibly complete pre-loaded on it. I would say that it excels with games for older consoles like the SNES and GBA, but you can get Dreamcast titles running on here that do work after a little tinkering with the settings. It does advertise that you can play PSP games, but I would disagree - it's just not set up properly for PSP titles and there are many more handhelds on this list that can do it better.

The handheld itself only measures 15mm deep, and because of the space limitations, it doesn't have the space for amazing speakers. The sound quality is pretty poor, but it's fine when playing with headphones plugged in.

One cool feature is that this handheld works for horizontal games too; just flip it around and use the A & B buttons for firing in horizontal shooters etc. It's a versatile little handheld for such a cheap price that you really can't afford not to give it a go!

RG40XX V

• Release Date: September 2024
• Price: $66.99
• Available From: ANBERNIC
• Our Review: RG40XX V

The analog stick might look a little out of place on the RG440XX, but the rest of the handheld has a nice design with a large screen 4″ IPS 4:3 Display (640 x 480). The colours look brilliant through the glass display and games like Crash Bandicoot look superb. This handheld emulates up to PS1 in consoles and Nintendo DS in handhelds, so if you're looking to get your Spyro or Nintendogs fix, then this could be the handheld for you.

Looking at other stats, the RG40XX V has a 1.5Ghz Mali H700 CPU, Mali G51 GPU, and 1GB of RAM. The battery is a little bigger than the RG28XX coming in at 3200 mAh and it also has a Mini-HDMI Out and a Wifi/Bluetooth capabilities.

The start and select buttons are incredibly sticky as I mentioned in the Pros and Cons section above, but the other face buttons are great. I love the D-pad on this handheld (I'm just ignoring the analog stick) and it works well with most of the games you'll encounter.

The RG40XX V can cope with N64 and Dreamcast games pretty well and they look amazing on that screen, but PSP is a little hit-and-miss due to the console's low power. Still, it is only $66.99, so I guess you can't expect miracles from it. Oh, and while it might look good, it still has the same UI problems that many of the other handhelds in this list have. It might not matter necessarily if you're not into customising your settings, but for seasoned emulator fans, it will be pretty annoying.

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It's Pokémon Day everyone, and what better news to kick off the day than a new collaboration! Yes, I know you were hoping to wake up and read about a new game (and hopefully that will come a little later on), but this latest announcement will definitely appeal to the speed freaks amongst you, especially those who are huge fans of Pokémon Scarlet!

The Pokémon Company have teamed up with Honda to launch their new project, the 'Honda Koraidon Project', an 'almost life-sized' bike based on the legendary Pokémon Koraidon from Pokémon Scarlet, and it looks absolutely incredible! I've watched the announcement video below about 10 times before writing this article, and while I doubt very much that I would ever be able to get insurance to ride this bike (unless it was on soft grassy terrain or in a room filled with mattresses), it's something that I would absolutely love to own.

Now, I don't want you to get confused with the Miraidon bike that Toyota released last year which we covered; I know the news might sound familiar, but this is a brand new project between Pokémon and Honda, and it's set to drop on March 7th 2025. The 8 foot 2 inches tall 668 lbs bike will be available to see until March 9th at the Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama in Tokyo, Japan.

According to the official press release for the project, the slogan for the project is “Honda’s Devotion Makes Children’s Dreams Come True.” I would say this is slightly incorrect because it's also made my dreams come true too! It's a mechanical marvel too with self-balancing technology that allows Koraidon to walk on all four legs, and it can also self-stand on two wheels, another example of Honda's ASIMO humanoid robot research coming into production.

Honda say that Koraidon's hands, legs, neck, and facial expressions will change as you increase your speed when in Koraidon's Sprinting Build, and they're planning to reproduce all the trademark features of the Pokémon's face, eyes, and eyelids. This is probably going to be as close as we'll ever get to seeing a real-life version of a Pokémon without painting a mouse yellow and calling it Pikachu, and there are definitely some animal rights violations involved with that idea which I wouldn't recommend following.

Honestly, it's a work of art and captures the essence of the legendary Pokémon much more than Toyata's efforts did. I look at the pictures and feel like there's a Pokémon looking back at me rather than a bike, which is exactly what I would expect when two global powerhouses put their heads together for a project like this!

Would you ride this down the street? Would you like to see it, or do you prefer your Pokémon on your Game Boy Color? Let us know in the comments!

I'm sitting here after writing a title that I never wanted to write and feeling a little forlorn about it. In many ways, The Legend of Zelda has been the cornerstone of my gaming world, the series that made me want to become a writer and had a profound effect on the fantasy adventures and worlds I've created in books over the years. If you were to take a strand of my DNA and study it, you would probably find a couple of Deku Nuts and Rupees among all the genetic data and Italian flags.

So to sit down and write an article about the day I fell out of love with Zelda feels a little bittersweet. It's a topic that I've had on my mind for a while now and something that I've touched upon in previous podcast episodes with the likes of Devin Supertramp and Tofer A, but it's an important thought process that I want to share with you and the retro gaming community as a whole. There may be some controversial opinions in here and some of you might disagree with me on points, and I'm more than willing to hear your thoughts in the comments section. But for now, let me get stuck into discussing the series I've loved since I was seven years old and how an 'it's not me, it's you' conversation has been long overdue.

A Hylian Hero To Look Up To

When other kids were looking up to cartoon characters or their favourite actors as kids, the only person I wanted to be was Link. I remember being annoyed that I couldn't go as him to World Book Day and trying to convince my parents that Nintendo Official Magazine counted as a book. I would read every magazine soaking up as much information about Ocarina of Time as I could; it's the first Zelda game that I was introduced to as a child, and the Christmas that I opened up that black box with the gold writing on the front will forever be one of the best days of my life.

My parents had worried that it was a little too advanced for me at the time; I'd played computer games with my Uncle Mimo when I was younger but had never owned a console until the arrival of the N64 in the UK in 1997. Zelda released the following year, and I had built up my skills by playing Mario Kart and Super Mario 64 - in my mind, I was ready for anything. I hadn't contemplated having to battle a massive arachnid-esque creature at the beginning of the game after being scared of spiders or the challenging nature of the puzzles, but looking back now I suppose it was all character-building.

The story of an orphan plunged into a quest to save the world, a young boy growing up and overcoming insurmountable adversities - it was completely spellbinding. I can't begin to tell you how much joy that gave me, and I suppose if you're a similar age to me and also grew up with the N64, I won't need to. The cutscenes, the bosses, the twists and turns; it felt like the game was made for fantasy book lovers, a game where the narrative and combat intertwine to carry you through the adventure of a lifetime.

There was just the right amount of mystery without it being too hard, and while I had to refer to the free guides that came with NoM for some of the harder parts, I feel like the gameplay set a bar that I would judge other titles on from that moment on. I have so many special memories from this game too, from my mum collecting rupees for me while I was out at school so I could buy items when I got home to finally defeating Ganon in the wreckage of his ruined castle. And some people think that video games rot your brain!

Teaching The Meaning Of Patience

It took me a long time to understand the importance of Majora's Mask in my life, but I'm wholly there now. As a kid, and I bet you thought the same thing at least once, I just got annoyed about the constant changing of time. Three days just isn't enough to save the world, how was anyone supposed to be able to do that?

Now that we live in a world where everything is available immediately and we don't have to wait for anything, I understand the important message that this game taught me. Waiting for a specific time for a character to appear, knowing that you couldn't do certain actions until a certain day, or having to repeat processes again if you missed your chance - they really made you think about the gameplay and your actions, especially banking your money so you wouldn't lose it when going back through time.

It's something that Miyamoto and Aonuma have carried forward into modern titles too; how many of you have waited for a shadow to appear at the right moment for a Shrine to appear, fired an arrow at the right time, or waited for something to melt or appear? There are so many games like God of War or Returnal that, while incredible, promote a faster pace of gameplay, but Zelda games have always been games that you're proud to be in for the long haul. Again, they're like a good book that you don't mind getting lost in and taking your time with, and you feel like you're growing with Link as he both succeeds and fails.

Miyamoto's Pride & Joy

Miyamoto brought the Legend of the Zelda to the world on the NES in 1986. He's the father of Hyrule and has understandably been quite protective of the formula over the years. I can't imagine how Eiji Aonuma must have felt when he came into the team to work on Majora's Mask and was given the mammoth task of creating a game in a year, capitalising on the success of Ocarina of Time and using the same character sprites to get the job over the line while meeting Miyamoto's high standards. That's one boss that you don't want to disappoint or mess with.

The thing is, if it wasn't for Aonuma gently messing with Miyamoto's formula and taking the risks that Miyamoto maybe felt a little too reserved to make, we wouldn't have titles like The Wind Waker or Breath of the Wild. I did an in-depth feature about how Aonuma created the Wind Waker with lots of insightful snippets about his character creation and world-building building as well as channeling messages he wanted his son to learn into the narrative that I'd love you to read after this article as that game has so many important nuances that, once again, have shaped the series and myself as whole over the years.

One thing has always remained, however, and that's the strong overarching narrative that the pair have focused these games on. Miyamoto and Aonuma have always championed that feeling of progression and achievement; you feel like you're in the shoes, and tunic, of the Hero of Time whenever you play, but you're learning what it means to be a hero at the same time too. The narrative is wholesome and uplifting, and while you're essentially jumping headfirst into the idea of escapism, you always feel like you've got an end goal in sight. You will eventually find the right path you need to be on after exploring, and there are little hints that will help you on the way if you really do get stuck (even in Oracle of Ages and Seasons, and I don't want to think about the number of hours I've put into those games). Miyamoto has always been proud of the core values the series promotes, and they're what made me fall in love with Zelda in the first place.

The Winds Of Change

Though Miyamoto didn't initially want to accept the change in the series, change is something that has become synonymous with the Zelda franchise in more ways than one. Changing the day, the direction of the wind, changing into an animal or donning a mask to become a different creature. Grabbing a feather to be able to jump, and even changing from a child to an adult - change plays a huge part in these games and mirrors the natural progression of life (apart from that animal part, I've not managed to become an animagus yet).

For a series that promotes change in such a prominent way, I wasn't worried about the arrival of the new version of Hyrule in Breath of the Wild at all. We've been conditioned to change throughout the previous games, and this one is one that I think we had all secretly hoped for. Being able to climb up to higher platforms, interacting with everything in sight; it was exactly what my mum had kept asking me through every other Zelda game thus far, and I no longer had to say 'It's not that kind of game.'

I've long said that there would be no Zelda game that could beat Ocarina of Time, but Breath of the Wild managed it in a way that I didn't think would ever be possible. It was so fresh, so exciting, and came with unbridled possibilities while still maintaining that sense of having an end goal and purpose. Rather than changing the formula, it felt like expanding on the same core values Miyamoto and Aonuma have always held dear - exploration and adventure, all tied up with the puzzling element that I've always relished in every Zelda game. Ok, there are too many Koroks to find and that weird poop they give you for completing the challenge feels like a complete waste of time, but that's my only complaint.

There were many firsts in this game too - will you ever forget the first time you met a Lynel? How about a Hinox, or one of Ganon's forms in the divine beasts? It was unique for all the right reasons for me and a major credit to the series, and while people said that 'It wasn't a proper Zelda game,' I remained positive. 'It's still got the same elements,' I'd come back with, confident that things would continue to improve for the better with Breath of the Wild's sequel.

A World I No Longer Connect With

I've tried to get on board with Tears of the Kingdom; I've put a lot of hours into the game and tried to remain hopeful about how the game might progress as I carried on playing. I've thought this for a while now but haven't been entirely honest with myself - the Zelda that I grew up with, the same Zelda that I made so many core memories with, has disappeared, and that same change that has been so critical in the progression of the series has finally taken one step too far for me.

Arriving back in the same Hyrule that I had just left felt exciting; everyone loves picking up where they left off in games, and it promotes that comfortable familiarity where you can jump straight back into the action. My issue with this game is that it's just too big, overwhelmingly so, to the point where there is no defined progression route anymore. The gameplay is more about building items to defeat enemies than it is about the actual enemies themselves; there's no skill or tactics involved to overcome enemies when you can just mine for Zonaite and build a Lynel-smashing machine while hiding behind a wall.

This doesn't feel like following the path to becoming the hero of legend anymore - it just feels lazy.

I've turned this game on so many times and felt lost for what to do. The sky levels are so big and vast, the depths doubly so, and the emphasis on building seems to detract from everything that Miyamoto and Aonuma have channeled into the series thus far. It's the equivalent of moving from Banjo-Tooie to Nuts and Bolts in my mind, and I just don't enjoy playing the game. I don't have that same feeling of excitement when I turn it on, that same feeling of escaping from my everyday stresses. Instead, after a long day of writing, I'm in the dark mining for materials, puttin in another shift so I can eventually play and get stuck somewhere on a craft I've built.

Zelda games have always pioneered new ideas; having all of the items available to purchase at the beginning of A Link Between Worlds was a great idea and something incredibly novel, but I just think the game would have been much better focusing on combat and narrative like Breath of the Wild without any of the building elements - it's watered down the things I loved about this series the most rather than adding to them, and that's what disappoints me the most.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Aonuma has stated publically that he can't understand why people would want to go back to the old Zelda formula, and I understand why he has that opinion. For someone who has always championed change, the idea of going backward would seem counterproductive, but I worry that the next iteration of the Zelda series will lose even more of the elements that made the series so special to thousands of players around the globe.

Honestly, I've enjoyed playing Echoes of Wisdom more than I have Tears of the Kingdom because it feels like a continuation of Link's Awakening and the other handheld Zelda titles. Change isn't always about making things bigger as we know from the decision to switch to cel-shaded graphics in The Wind Waker; sometimes a character change, a new look, or opening up different movesets can provide enough of a change while still keeping the core elements of a game intact.

I know that I'm probably in a small minority of people who feel this way, but for someone who has lived and breathed Zelda his entire life and has looked to these games for enjoyment, researching and getting ready for new releases and waiting in anticipation to pick up the Master Sword all over again, I can't help but feel disappointed.

So where do we go from here? Well, I think it will be interesting to see where the series goes once the rumours of remasters or remakes drop onto the Nintendo Switch 2. I'm confident we'll be seeing new versions of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess as they're such fan-favourite titles, and I also think that the reception around them will determine the future of the series. If the public goes wild for the 'old school' Zelda formula, then maybe Aonuma will make some slight changes back to the old way of doing things with the sequel to Tears of the Kingdom.

Here's hoping Nintendo manages to bring the essence of what makes Zelda, Zelda (or Link, Link) to the next game for the sake of all the die-hard Zelda fans out there, the ones who grew up wanting to be Link one day and the ones who still have their first copy of Adventures of Link and Majora's Mask. Sometimes, if it 'aint broke, you shouldn't fix it.

GoRetroid recently teased the new Pocket Flip 2, a clamshell (likely Android) based handheld that comes with some major upgrades in comparison to the original.

Today they have officially revealed the upcoming color-ways and the official specifications that the handheld will feature. Just like their recent (landscape) releases named the Pocket 4 and Pocket Mini, this one comes with a boat load of power.

Firstly, they have announced four official colours: GC, Ice Blue, Black and 16BIT US. This is similar to what they have done in the past. The original Flip even had a gloss Red version that was limited edition on launch, perhaps they'll do this again?

Retroid Pocket Flip 2 Specifications

I'll admit that the original Pocket Flip already had some decent power, with the ability to emulate PS1, Nintendo 64 and even a few Gamecube games well, but this upgrade will push retro gaming emulation to the limits.

GoRetroid has decided to launch this with a couple of different processors, depending on how much power you want, and how big your budget is.

The specifications will certainly enable Playstation 2 emulation which is what many have been asking for, especially if you go for the Snapdragon version, which will likely have a slightly better power output.

That said the D1100 also has great emulation optimisation, so I am hoping that when it gets closer to release that GoRetroid showcases the performance side-by-side to give customers a better understanding as to what does what better and for how much.

There's also some minor physical adjustments too which was made obvious in their recent YouTube video.

There's now hall-effect joysticks with fancy LED backlights and "anti-slip" texture, a 1080p OLED display, a 1080 degree "reinforced" hinge that looks like it won't snap with light force (like the original did), hall-effect triggers that look slightly bigger than the original and a unique marking on the top of the lid.

I am not sure what this logo or marking means, but it looks a little out of place, and off-brand. A simple logo would have been better in my opinion unless it is to be used with upcoming accessories?

I am excited about this one, the original Flip was a great device, even though it was quickly taken off the shelves to focus on the second iteration! Yes, many complain about it not having a second screen, and i do hope this comes in the future but for now, this will be one of the most powerful, pocketable clamshells on the market.

The 5.5" screen real-estate too will likely make PS2 emulation enjoyable on here, but only time will tell! We'll try our best to get hold of one to review.

We've been fans of 8BitDo for a long time now - not only do we game using their controllers when hooking up to our favourite consoles and emulators, but we use their mechanical keyboards for writing every article we do here on the website. I'm typing this while using my Sega Saturn 30th Anniversary keyboard as we speak!

The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is the latest controller in the 8BitDo's range, improving on the original Ultimate controller with ultra-low latency that clocks in at under 1 ms. No matter what game you're playing, you're always going to be in control with stats like that! It utilises the company's exclusive 8Speed Wireless Technology and hooks up either via 2.4GHz or a USB-C cable if you're looking for that old-school sitting on the floor close to the TV vibe.

I think you've already picked up on the fact that we love 8BitDo controllers here at Retro Dodo Towers, but the stats on this thing are incredible. It's the first controller 8BitDo have ever made with the TMR joysticks, producing a higher polling rate than Hall-effect sticks and using less power consumption in the process.

The Ultimate 2 is set to come with extra L4 and R4 bumpers as well as back paddles and 6-axis motion control. It'll have rumble and turbo functions too, all for the very reasonable price of $59.99.

The previous Ultimate used the Switch face button layout as standard, whereas this new iteration uses a more universal layout making it great for a wide range of emulators and consoles. The fact that it also comes with a charging stand is perfect too; more controllers should come with this as standard so that you can always be ready to game rather than spending an hour trying to remember where you put your charging cable. Perhaps you have a better memory than me, so maybe you don't have that same problem...

The Ultimate 2 is available to order now from the 8BitDo website! We've got one heading to the office as we speak, so I'll be putting up a thorough review once I've put it through its paces. I have a strong feeling this will become my go-to emulator controller for using when playing games via Airplay on my TV, but I'll let you all know how I get on in a couple of weeks!

Talk about taking on a hard task - Cronela's Mansion is a new point-and-click adventure game that can be played on the NES, SNES, GBA, GBC, PC, & Switch. Each title has different features and graphics depending on which platform you're playing on, meaning that the GBC port will feel different from the NES offering and so on. It's a mammoth achievement for Spanish game developer Straynus who are currently approaching the end of their Kickstart campaign for the game, with a further £19,000 still to be made in the next 9 days at the time of writing.

As you might have guessed from the title, the game serves as a tribute to Maniac Mansion and indeed a tribute to Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick. The NES Version of the game has thousands of lines of dialogue to delve through, making it the most immersive of the bunch, whereas the GBA cartridge (which works with all original hardware and the Analogue Pocket) has updated sprites - everything really has been made from scratch for each console, and you can play demos of each version via the Kickstarter campaign page.

In terms of gameplay, there are all the same object discovery elements and character interaction that you would expect from any point-and-click game, with the narrative driving the story forward and keeping you hooked. Players can expect to encounter Cronela's children, a zombie that eats mice, a spooky cat, a skeleton, and many more weird and wonderful characters as they move through the game.

Backers can pledge for digital-only or CIB versions of all the games as well as collectors' editions with soundtracks and toys to proudly display next to your chosen console. Hurry though, the clock is counting down and there's not much time left to back the campaign!

Wouldn't it be great to just stumble upon an absolutely incredible gaming find while out and about? I often think about the person who found a Sega Arcade unit just lying in a field when I'm out on a walk, and I always wish I could be the one to find a really rare copy of a game whenever I'm at a car boot sale at 8 am getting wet soaked by the rain. Well, someone has made the find of the century by uncovering a batch of boxed arcade cabinets that have never even been opened.

X user Gabe Fowlkes posted the news that someone had discovered them and announced the find in one of his Facebook groups. The arcade cabinets are all for the Sega game Fighting Vipers and have never been touched. There are seven cabinets all boxed and still covered; they've never been handled or even powered on!

Holy crap...someone in one of my fb groups uncovered seven completely NOS Sega Fighting Vipers arcade cabinets! Completely untouched, still boxed, monitors never powered on. An incredible find. pic.twitter.com/rOc7Vyc07x

— Gabe Fowlkes (@KFC_Gabriel) February 23, 2025

That 'someone' is Tristen McCormick from Memphis, Tennessee, and you can check out the listing here. Tristen even confirms that there is 'no burn on the tubes since these never made it to any game room floor.'

This is an amazing retro gaming find and a great slice of Sega's history. According to the listing, the boards are missing from inside the units and Tristen is asking for $500 per unit (for the monitor and cabinet) or $3,200 for everything. They would undoubtedly make good modding projects or serve as ornaments for the greatest hallway known to humankind!

When we started The Retroad Show, we never knew that it would take us to different countries in an attempt to interview and explore some of the rarest gaming collections known to man.

This marks our 5th Episode, and by far the biggest, both in terms of the collection and money spent on getting there, as we travelled from the UK to Netherlands to meet with this incredible collector.

The collector is known as Don, the founder of ConsoleVariations.com, a database filled with consoles, accessories and games, crafted out of sheer passion. It’s a resource we use continuously here at Retro Dodo and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re interested in video game collecting.

Don started this website to share his knowledge on video game collecting, and to share his personal collection at that time. Due to Don’s knowledge and investment into his business it has grown considerably over the years, with over 11,000 collectibles in his database to discover to this day.

With that growth he has had the chance to add incredible collectibles to his portfolio, many of which he shares with us in this article. Some of the rarest products he has owned includes the Queen’s Golden Nintendo Wii, a one of one SpaceWorld Gamecube, which he is currently selling for $100,000 on eBay and a one of four Limited Edition Pokemon Nintendo 3DS LL.

He is one of the biggest collectors in Europe, and we had a chance to spend a day with him, exploring his collection.

Speak friend and enter.

We’ve been trying to set up a date with Don for well over a year now, but after hearing that he was looking to sell some of his collection, we had to get over as fast as we could before some of the rarest consoles on the planet were dispersed to unknown buyers. So, I messaged Seb our editor in chief: “We have to fly over next week, otherwise a collection like this may never exist again”.

Seb replied: "Let's do it".

I am sure Don will have his hands on many upcoming collectibles, but this could be the last time he has so many under one roof. So, we took the risk, dropped everything, persisted through plane delays, and finally made it to the Netherlands, where Don met us and kindly drove us to his home. Don said: “So, you want to see the room?”.

Darn right we do, Don.

Don, stood outside of a door, and slowly opened it, and before I could see anything I could firstly hear the nostalgic noises of video games, and CRT TV’s slide through the cracks of the door. With each extra inch, consoles upon consoles were stored throughout the room, with no inch unturned. I have never in my life seen a collection like this under one roof.

Me and Seb were in collectors heaven. The room wasn’t large, it was the size of any normal bedroom, but stacked from floor to ceiling with an array of Nintendo consoles.

Don informed us that he reduced his collection a couple of years ago to just Nintendo products, so SEGA, ATARI and Microsoft don’t have much love here at the moment.

As the three of us stepped into the room, it was as if we were transported back to a time in our lives where we experienced a tremendous amount of joy and nostalgia, which was a gift in itself.

Our heads were spinning, we could see boxed consoles, unique accessories such as an official Mario Kart stopwatch, there were display booths that you could play on, official Nintendo storage units, official posters, rare magazines, prototype controllers, Japanese boxes, Game Boy stationary, GameCube door mats, Mario Kart playing cards, Nintendo Japan Museum merchandise, 90’s clothing and more. The list goes on.

Don’s Gamecube Addiction

Don’s favourite console of all time is the Nintendo Gamecube, and that’s very evident once the door opened. The rarest Gamecube's that he owns is the entire set of limited edition MTV Gamecubes, limited to just a handful of each design. Each was designed by an artist in collaboration with MTV in 2003 with only 4 being made for each design, the camouflage edition had 9 made due to its popularity.

He's probably the only man in the world to own the complete set.

But by far the rarest item in the entire room is the SpaceWorld Gamecube, the only one in the world to be made and Don shared it with us, giving us a deep dive, looking at the parts that are different and sharing the value of the device... a whopping $100,000.

I won't go into any more details about the SpaceWorld Gamecube as you have to see it for yourself in our YouTube video at 35 minutes in, or just click here to start from there.

Alongside that Don has a wide range of boxed Limited Edition GameCubes such as Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Metal Gear Solid, Pokemon XD, Donkey Kong and Hanshin Tigers which comes with exclusive jerseys. Plus a Panasonic GameCube which plays DVD’s too.

As we were leaving Don forgot to show us a GameBoy Player for the Panasonic GameCube which is also incredibly rare.

It’s as if Don owns more collectibles than he can remember, randomly pulling out things to his own surprise, which made me and Seb laugh at times, not in disrespect, but in disbelief that such a high value, rare collectible can be forgotten amongst this room of ridiculousness.

Don also had a complete timeline of unique GameCube controllers from early prototype units, to controllers that removed certain buttons, until finally landing on the final units in crazy limited edition variants.

The N64 I Have Never Seen

I like to think that I have seen my fair share of consoles during my gaming career, and i’ve been to a wide range of stores and events too, which typically sell rare collectibles, but one of the Nintendo 64 consoles that i’ve never seen, or even knew about was one given to customers flying with All Nippon Airways (ANA) in 1999.

You could win one by flying with ANA in certain months of the year, and each flight that the disembarked, one seat would be picked at random and given an incredibly rare Nintendo 64 bundle.

This bundle came in a box that features Nintendo, Pokemon and ANA illustrations on the front. According to Don, this box is actually rarer than the console, because, as we all know, we as humans typically throw away the cardboard box that things come in, so having this with the box and all of the products inside is incredibly rare, with only 10 or so known to still exist.

The bundle came with Hey You Pikachu! on Nintendo 64, Pokemon Stadium, and the console itself which comes with a slight underwhelming customisation.

The only difference between this limited edition console and a normal Nintendo 64 is the fact that this console comes with a customised Rumble Pack expansion slot cover featuring the ANA logo.

I know, I was expecting unique colours, perhaps some Pokemon illustrations or even some added wings to make it really stand out, but no, a simple printed expansion slot makes this one of the rarest Nintendo 64 consoles ever made.

A 1 of 10 Nintendo Switch

We were not even 1/3rd away around Don's collection before being greeted with a wide range of Nintendo Switch consoles, from limited edition Switch Lite's to prototype controller shells, it wasn't Don's priority to collect but any Switch collector would still be in shock.

The most prominent Nintendo Switch product that he had was the Labo Edition Nintendo Switch which is incredibly rare, with only 10 being made and they were given out 10 lucky winners who created awesome Labo devices. You can see more information about the contest here.

The console actually feels like cardboard too, thanks to the material and paint used on the shell, alongside unique Labo branding and a cardboard box which is also incredibly rare.

The world's most expensive Nintendo 64 Setup?

Don created his own Nintendo 64 setup using an array of incredibly rare products and accessories. He sourced a vintage N64 Display stand, and paired it with a Nintendo 64DD Developer Kit.

The last time a 64DD dev kit sold, it sold for over $8,000... They are ridiculously rare and highly sought after too. The console featured a CRT TV and two controllers, all in great condition, even the artwork on the board above the TV was immaculate too.

Hidden Game Boy Advance SP's

Moving past the custom Gamecube Display stand, the Gamecube Door matt and across to the other side of the room, there was an officially Nintendo 3DS display stand filled with many unique goodies, including handhelds... my favourite!

I couldn't help but notice quickly that Don had a couple of Game Boy Advance SP's lieing around, and one that was hidden in a pretty beaten up case was a very rare SP.

Don opened up the box and showed me a limited edition "Year of the dog" GBA SP, made by iQue. Nintendo teamed up with a gaming company called iQue to distribute their products throughout China and this was one of the rarer editions, with only 1,000 - 5,000 being made.

Next up, was a Pokemon Groudon Edition Game Boy Advance SP, sold exclusively in Japan and only 1,000 were made. I was wrong when I thought they came in a big boxed bundle. Don informed me the European versions did, but not the Japanese versions!

I'm a big fan of Pokemon edition Game Boys, I personally have a Charizard version of this GBA SP, but i'll admit its not as rare, or as cool as this one!

The holy grail of Pokemon handhelds

The craziest handheld that Don had (in my opinion) was one that I wasn't expecting. I had heard of this product before, but never seen it in the flesh, thanks to its incredibly rarity of being one of four in the entire world, yes you read that correctly.

This a a limited edition Pokemon Battle Trozei Nintendo 3DS LL and this was one of the very few consoles that Don wouldn't let me touch as its worth upwards of $15,000.

This console was given out to two winners of a Pokemon Daisuki Club contest in Japan which could be entered using a simple lottery, and then another two was distributed to Pokemon Get TV to as they please with.

Because Don is an avid collector he even got hold of the paperwork that comes with it, showcasing what the winner has won and congratulating them.

It is one of the rarest Pokemon handhelds in the world and is wanted by many Pokemon enthusiasts, but Don doesn't want to let it go just yet and i don't blame him. The illustrations are incredibly adorable and the shell itself features a wide range of different Pokemon from multiple generations.

A rare Xbox One... literally

This Xbox One stood out like a sore thumb, glittering with gold in the corner of the room and plastered with an array of signatures. Not knowing what I was looking at Don informed me that this was already a super rare limited edition Xbox One by Rare (The Developer) given to just 3 people at Gamescom 2015, one on Facebook, and one at Comicon 2015.

Don purchased one from a collector many years ago and eventually managed to get most of the Rare team to sign it upon his visit to the Rare headquaters a few years back, so if you had to put a price on this, it's pricesless, as it's the only one in the world signed.

Seb's great white Buffalo

If you're not sure what I mean by great white buffalo here, it's "the one that got away", typically described about that girlfriend or boyfreind that thought you were a creep and never spoke to you again, but in Seb's mind, the Nintendo 64DD is the one that got away.

Seb has always wanted one since a child, but never got the chance, as he was too busy playing with guitars and dying his hair black at moshpits to take the plunge and invest in a Nintendo 64DD... what a fool.

But finally many years on, and no black hair... or any hair for that matter Seb managed to get a chance to touch his great white buffalo, thanks to Don.

Don had a Nintendo 64DD boxed and in mint condition for Seb to look at, alongside a complete collection of its games. It was a beautiful moment watching Seb finally become one with this product, and made the visit worth it initself.

It's not often you find one of these boxed, and it's not often a legend lets you unbox one. So, again, a big thank you to Don for inviting us over, you've made very fond memories for the Retro Dodo team, and for that I cannot thank you enough.

Retro gaming comes in all shapes and forms, and we all know that you don't need to be sat in front of a TV screen to enjoy or even think about your favourite games and characters. There is so much memorabilia and art out there for us to immerse ourselves in, from character design books and fan artwork to figurines and plushies for decorating your office or games room. Still, there is no act of devotion to your favourite series or hero greater than having them tattooed on your body for everyone to see forevermore, a symbol of your undying devotion to a game or story that has had a profound impact on your life.

One artist, in particular, is making huge waves in the retro gaming world with his incredible Pokémon tattoos, creating pop-culture mashups that combine all of the things we loved through the 90s that made us who we are, the code that shaped us through our childhoods. And yes, that includes, Pokémon, WWE, and Gremlins.

I sat down to chat with Dublin-based tattooist Matsy on the latest episode of the Retro Dodo Podcast and talked about his career, how he finds his inspiration, how he got into tattooing Pokémon, and much more. The following article is made up of sections from that interview, but if you want to hear all of the extra juicy parts like how Matsy developed a Pokémon Go addiction and a secret X-Factor audition, then you'll need to listen to the full podcast episode!

Right, that's enough intro; it's time for you to meet the Pokémon Tattooer you've all seen on your 'For You' page and delve into his life. Take it away, Matsy!

Getting To Know Matsy The Pokémon Tattooer

Retro Dodo: Today we are joined by tattoo artist, retro gaming enthusiast, and fellow Pokémon lover, Matsy. I'm really excited for you to join us on the podcast because I'm a big fan of your work and you represent a medium where art and retro gaming can combine in such a unique way. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, give us a quick introduction for the readers, where you live, and what you do.

Matsy: Hey, so my name is Matsy. My real name is Matthew Larkin. My nickname as a kid was always Matsy, so that's how that became a thing. I've been tattooing for over eight years. I'm from Dublin, Ireland, and I mainly do anime, gaming, pop culture, and reference tattoos. 

Retro Dodo: The first thing that I saw that you had worked on was a little Game Boy that looked like Kirby, and next to that Togepi eating some Mcdonald's chips. If you're doing a Pokémon Tattoo or a retro gaming-inspired design, are you going back and playing Pokémon red or pulling out a Game Boy, or are you drawing upon the memories and everything that you've had from playing these games as a kid. Are you revisiting old cartoons or anything like that? What's the process? 

Matsy: So, I think from the start, I saw this pocket in the market that no one was doing Pokémon or anime or whatever. You go into a tattoo shop and if you asked for a game reference or an anime reference, they wouldn't stick you with someone who not just specialised in it but knew about it. They put you with the colour artist or they put you with the best tattooer in the shop. Which at the time was probably fine. But I went in once to a shop and I asked for the three starters; Charmander, Bulbasaur and Squirtle, and they put me with a colour artist.

Matsy: I came in on the day and he showed me the image and it was just three Google images of the characters Photoshopped close together to fit the area and I was like 'This is this is not what I wanted.' So, I put an image together myself; they were intertwined with each other. You know, they weren't just random images. I wanted them communicating, to be a full cohesive piece. The market just never had anything like that, so when I started, I knew what I wanted to do instantly. Like I obviously did a lot of styles from the start. I did every style to see what sort of worked and what didn't. But I knew that gaming, anime, especially Pokémon, was what I wanted to focus on.

Matsy: I would love to be the Pokémon tattooer. I would love for people to be like, 'Oh, Matsy, the Pokémon tattooer.' That's it. That's all I want. If I can get that status, I've nailed what I saw I had to do. And whatever happens after that is amazing. Yeah, so I started just drawing up loads of mashups of just kind of funny Pokémon designs because as an apprentice, I was drawing more rather than tattooing more. So I had loads of time to draw and learn and everything else.

Matsy: So I posted all these Pokémon pieces. They were taken, everyone came in and I was posting them. As I was just posting them online, it just became more popular and you could see this market for gaming anime Pokémon tattoos was growing. And I was like, 'I told you, I knew this was gonna happen.' Like I knew there were so many people out there at my age, in my generation that wanna get this stuff tattooed on them. So why isn't there anyone out doing it?

Matsy: There was a small pocket of people around, but not in Ireland. There was maybe one or two lads that were doing great work, but they weren't pushing it because the shops maybe they were walking in, didn't want them pushing this. were like, this isn't going to flow. So I was given that opportunity in my shop. I was told to learn this, this, this, but I was given the freedom to draw what I wanted and post it and see if it worked. I remember once I drew like...a lot of Zubats all together. And it was a real traditional piece, but it was just a lot of Zubats. There was a banner underneath it that just said, 'F*@k Off.' It's for like, in the cave... my emotion in Rock Cave or whichever one it was of just like that feeling I had. It was just every single time, like, you know, you got into an interaction. I was like, f*@k off.

Retro Dodo: So how did you get into tattooing? Have you always been into art, and was tattooing always a natural progression that you knew you wanted to move into?

Matsy: Years ago, like many of us, I fell in love with Dragon Ball Z. I was a huge Dragon Ball Z fan. Like my mom and dad, Goku was someone who taught me compassion, taught me how to just be a good person all around. I took a lot more from the show than the epic fights and the amazing story and stuff. So that show, it's etched in my heart and I know it is for a lot of other people.

Matsy: I was watching it one day and my dad came in and he was quite artistic. He came in and he just asked 'Do want me to draw one of those characters for you?' And I just kind of stopped. And I looked up and I was like, okay. So he put this little table down. He had a few coloring pencils and a pencil and he paused the TV. And he paused the TV on Krillin. Out of all the characters that I would have loved him to draw, at that moment, he paused it on Krillin, right? And I was like, I'm not gonna say anything, he's doing something cool for me, let's just see what happens. And my dad just started drawing, and I couldn't believe it.

Matsy: I must have been like seven or eight at the time. And I remember just like sitting there watching him, looking at the drawing, looking up at the TV and looking back at the drawing and just putting this thing down on paper. And I was like, this is pure magic. I was witnessing pure magic. I was entranced. He finished the drawing and he showed me and I was like 'This is unbelievable.' I was like, this is the Da Vinci of Krillins. It's unbelievable.

Matsy: He was about to put his signature at the bottom, and I said no, I just wanted the picture. So, me being young and just stupid, I went outside to the road I lived on and three of my friends were messing around. And I went down and I showed them, but I said I did it. And my friends were like, 'Wow, so cool.' And I was like, yeah, trying to be popular and stuff.

Matsy: My dad saw me doing it. He said 'I saw you tell them that you drew that, that's not cool.' I apologised and felt stupid, but instead of being angry, he said that I should learn how to do it for myself. So he got a lot of tracing paper for me, and I had a few magazines with like Pokémon and Dragon Ball Z and stuff. And he just told me, to trace these images over and over again, get a feel to it.

Matsy: I remember doing it the first couple of times and just looking, like, you when you take the paper off it. And it's the most, like, complimentary kind of thing to yourself. Because, if you want to get good at football, you'll kick a football around for, a few weeks or whatever, and you'll get better at kicking it, you'll get better at heading it, whatever. But drawing, I just copied it, I just traced an image, and I took away the paper, and I looked at it, and it instantly was, like, 100 times better than what I was actually doing.

Retro Dodo: And how did you land your first tattoo job?

Matsy: I got my first role in a tattoo shop from a friend who ran the laser removal service. He was leaving the ship and told me I'd be great behind the reception desk, so that's where I started. At the start of the day, you'd have clients come in and they'd say who they're getting tattooed by. And I'd say, 'Yeah, no problem, they'll be with you in a few minutes. Sit down there,' etc. So the clients would come in really reserved and really quiet and everything else. And that's all well and good. That's cool. But by the end of the day, when they finished the tattoo, big or small, doesn't matter, they'd come back up to pay and they would be a completely different person.

Matsy: They would just be full of energy, like this tattoo is after giving them like a coat of armour nearly, like a new personality. They were confident, there was something different about them. And I was seeing this every single day and I couldn't believe that tattoos were doing this to people, they were giving people this... there's so much confidence and it changed people. And I was like, 'That's what I want to do. I want to do this every single day to people. I want to give people this like coat of armour. I want to give people this new personality.'

Nerdy Nostalgia 

Retro Dodo: I'm assuming we're kind of similar ages and grew up in a similar time, we both experienced the retro gamers guide to growing up as a child through the 90s and beyond, the blueprint for being a 90s kid. Getting into Jurassic Park, we all loved Pokémon, we all had something Sonic-related, etc.

Matsy: I feel like our generation is very special in that sense because I don't think there'll ever be a better moment in life growing up the way we did with the games we had, with the freedom we had without social media and everything else. I think it's a really special time that a lot of people will definitely take for granted and they won't appreciate it. And I think that's why I'm definitely, I speak about it and I... my job is basically tattooing these characters and these games for people. Because I know how special it is to them. I know what it's done for me and how much it makes me be me. So it's so important.

Retro Dodo: We talk about this quite a lot because it's one of those things where we do discuss whether retro gaming is going to be as big for the newer generations. Is my copy of Pokémon Red that's boxed going to be of interest to them? Are Genesis games going to just be tossed into an 'Everything you can get for 10 pounds' box? I don't want to get too deep early on, but I see so many kids on TikTok and Instagram and not connecting in the way that we used to do when we'd sit down and play Mario Party on the N64 or when we'd get two people playing, you know, on the Sega Mega Drive together and actually sat in the same room with wired controllers, actually spending that quality time that we all had as kids. So what you do I think is really important because you're preserving these characters and these games on the people who love them and keeping the feelings they evoked alive, 

Matsy: That's it, yeah, sort of having it on your body for life. It's a big thing. I think a special thing about getting tattoos like these... I was only talking about this the other day actually, is that if I'm walking down the street and I have a Kirby tattoo on my arm, someone that also likes Kirby... that sort of wall breaks down instantly and it's like, 'That's a Kirby tattoo, that's amazing.' And we both instantly have something in common and we, you know, we'll talk about it and it's a real friendly thing. Whereas like other tattoos, and I'm not saying anything bad about them at all, but they don't have that same appeal. I'll see someone walking in the street and if I see them having a cool realism statement, that's cool. But I don't really feel like I should walk up and be like, 'That's really cool.' Whereas if it's like something that you like as in something game and anime related, if it's an anime character, you could look at him like, 'Oh, Goku, that's amazing. He's my favorite, he's amazing!' It sort of breaks that sort of barrier of like, you know, having a good conversation with someone just randomly.

Pokémon Mashups & Coming Up With Ideas 

Retro Dodo: Talk to us about how you come up with the ideas for your mashups. The tattoos that have gone viral across the internet and have made you a social media sensation. Are you just drawing again upon knowledge of retro gaming or are people coming to you with these ideas? Are you playing a lot of retro games in your spare time to prepare?

Matsy: Yeah, it's literally that. So, there are games that I played years ago as a kid that I take inspiration from, but when it comes to mashups, the characters have to, mashup in the right way rather than just, 'Oh, he kind of looks like him,' you know? It's like I used to love the play-on-word kind of mashups. I did a Cubone and Post Malone mashup, so it was Post Cubone. It has that word on play. I did an Ariana Grande-Goldeen mix-up, so it was Ariana Goldeen.

Matsy: You can mash things up, that's all well and good. But if there's a deeper meaning to them, if there's a funny humor thing as well with them, it just makes them better. So to come up with a mashup, generally what I do is I always open up 151 and I just look down and I'm like, what was I thinking about this week? What was I thinking about this month? Game-wise or pop culture-wise? What's cool now? What's current? And Stranger Things might be there and I'm like, what? What Stranger Things references would be cool as a Pokémon? And I'm like, which one suits the best? That's how we sort of go from there. So yeah, 95 % of the time it's me. And then 5 % of the time it would be a client specifically asking for, I want these two mashed up. And I'm like, absolutely, no problem. And some of them are amazing. Like that Stranger Things one; I did an Abra-Eleven piece on a girl in America and she gave me that idea. I was like, 'This is incredible.' Abra is also my favorite Pokémon because he sleeps it. He sleeps 18 hours a day and when stuff gets real, he gets the f*@k out of there. He's like, 'Nah, I'm not having this.' I'm like, bro, I'm literally Abra, bro. I want that. 

Matsy's Retro Gaming Past

Retro Dodo: So other than Pokémon, if you had to pick a second series gaming-wise, what would it be? Are you going for Sonic? Are you going for Mario? Are you heading towards Smash Brothers? 

Matsy: So I am a massive, massive Metal Gear Solid fan. The three for me probably would be Pokémon, MGS, and The Last of Us just because they're the ones that have had the most impact. Obviously, my earliest ones have their own little pocket. But Metal Gear Solid, I remember playing that back in the day. I think it came out in like 99 or 98 or something like that, but I remember playing it and I was just blown away by the whole new way of playing the game. The stealth, the angles, the story – it was all incredible. And the fact that it's like... it's very Japanese-based as well. It had it all. And the first game was a masterpiece. The second game was also a masterpiece.

Matsy: I will also die on this hill - playing as Rodan was a massive letdown, but it had some of the best boss battles in a game at that time, probably the best. And the story was like, it was so messed up at the very end when you're riding and you're naked and you're trying to like escape from the… what were they called? The shells or whatever. And you get these calls from the Colonel and he's telling you about this alien abduction and it's just, it's all gibberish. It's, it doesn't make sense. He's telling you to turn off the game. Like, and you're sitting there playing it. You're like, you think there's someone inside the TV talking to you directly. Like they break the fourth wall so well in a very creative, haunting way. And that game stuck with me forever. 

Matsy: Then Metal Gear Solid 3 comes out and blows them all out of the water. And again, it's a completely different story. It's a completely different group of characters that are just incredibly easy to fall in love with. And it's done so well. That's probably one of the best games ever, probably one the best games ever for boss battles too!

If you’re a regular reader of my work, then you’re probably aware of the catchphrase ‘the retro gaming community always surprises me’ that I seem to have given myself. I say it all the time, but only because it’s true. For a community that collects old media, you sure have an endless supply of new and exciting ideas, and it’s a privilege to report on them every day. The latest creation that’s caught my eye is this demake of a classic Sonic the Hedgehog level for the Game Boy DMG, something that might probably have sent Nintendo and Sega into a downward spiral back in the day but is greatly appreciated in 2025.

Game dev and YouTuber RetroSilver has recreated the Green Hill Zone level from Sonic the Hedgehog 1. Released in 1991, it’s an unbelievable game that doesn’t need any introduction, the game that brought us the fastest Hedgehog, one of my favourite games in Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, and three films that have taken the world by storm over the last few years.

When I see this demake, I’m reminded of the difference between Donkey Kong Country and Donkey Kong Land. I’m so used to seeing Sonic the Hedgehog 1 in colour that the change seems massive, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to give it a go for myself. I love playing Sonic games on our favourite retro handhelds, but this project has a whole new level of 8-bit nostalgia to it that appeals to the handheld nerd in me.

RetroSilver has made the project using GB Studio and goes into detail about the processes involved with recreating the Green Hill Zone in the style of the DMG. Watch as he makes Dr Robotniks Badniks and places rings on the levels for Sonic to collect. And while RetroSilver shows off this level on an Anbernic RG35XX, I’d love to test it out on an Analogue Pocket or in a flash cart on an actual Game Boy.

While there isn’t any information as to whether RetroSilver will make this project available for us to play, the video definitely gives you enough information to work if you want to recreate the level on GB Studio for yourself. For someone who writes about games and doesn’t make them, I found the video to be pretty insightful, and if you already have some 8-bit game development experience then the whole process should be a doddle. We’d love for you to get in contact with your finished results if you do give it a go!

Looking back to the year 2000 conjures up many memories. London’s Millenium Bridge wobbling into existence, Posh Spice losing out to Sophie Ellis-Bexter in the biggest chart rivalry since Blur vs Oasis, and the collective sigh of relief that Y2K didn’t bork absolutely everything.

The start of the new millennium also ushered in a new era of gaming. Timeless franchises such as Hitman and Deus Ex were born, Nintendo sold its 100 millionth Game Boy, Microsoft acquired Bungie, and Sony launched a little console called the PlayStation 2.

The advent of 2025 seems like a perfect time to look back and reflect on the impactful titles from a quarter of a century ago. Not to be selfish and too self-indulgent, I’ve reached out to various lovely people from across the games industry to join me on this stroll down memory lane.

Below is a collection of celebrations of games that weren’t all commercial or critical darlings, with heart-picks chosen by journalists, developers, podcasters and more, all coming together to paint a picture of the gaming landscape in the year 2000.

To you, dear reader, I hope you enjoy reminiscing along with us as we wish a very happy 25^th birthday to the following titles.

Metal Gear Solid: Ghost Babel – Original Release Date: 27^th April 2000

Celebrated by Simon Byron, Managing Director, Yogscast Games

These days, we’re used to carrying around versions of home console games in our pockets, but in 2000, an era chocked full of half-arsed, compromised conversions, it was a genuine exception. 

Ghost Babel – a game which distilled the essence of the full-sized Metal Gear  Solid PlayStation experience into a 2.3-inch screen – was just that: exceptional, featuring many of the characters, gameplay mechanics and set pieces we’d fallen in love with a couple of years earlier, but in a top-down perspective and in 56 colours. 

I’d not played any of the MSX originals, so this was a revelation. Its release coincided with a rare Mediterranean holiday, and I could not stop playing it. It may, genuinely, have contributed to my divorce shortly after.

Cool Cool Toon – Original Release Date: 10^th August 2000

Celebrated by Nick Thorpe, Features Editor, Retro Gamer Magazine

25 years ago, players expected beautiful pixel art and fighting games from SNK. Cool Cool Toon, a Dreamcast exclusive rhythm action game, completely played against those expectations. 

Though the novel control scheme based around the analogue stick made it a distinctive game to play, it's the style that steals the show here – there are great tracks like Irony ~If there is Warmth~ to play to and everything takes place in a vibrant 3D cartoon world, bearing the distinctive visual style of illustrator Ippei Gyoubu. Originally released only in Japan, a fan patch finally brought the game into English in 2023.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon – Original Release Date: 10^th October 2000

Celebrated by Rosie Caddick, Host, PlayStation Access

Spyro: Year of the Dragon is one of my most treasured games. Not because of all of the gems you collect, but because this is one of the games which taught me how to play video games!

And I also simply adore it! The colourful and varied visuals still blow me away, with each level and character feeling unique. It has one of my favourite soundtracks in gaming, composed by none other than Stewart Copland! The platforming and minigames are great fun (apart from boxing the yeti - that “dumb yeti” can keep Bartholomew’s ball!). You have levels where you could play as different characters, and they all had their own feel and abilities.

Agent 9 used to be my favourite, and Spyro was a joy to play as. I could charge around all of the level hub worlds for hours, and doing the gliding challenges always felt great when you nailed them!

Honestly, I could go on for ages about why I love this game. It will ALWAYS be one of my favourites. Happy 25th anniversary Spyro: Year of the Dragon!

TimeSplitters – Original Release Date: 24^th November 2000 (PAL)

Celebrated by Daryl Baxter, Freelance Writer and Author

TimeSplitters was one of the first games that made me realise I was playing a next-generation game on my new PlayStation 2 console in 2001. Although others had GoldenEye, Perfect Dark and more in previous years, TimeSplitters stood out by playing its multiplayer mode at a full 60 frames per second. 

Featuring incredible graphics and fun level design, it felt like everything had gone up a step for first person shooters on a console. Playing deathmatches in the restaurant map is a memory I still vividly remember, and I hope that we’ll someday see a remaster of the whole trilogy.

Pokémon Crystal – Original Release Date: 14^th December 2000

Celebrated by Paige Harvey, Gaming Community Manager, Special Effect

I first played Pokémon when I was four years old back in 1998, but no Pokémon game has captured my heart like Pokémon Crystal when it released in 2000/2001.

From the gorgeous, glossy, cartridge to the (in my opinion) top tier starters of Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile, Pokémon Crystal lit a love of the series in me that has persisted til the current day. Conquering Team Rocket bases, catching your first Red Gyarados, figuring out the puzzles of the Ruins of Alph; Crystal had everything, and I love it to this day.

Vib Ribbon – Original Release Date: 30^th August 2000 (PAL)

Celebrated by Mol, Host, EXP Required

A rhythm game originally designed as a car advertisement, Vib-Ribbon has you take control of a bunny like creature (Vibri) as she traverses a black and white 2D landscape. Obstacles appear in the form of loops, pits, and boxes - press one of four buttons (or a combination of two) to make Vibri traverse them correctly. Miss the mark too many times and she'll devolve twice before the level ends; correct timing sees her gain a crown and wings.

The soundtrack is short but sweet - to be expected from the visionary behind Parappa the Rapper and Um Jammer Lammy!, but the real charm comes in opening the disc drive and inserting a music CD. Depending on the tempo, custom levels can be challenging to downright hellish… all set to your own personal soundtrack.

SSX – Original Release Date: 26^th October 2000

Celebrated by Josh Bailey, Writer & Narrative Designer

For all the deliciously tactile joy of carving smoothly through powdery snow or scraping perilously over icy planes, SSX truly soars when you’re airborne.

A fleeting weightlessness greets the apex of every gravity-defying jump as the pounding music fades and the camera tilts skyward. For a moment, it's just you, the horizon, the sound of rushing wind, and the moreish tick, tick, tick of the score counter climbing.

It’s an absolute joy—right up there with a Resident Evil 4 headshot or an OutRun 2 power slide as a timeless, endlessly repeatable slice of grade-A game design that never gets old.

Shenmue – Original Release Date: 1^st December 2000 (PAL)

Celebrated by Mike Diver, Author and Editor

With university in full flow, I didn’t have time for video games in 2000. It wasn’t until I bought an Xbox 360 that my passion for games was reawakened, and I caught up with what I’d missed: the PlayStation 2, the GameCube, the Dreamcast. I’m a big Mega Drive fan so getting Sega’s swansong system was a must. And playing Shenmue on it transcended all expectations. 

Special games do that – they exist out of time, beyond the specs of the hardware that first carried them. Being in that world – a stiff and sharp-edged version of small-town Japan, but full of heart and wholly enveloping of atmosphere – was spellbinding in a way that the then-new GTA IV couldn’t rival.

Its stakes were high but its pace unhurried, reminding us – reminding me, as a still-young adult trying to navigate daunting responsibilities – that sometimes it’s OK to slow down.

Jet Set Radio – Original Release Date: 29^th June 2000

Celebrated by Charlotte Willis, PR Account Director, Diva Agency

Jet Set Radio and its unmistakable vibes live rent-free in my head. The iconic cel-shading and graffiti-covered streets had me obsessed from the first screenshot. I finally played it on Dreamcast years later, just as I was diving into Japanese street fashion, spending hours browsing FRUiTS magazine scans online after school. 

And it wasn’t just the aesthetic that scratched an itch in my brain. The soundtrack echoed the music that regularly played in my house—Beastie Boys, Prodigy, Public Enemy—while its slick skating reminded me of the Tony Hawk series. Most importantly, it introduced me to the musical (and Twitter) legend Hideki Naganuma. JET SET RADIOOOOO!. 

The Sims – Original Release Date: 4^th February 2000

Celebrated by Paul Weedon, Freelance Journalist

A formative game for so many reasons, one thing that remains forever etched in my memory about The Sims is its gorgeous, lilting jazz soundtrack. Working alongside pianist John R Burr and Doobie Brothers saxophonist Marc Russo, composer Jerry Martin concocted an inviting soundscape that burrowed its way into a generation’s collective subconscious. 

Its mix of comforting, often melancholic piano pieces served as an effective accompaniment to hours spent reimagining your Sims’ suburban existence while they sat stalled in suspended animation. Despite looping away endlessly, those compositions never once became repetitive - a small wonder that remains nothing short of magic.

Banjo-Tooie – Original Release Date: 20^th November 2000

Celebrated by Jess Thomas, PR Manager, Heaven Media

Picture the scene. It’s the year 2000, I’m 8 years old, I own the clear blue translucent N64, and Banjo-Tooie has been released. Just when I thought my love for the bear and bird duo couldn’t reach a greater height, little me had no idea what was about to transpire, and honestly what isn't there to love about Banjo-Tooie?! 

It takes everything great about the original and turns up the dial 100%. From more colourful and intriguing world design, memorable characters, and boss fights that stand out from the crowd, it’s up there as one of my favourite games ever.

Disney’s 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue – Original Release Date: 13^th November 2000

Celebrated by Nathalie Galla, Community Manager, Godot Engine

This 3D action-adventure game is barely younger than myself yet forms a core memory of mine. You take control of a dalmatian puppy to search and collect bones, fight evil toys with the power of your bark, and free your kidnapped siblings from the grasp of Cruella de Vil.

The game forced me to learn how to play games with keyboard and mouse for the first time, and I vividly remember begging my non-gamer mother to take over when things got too hard (or scary) for young me. We even adopted a real dalmatian as family pet later on.

Marvel vs Capcom 2 – Original Release Date: 23^rd March 2000

Celebrated by Ashley Schofield, Freelance Journalist

Even twenty-five years out from its release, Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes is still heralded as one of the most important fighting games of all time. An eternity away from beloved characters being reduced to just ‘functions’, the absolutely gigantic roster of equally famous and obscure picks is MvC2’s greatest weapon - where else can you find Doctor Doom and Hayato on the same screen? 

While not the most balanced game in the world, the sheer amount of love for both worlds that shines through in characters’ animations, attacks and voice acting is sublime. Not to mention, we wouldn’t have had the likes of Marvel vs Capcom 3 or Tatsunoko vs Capcom without it, and that’s not a world I want to live in.

Grandia II – Original Release Date: 3^rd August 2000

Celebrated by Amy Mallet, Social Content & Community Manager at Future Games Show

At the dawn of the 21st century, Squaresoft was dominating the RPG genre. In fact I'd be willing to bet my own nan that Final Fantasy IX will be nestled somewhere on this list. So, to that end, dear reader, I'd like you to consider one of the overlooked outliers of Square's late '90s to early '00s reign; Grandia II. 

Developed by Game Arts for the Dreamcast, this game has the beloved hallmarks of an iconic, Eastern role-playing adventure; an innovative battle system, a lovable party of mismatched heroes, a scandalous love triangle, an ancient, malevolent god scattered into pieces across the land, a quick-witted talking bird… I could go on.

If like me, you’ve gobbled up all the old school Final Fantasy games you can eat and are longing to rekindle that childhood nostalgia, lose yourself in fantastic character writing, and sink into a 25-30 hour story that will leave a lasting impression, pick it up on a modern day console - the HD collection brought it to the PlayStation and Microsoft stores last year. Do not sleep on Grandia II, even though it’s 25 years young. 

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask – Original Release Date: 27^th April 2000

Celebrated by Sara Veal, Chair, GamesAid

I refused to play Majora's Mask when it came out. Ocarina of Time remains my all-time favourite game. Anything less than a direct continuation felt insulting. My frosty aversion has thawed as I've delved into other adventures with Link, however.

For this retrospective, I decided to finally step back in time and explore Termina, a darker parallel to Hyrule. The claustrophobic pressure to save the world in 3 days resonates with the spikier realities of life since that endless summer where I saved Zelda for the first time. While I may have enjoyed it then, I deeply appreciate playing it now.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 – Original Release Date: 19^th September 2000

Celebrated by Alex Lotz, Producer, Ziggurat Interactive

While the game’s stratospheric jumps, physics-defying grinds, and cosmic “Skate Heaven” stage carry flavors of Midway arcade sports games, it’s easy to assert Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 did more for skateboarding – both its mainstream presence and growth as a subculture – than NFL Blitz or NBA Jam did for the sports that inspired them. 

The game’s playfully subversive aesthetic, introduction of manuals as a mechanic, incomparably tight and fluid controls, well-curated soundtrack, and route-dense level design combine to create contagious fun and astounding replayability. All this inspired many to follow the command given in the end credits: “GO SKATE!”

American McGee’s Alice – Original Release Date: 5^th December 2000

Celebrated by Anni Valkama, Brand Manager, Playtonic

Whilst holding somewhat of a cult classic status now, American McGee's Alice launched at a time when PC gaming was not the norm. I do not quite remember how our family ended up getting a hold of a copy of this dark depiction of Lewis Carroll's classic, but it captivated me at an age that I probably should not have been playing anything with knives, blood, mental asylums, and a Cheshire Cat who's nothing but flesh and bones.

While the game never really shone with its janky and tanky, Tomb Raider-like controls, where McGee made an everlasting impact on young me was through the world and character building, something that he carried over to Alice: Madness Returns 11 years later.

Final Fantasy IX – Original Release Date: 7^th July 2000 

Celebrated by Jack Mullen, Host, EXP Required

Final Fantasy IX is an amalgamation of both the 8 Bit and 16 Bit era of JPRG’s, and a technical consolidation of everything the PS1 era had to offer, balancing nostalgia with an insistence on moving the genre forward.

The game’s themes of loss, war and (personal) identity are married perfectly to the otherwise cozy and quirky design, and bolstered by a traditional combat system wherein you must teach the diverse party their job specific abilities.

The game shines most brightly through its characters, with their individual stories feeding into the prevailing message of choosing your own path regardless of what the world forces upon you.

Counter-Strike – Original Release Date: 9^th November 2000

Celebrated by Brandon Saltalamacchia, Founder, Retro Dodo

Counter-Strike releasing 25 years ago makes me feel incredibly nostalgic, a feeling that provides vivid memories of creating my first LAN-party using my families incredibly old, loud and heavy PC that I had to lug to my friend Hugh’s house with my father’s help. I was introduced to it thanks to my dad who would play Counter-Strike in the evenings with his friends, eventually putting together a clan of old fogies called [NaKs], translated to natural born killers. There was nothing natural about them, and none of them were any good at the game, but I could hear and witness the sheer joy of my father playing this game with his friends and organising clan battles to beat the other oldies.

It was a game that brought together gamers from a wide range of ages; teenagers, fathers, and grandparents who wanted to experience PC gaming at its finest. I invited my friends to download it and play with me just like my father did, and eventually it made its way around my secondary school with friends and other children organising clan members to partner with in order to play together when they got home. It ignited team work, communication, and reaction skills that I still use now, and more importantly, it helped create some incredible relationships with friends who I still see to this day.

Although some may say that Counter-Strike was not the ideal game for a 12-year-old to play, it actually helped me feel inclusive at school. I was good at the game, I helped other students, I got competitive, I learned how to communicate strategically, and one of my fondest moments was when my father asked me to join [NaKs] one evening to assist in a competitive clan battle as one of their players couldn’t make it.

There I was, training for all these years to finally fight side by side with my father against a bunch of old dogs half-way across the world at 11pm at night. We won that clan battle and my father thanked me for my help, though he still insisted that even though I had a better K/D ratio than him, he was still better than me. 

We both knew he was wrong, but it was a great moment for me as a young kid, and one could say it ignited my love for competitive gamin which I still dabble into this day, even though [NaKs] have long-since disbanded.

Pokémon Stadium – Original Release Date: 7^th April 2000 (PAL)

Celebrated by Seb Santabarbara, Editor in Chief, Retro Dodo

Pokémon Stadium has a special place in my heart for so many reasons. I spent countless hours playing Pokémon Red on the Game Boy and wishing the Pokémon battles looked as epic as they did in the Anime series (and inside my head). Seeing the characters I collected on my Pokémon Cards and in my Pokédex up on a big screen like I was a bona fide trainer gave 10-year-old me the experience I craved, especially when using the critters I had raised on my Game Boy game in glorious battles using the transfer pack.

Oddly, it's the mini-games, the feature that Nintendo probably added as a little bit of light relief, that I think of the most fondly. My mum and I would spend hours playing 'Ekans Hoop Hurl' and Sandslash's 'Dig! Dig! Dig!', so much so that I immediately think about us both frantically mashing the L & R buttons whenever I see an N64 controller. We’re both older now, but she's still tough competition on Run Rattata Run or Sushi-Go-Run!

The box art, the transfer pak, the game music – everything about Pokémon Stadium provided the ultimate Poké-fans dream. Like seeing Lord of the Rings for the first time or that first play of Ocarina of Time, the day I saw Blastoise, Venusaur, Charizard, and Mewtwo pulling off their signature moves in all their 64-bit glory is something that I'll never forget. If they ever remake this game, I'll be the first in the queue to buy it!

The Playdate is one of those consoles that never fails to make us feel intrigued. We're all used to the general shape and form of a Game Boy, but whenever I pick up the Playdate I still feel like I'm discovering it for the first time again. It's a handheld that defies the norm, largely due to the hand crank sticking out of the side, and one that promotes devs making their own creations for other users to test out and play.

That's exactly what Richard Jordan of BitGlint Games has done, creating his first Playdate project in the form of a Space Invaders clone for the little yellow enigma. It's called Retro Invaders and works exactly like Space Invaders, with the same mechanics and action but modified sprites to avoid Taito coming and knocking on the door.

I've just released my first Playdate project, a little experimental Space Invaders clone called Retro Invaders. If you have a Playdate, and want some simple shooty fun then download it for free from bitglint.itch.io 😎 #gamedev #indiedev #pixelart #playdate

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— Richard Jordan (@ericretro.bsky.social) February 18, 2025 at 8:58 PM

Retro Invaders is available to download from the BitGlint itch.io page for free, with users already sideloading it onto their Playdates and enjoying Richard's first Playdate offering. 'It's my first project on the platform and has served as a test bed for learning the C API and creating my own dev framework with a view to writing more stuff for this excellent little device,' says Richard, adding 'the Playdate is an awesome piece of kit and lovely to develop for. The restrictions you have just seem to make it more fun.'