☆ Sometimes The First Video Game In A Series Remains The Best ☆ #Retrogaming

Have you ever played a video game that is so pure and perfect that any further iteration of that game would only ruin it?

Well I’m guessing that you have all played the game that I’m thinking of and you may disagree with my thoughts but in my opinion the first in the long running series is still by far and away the best in the series.

The series has had around 13 games released since the first game was released in August 1991 and that ’91 version is still the best.

☆ Retro Review: Gradius III - Super Nintendo "a million bullets flying at you from all directions" ☆ #Retrogaming

GRADIUS III - SNES

The Intro:
There’s a point in every video game console’s life cycle when a game comes along that truly showcases the power of the hardware. 

These games push the graphical and processing capabilities of the hardware to the max, setting benchmarks for others to follow.

☆ Super Nintendo SNES Classic Mini Unboxing - "Now We're Playing With mini Super Power!"☆ #Retrogaming #SNESClassic

29/09/2017 Will be forever etched in our minds as the return of the Super Nintendo.

Arguably the greatest video games console ever made, this is a big day my friends. 

I'm happy to say that mine arrived promptly this morning and I went about unboxing this beauty and seeing what it's all about.

Take a look at my unboxing video above which includes some awesome music from Captive Portal and then we'll sit down and have a chin wag about the SNES Classic in a bit more detail.

☆ The Retro Console Boom Of 2017 ☆ #Retrogaming

It’s an exciting time to be a gamer and if you have an appreciation for retro gaming then it’s like all your Christmases have come at once with all the retro gaming projects that are going on right now.

☆ Things That Go Into The Back Of The TV ☆ #Retrogaming

Recently I stumbled across a picture of an Atari TV Switch Box on Twitter. 

That picture brought back many of the memories of connecting various consoles to my old CRT TV that I had in my bedroom for many years. I always thought the switch boxes looked pretty cool and were an elegant solution to switching between the console of choice and the TV picture.

☆ Thoughts From The Freezer - #1 "Super Play Issue 48 is REAL!" ☆ #Retrogaming

Join me for a chin wag about all the things in the world of video games that I have found interesting over the last few weeks.

☆ Pang Man Part 30 - "The SNES Mini and Other Random Thoughts" ☆ #Retrogaming

When the NES mini came out last Christmas I admit I didn’t anticipate the demand. I didn’t pre-order and missed out. Before I knew it, they were all sold out and I was gutted.

Part of me is tempted to get one off eBay, but I just can’t justify to myself paying £150+ for something that was sold for £70 odd pounds a short time before!

☆ My Most Memorable Video Game Level Types - Water, Ice, Desert & Sky ☆ #Retrogaming

In all of video gaming history, there has been an unwritten rule that every video game known to man must contain a Water Level, An Ice/Snow/Winter Level, A Desert Level and A Sky Level.

I've played many games over the years and for each of these level types I have experienced a fair few variants of these levels.

Today I'd like to present to you my most memorable versions of each of these level types.

☆ Ben Steele's Video Games Memories "Karnov & That Damn Duck Hunt Dog!" ☆

When I find myself with uninterrupted time to play video games I always find myself returning to my old classics, games I’ve played hundreds of times even when I have new games not even opened from their wrapping waiting to be played on the latest consoles.

Although I do love new games they just don’t excite me like the old ones.

Is it an age thing?

Is it the memories the games release hidden in the depths of my subconscious or are they just better more enjoyable games?

☆ That Elusive SNES Mini Has A Massive Amount Of Awesome Games! ☆ #Retrogaming

It's real......

It's happening.....

It's probably already SOLD OUT!

BUT Let's salivate over the video games that will be packaged into this SNES MINI MARVEL!

☆ What is Arcade Perfect? ☆

Growing up in the 80’s and the 90’s, Video Games always strived to hit the highest accolade in gaming at the time. That accolade was the notion of being ‘Arcade Perfect’.

It was a lofty ambition for an 8 Bit console or Computer and an achievable stretch for the 16 Bit consoles of the early 90’s.

It’s the term that I would hope for in any video games review of the time and turned a maybe buy game into must have game.

The term has fallen away over the years as the console and computer powerhouses of the last couple of generations have exceeded the Arcade games arena in most cases.

Thinking about this term I began to let my mind wander to those halcyon days of Arcade Perfection and started to compile myself a list of the games from that era that reached that Arcade Perfect Accolade.

☆ Games Freezer Video Games Related Awesomeness Roundup ☆

I haven't done one of these articles for a while but I've got a cracking set of video games related awesomeness just for you.....

☆ Banana Switch The Video ☆

 BANANA SWITCH 

Have YOU seen the fan made Banana Nintendo Switch 'commercial'? 

Inspired by Donkey Kong Country and Super Nintendo it's a must see!

"STAY FROSTY!"

☆ Learn How To Play Mega Drive Games on the Super Nintendo with a "Retro Gen" ☆

Sega and Nintendo, two big rival companies back in the early 90s. If you wanted to play Sonic the Hedgehog you had to own or borrow a Sega Mega Drive and if you wanted to play Super Mario world you had to own or borrow a Super Nintendo.

After all these years it is now possible to play Sonic the Hedgehog on the Super Nintendo by using something called RetroGen adaptor.

☆ Iron Commando & Legend To Be Released On SNES! ☆

Piko Interactive will be bringing out a new video game for the Super Nintendo!

Yes, the SNES is getting another new game in 2017!

Correction, the SNES will be getting TWO new games in 2017!

Iron Commando & Legend are heading to SNES assuming the IndiGoGo campaign is a success.

Let's take a closer look and see what this retro gaming goodness is all about then, shall we?

☆ A Video Games Genre That Has Almost Died ☆

In an age where we are surrounded by phone apps and websites that promote real money gambling, I have recently been thinking about the more innocent times when digital gambling was only represented by casino type gambling games on video games systems like the SEGA Master System.

☆ My Fave Platformer Video Games (Minus Super Mario) ☆ #retrogaming

Over the course of the last few days, I’ve been delving into Shu for the first time prior to its Vita release.

Last week I was getting stuck into Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap as it got its PS4 release.

This feels like a good time, therefore, to get misty eyed again for all the awesome platform video games that I have played over the years.

This time though I’m removing all Super Mario games as of course, the Mario franchise is the perfect example of platforming perfection.

So this list maybe should be entitled “If Super Mario Didn’t Exist”

☆ The SNES Mini Video Games Wishlist ☆ #Retrogaming

As the NES Classic production reaches an abrupt end, everyone in video games is left scratching their heads trying to work out why the heck Nintendo pulled the plug?! 

The NES Mini / Classic had all the hallmarks of a barnstorming video games console success. 

It was selling out in seconds as soon as stock came through the door and even into April it was still on a lot of gamers wish lists. 

Fuelled by the end of NES Mini production the rumours of a SNES Classic by Nintendo are reaching a fever pitch and everyone’s favourite video games discussion at this moment in time is 

“Which games will be included in the inevitable follow-up to the NES Classic?”

☆ "Trip The Video Game Lightgun Fantastic!" ☆ #Retrogaming

After hearing a video games discussion on the Giant Bomb Beast cast all about Lightguns it got me thinking about how today’s video games generally don’t necessitate the need for these cool peripherals and how over the years I have played with a fair few awesome lightguns.

Here just for you are my PERSONAL TOP 10 Lightguns that I have had the pleasure to play with…

☆ Which Video Games Gave Me That Sense Of Wonder & Awe? ☆

Having watched from afar as the gaming world enthuses over The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild I have noticed a common theme with the reviews and opinions of the game.

Gamers are enthusing about the game taking them back to the days when video games induced wonder and awe much like the original Legend Of Zelda on the NES did.

You know the games I mean don't you?