Grackler

Late to this, but for people who might like Knightmare, I found the "Knightmare Live!" comedy stage show to be excellent! Seen it at the Fringe a decade or so ago, and a pre-Covid in Manchester, I think they still tour. It's not a reboot as such (it's kid friendly but clearly made for the adult audience that enjoyed it in the past), but the actors in it are fantastic.

This is a great article. The internet, at least the English language internet, is very US-centric these days, and it seems to have gotten much more so as stand-alone websites and chat groups have fallen away to be replaced by big centralised video platforms and social media as the main ways to discuss these things (my guess is it's the nature of search algorithms and the size/tech-dominance of the USA over time).

I know in the UK we have our own history with gaming that you covered well here (and is well documented in places if you know where to look!), but I'd love to hear more about how gaming "grew up" in various places around the globe and how it all links together!

I’ve only played the SNES and first N64 one, so can’t add much except that Mystical Ninja starring Goemon is a fantastic 3D adventure to this day!

I didn’t realise the potential of it, MGS2 is a great example that I never appreciated at the time (I just accepted some games look amazing and some looked janky on any machine)!

But like MVG said about needing to build for the hardware, that cuts both ways back then. Halo or Metroid Prime would not work well on a PS2 as they were heavily tied to their consoles strengths. It soemthing that not as evident in modern, PC-like hardware.

Like this again! Not my cup of tea but glad they aren’t leaving old consoles behind with this new hardware. Could be a boon for pubs/cafes too…

What a cool call-back and event!

@Poodlestargenerica I don’t think mentioning the word legal once is an “obsession”; I’m fine with people playing how they want, I emulate fine and have no issue, I never said I did. I like that it is but that’s a personal thing.

I think saying someone who enjoys the Evercade doesn’t really enjoy or appreciate games is hugely presumptive of you and frankly a bit rude (typical for online discourse sadly).

But since you’ve blocked me (such maturity!) guess I'll have to leave it there.

Great way to keep it alive without the cost.

@Poodlestargenerica Ah ok, I kinda get your first point, but you don't actually get a random selection of things each month. You do get to buy what you want or not, just from a smaller library. So...not much like that really.

And I hugely, hugely disagree on your second point:
I own an Evercade and I enjoy playing the games on it that I have chosen to buy. I don't like been told what I do and don't enjoy by other people tbh.

I like that it supports indie devs, is legal and very cheap, and the extra small size of the EXP means it's ideal for waiting rooms etc. I get I could use a phone or whatever, but I much prefer doing it legally on a dedicated device that supports jobs when the option is there.

@Poodlestargenerica
I don’t really understand how the Evercade is that at all?
It has no subscription element. The games are one-time purchase physical games. And “for people who don’t really like video games” is a super weird comment, it only plays classic video games? Even if you don’t like the games on there, they have a wealth of famously successful games from the past (Capcom games, Duke Nukem, Tomb Raider, Oliver Twins…)

I’m glad they are doing so well, I love the Evercade and hope it grows and grows going forward. The key for me is the games: good retro and interesting indie titles. One day they could do with a machine update, but no rush.
Only complaint would be they need to tighten up on quality. Too many bugs and hardware issues, the low cost is excellent but some work on tightening quality control would work wonders for their reputation.

Edge is iconic, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best! Nice to see mags like PC Zone and GameMaster (which I assumed would be beneath The Grauniad’s radar) get mentioned.
My personal favourite is the successor to Super Play that didn’t make that list: N64 Magazine. I loved all its lives (Super Play/NGC/NGamer) but N64 Magazine just felt like the absolute peak of that team for me. Would be a clear Number 1 in my list! (My username is from that mag!)

As with the R announcement, I’m hoping it’s not a “left behind” leap to new tech. Much as I would like Evercade to get that point in next few years, doing it too soon could annoy recent VS/EXP buyers.

It does seem like later gens are a likely way to go, but there are a few issues I forsee. The power needed would reduce the profit margins on hardware, N64 in-particular is very hard to emulate well, and licences from then are harder to secure.

Also they really do announce a lot of hardware. I wonder if they make far more from the hardware than software currently? Could be a requirement to get cash flow?

I’m excited by Giga Carts. It’s great branding (larger carts costing more is lost on consumers on Switch for example, so we get rubbish download only carts). But mostly it exciting to open up PS1/Saturn/PC (maybe even MegaCD?) titles that shipped on discs to collections. There’s plenty of games that wouldn’t need analog sticks on those devices. I saw the Tomb Raider leak. Given they’ve worked with Capcom before, my dream would be OG Resi titles!

@Chocoburger is that true, never made a profit? I hope that it kinda did but they always reinvest it into the platform rather than selling at a loss. I thought they made some per cart; I seem to recall them putting the profits from the Oliver Twins Collection into the National Videogame Museum, and while it wasn’t a huge sum, it was something (£25k ish I think?). I’d be nervous about the longevity of Evercade if they are burning through debt to finance it…but it seems unlikely? They’ve stayed private so haven’t had to look for investors, and Evercade’s been going and growing for a while. Plus they were pretty success for many years before Evercade.

I’m glad it’s just a refresh this year. Invalidating consoles too quick would put me off. Plenty they can do with the currently power/controller, plus lowering the price is impressive given the economy right now! Also gives them time to really hit the ground running if they do release an “Evercade 2” with analog stick/s and presumably more grunt for retro 3D gaming.

I have to go! I drive past all the time taking parents to the General Hospital but never stopped off. I didn't realise it has so much console/arcade gaming stuff in there (the name made me think it was more retro UK computers).

Felt like this was gonna happen to Codemasters, ordered it recently for Sensible Soccer and Cannon Fodder.

I strongly suspect the hand of EA in this. Wish these big multinationals would stop buying fantastic, successful UK developers and rapidly running them into the floor. Really hope Codemaster can keep some of their identity (but I suspect it’ll become a “licenced game on UE5” satellite of EA Sports in a few years )

Good to hear Glover is ok. I was concerned about the lack of analogue control and some of the visual in pre-launch trailers looked a bit rough!
I have it on N64, but it was never finishable, once you finished World 3 my cart would delete the game save! So Evercade is a chance to play through without cheats (also I genuinely like Glover, no Mario or Banjo but a clever and inventive game with some great music!)

Well deserved. Still a pretty great game to this day. But more importantly, I don’t think any game will be better in the context of it’s release time-period anytime soon, as the medium has matured so much to be that standout is difficult (to stand out that much in 1998, with what else was releasing that year, was a testimony to how incredible it was at the time. It just felt like the greatest game ever on launch.).
Ocarina is, to my mind, the “Citizen Kane” of video games. Not that it hasn’t been bettered or got their first, but it was so polished and inventive in its time that it is a milestone in the history of the medium.

It could just be 2 new hardware announcements, it’s not super clear. Or 2 hardwares in 2 colours. 4 seems a lot!
I’d guess, a controller with analog and an update to the VS?

I did, but never unlocked it myself. A mate who was far, far better than me at Lylat Wars and score chased it over and over unlocked it back in high school and again on Wii VC years later; think we all read about it in a magazine (N64 Magazine probably?). I might dig it out some copies and see if I can find the issue, edit the comment!

I got into them after SuperPlay, it was issue 21 of N64 Magazine and was a avid reader until the demise of NintendoGamer many generations later. Read others (NOM, GamesMaster etc), but truly loved that magazine. Gaming hasn't felt the same without it (although I will say the Hookshot sites hew much closer than most to that ethos!)

I had no idea the Director of Mystical Ninja founded Good Feel! Great to see he’s got back in the directing chair (maybe he could persuade Nintendo to get Mystical Ninja on the Switch online service!)

I was going to share that £305 Paper Mario in Loughborough! Passed it on Saturday and my jaw hit the floor, it’s so expensive!

Such a shame. I don’t know the ins-and-outs of the legal, or the people involved in the fan games. But this and that Streets of Rage remake from yard back would be great under Sega’s belt (although the real SoR 4 was a banger tbf!)

Try whatever you like Zuck, I’m not calling it Genesis!

I don’t mind them, and it’s better than cutting content. But it’s feels mealy mouthed: if the game genuinely is “inexcusable” to the remake devs/publishers don’t make it. They must think it isn’t really, they just want to sound good.

Our library had a Zelda one, it was no match for Ian Livingstone’s work on Fighting Fantasy, but it was fun enough!

Compared to some of the other “best” gaming lists from The Grauniad, this is pretty good! No obvious rage baiting odd placements. I find it hard to rank Sega’s arcade output, but most of the most influential ones are there (and it seems to lean towards that criteria)

I’m an addict for N64 related things, so I will 100% get this if I can!

Would have been bang in the target audience for this (watched Robot Wars all the time, Techno Games, Time Commanders) but never heard of it! Must have been too distracted by other things during those teen years (games, girls, GCSEs…)

I’d agree with others, it’s remembered but I don’t think I’d buy a remaster.

We had Croc, as did a few friends who only had a PS1, but not one of us would chose it over Mario or Banjo. Even if you only had a PlayStation it was bettered by Spyro and Ape Escape eventually; but the sad fact is it was technically competent but was an average game. By the end of the generation there were dozens of better 3D platformers, including almost every example of the genre on the N64. Sadly it just didn’t have anything to make it stand out bar its technical chops and an early release. Perhaps in a world without the N64 it might have made a bigger splash. But it came after Mario 64, and the rest is history.

Late to say Merry Christmas (Happy Boxing Day); but just wanted to say bravo for the site. I know it doesn’t get the traffic of its sister sites, but it’s been a real pleasure to read. In fact TE is what pushed me over to getting a membership! All the best for 2024.

I still have a CRT TV in the spare bedroom for retro consoles, but as I use an old 1080p Samsung as the main telly still, I would probably stump for some of these if I didn't have the CRT or had to downsize to a flat again.

I've not played them all or even close, so voted on the best I've played (Piko Interactive 1, a great variety of fun games on that one).

My announcement of the event! A bunch of varied games showing real gameplay. They could be half-rubbish, but they will be interesting to play nonetheless!

Just finished this and I have to say I think this review is very fair. It’s a lovely game that looks great on the EXP screen. It is very, very short which might be an issue for some; but I think much longer and it would outstay its welcome. Plus it feels shorter than some classics of the genre due to the generous checkpoints meaning you don’t get stuck in place for long.
Looking forward to whatever Out of the Bit do next!

I’ve not got a Super Pocket but; with the smaller, low-res screen; I wonder if GBA games like Duke Advance might look a bit better to the naked eye on that, rather than on the EXP or particularly the VS on a TV…

I’m hoping I’ve got the special edition waiting at home (or a nearby post office) when I get back from my work trip. Excited to see new game mingle with classics on Evercade, feels like it has a future as a classic games console even when the well of accessible retro titles runs a little dry.

I think is a great kart racer, but my absolute least favourite Mario Kart. A mere 16 tracks that is loaded with basic ovals (5 or 6?), poor battle mode (not a rarity in the series), and the swapping mechanic and unique weapons made it was less pickup and play. It hurt the multiplayer that Double Dash owners would have a handle on it while newcomers would have a lot to contend with. I also found the handling a bit heavy personally.

Sorry to keep all the comments the same, but I’d also say Vice City was my favourite; it has the right balance of openness and tight play area, plus great look and feel. Can see why it isn’t top of course, but at the time of release it was incredible. I thought San Andreas was a bit too bloated and po-faced in comparison.
Also I’d rank Chinatown Wars DS over PSP. It was designed for the DS, and I think it shows!

Looking forward to this, had no idea! Both John’s are very entertaining speakers in their own right. Be nice to get an insight from them together about that time and what early id was like!

Also surprising to see it in GMT time, but great time for me in the UK!

More into trying out retro than Indie, like @Krambo42 said I have a much better device for indie titles! However Full Void looks lovely, and I do like that they are keeping physical alive.

I was born in the 80s; but gaming came later when I was older: late 80s hardware in the early 90s (it was the UK, we were slightly behind in time still!)

F-Zero X is a fantastic game (I really like GX as well, but it’s different enough feeling that they compliment each other!).

I find it really sad that the Switch N64 Online version handles so poorly. It is nigh impossible on JoyCons, and while better on the Switch N64 Controller, it is still awfully hard to control. Booting up the N64 original and the handling was so much easier, can’t put my finger on it but the Switch version is just way too hard to play!

I’d add Sega’s Ghost Squad. Incredibly replayable, feels great, and the Arcade version had some lovely chunky guns (although it’s easier to see all it has to offer on Wii!)

I’d heard the broad strokes of this at the time; but never the details. Some of the chat on that show sounds downright chilling in hindsight. Poor woman, really feel for the kids.

I was pleasantly surprised to see some love for the 3DS entry! I enjoyed it, although it was a tad soulless feeling at times, it was a solid entry!
Seems a bit harsh on the N64 one, but I guess it’s fair to say it’s a solid racer for the time, but not necessarily a great ridge racer in hindsight. I would say, like @marsbitrona, the console really wasn’t short of good (and some shoddy) racing games though! Well represented N64 genre I’d say.

Don’t see what more they could have done/said in response, so hopefully the angry twitter users calm down a bit. I’m just excited for the Duke games; Evercade is getting a formidable library!