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After several twists and turns, the film adaptation of Street Fighter by Legendary Entertainment and Capcom finally has a director. Kitao Sakurai, an American-Japanese filmmaker best known for his work on The Eric Andre Show, will take the reins of the project.

A project in search of stability

This announcement comes after the departure of brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, directors of the horror film Talk to Me, who had initially been approached to direct the feature film. In June 2024, they chose to concentrate on another project, Bring Her Back, leaving Street Fighter without a director and casting doubt over whether it would ever come to fruition.

With the arrival of Sakurai, the project now seems to be on the right track. Although the 42-year-old director has limited experience of making feature films, he is nonetheless a creative force renowned for his work on The Eric Andre Show. He has also directed Bad Trip, a Netflix comedy, and several episodes of the series Twisted Metal and Butterfly. He is also executive producer of season 2 of Beef, a hit Netflix series.

A cult franchise soon to return to the big screen

Capcom is directly involved in this adaptation, co-developed and co-produced with Legendary**. Scheduled for release on 20 March 2026 under the Sony banner, this film will attempt to restore the image of previous film adaptations of Street Fighter.

The franchise has already been adapted twice in Hollywood, the most famous (and controversial) of which was in 1994, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Guile. Although the film was a critical flop on its release, it has now acquired a cult following among fans, thanks in no small part to its exaggerated tone and the surprising performances of its actors.

Doubtful anticipation

For the moment, very little information has been revealed about this new adaptation. For the time being, Legendary has only shared the film's official logo (at the top of this article), leaving fans waiting for more details about the story, the cast and the artistic direction of the project.

It remains to be seen whether this new version will manage to capture the essence of the famous fighting game, whose latest opus, Street Fighter 6, released in June 2023, won the Best Fighting Game award at the Game Awards 2023.

Sources: Time Extension / Hollywood Reporter

This week, publisher Red Dunes Games and developer BLAST ZERO announced Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast from the Past, a 2D action-RPG based on the famous anime series Samurai Pizza Cats, well known to children in the 80s and 90s.

Produced by Tatsunoko Studios, this 54-episode Japanese series premiered in February 1990. It features three pizza-delivery cats who, thanks to their samurai skills, battle a multitude of robotic enemies in a Japan combining medieval times and technology.

In the game, it will be possible to switch instantly between the heroes to exploit their unique abilities, whether to solve puzzles or triumph in battle, with special attacks directly inspired by the anime.

The title will also feature a RPG Lite aspect, allowing characters to level up and equip them with special cards to improve their chamurai skills.

Fans of VO will be delighted to learn that the original Japanese and American casts will reprise their roles, adding an extra touch of authenticity. The series' original scriptwriter, Satoru Akahori, will also be taking part.

The trailer below reveals the first visuals of the game, and it's clear that the graphics, animations and menus pay homage to the anime.

You can play Little Tokyo in 2026 on all major platforms.

There's been a major blow to the video game trade in France: Micromania has officially been put up for sale by its American owner, GameStop.

It's no secret that the physical video game market is in trouble. This is due to the rise in popularity of dematerialised products, which offer regular promotions and immediate accessibility, the success of subscription-based services such as Game Pass and PlayStation Plus (not to mention PC-based offers), and the growth of cloud gaming, which is becoming increasingly relevant with the roll-out of fibre.

Against this backdrop, GameStop has decided to refocus its activities on the United States. Already weakened by its near bankruptcy in 2021, the American giant recently sold off its shops in Italy, which have found a buyer, while in Germany the shops were forced to close for lack of a buyer.

Founded in 1983, Micromania has established itself as a leading video game retailer in France. Bought out by GameStop in 2008 for $700 million, the store tried to adapt to dematerialisation by diversifying its activities with Zing, a range of derivative products dedicated to video games and pop culture.

But this strategy has not been enough to turn around sales in the 300 or so shops across the country. This is due to very low margins, which even the release of the Switch 2 will not be enough to compensate for. As for GTA VI, it doesn't seem to have convinced GameStop either. One of the reasons? The fact that Micromania shops are located in the shopping malls of large supermarkets, where the big names slash prices as soon as blockbusters are released to attract customers.

What does the future hold for Micromania ?

Micromania was keen to reassure its customers in a message published on X:

"Hello, the announcement by our parent company GameStop that the French structure Micromania-Zing has been put up for sale in no way affects our operations. Our activities are continuing as normal, and we are continuing to develop our range of video games, merchandising and services. Past (and future) pre-orders will of course be honoured. Credit notes and vouchers will continue to be valid."

The situation is bound to change over the coming weeks. If GameStop finds a buyer, the business will be able to continue, but potentially at the cost of a reduced shop network and some closures. On the other hand, if no buyer comes forward, the outright disappearance of Micromania would mean the closure of its shops and the loss of many jobs.

Finally, France is not the only country affected by this decision, as GameStop shops in Canada are also affected.

A recent survey of 2,000 Generation Z Britons has just been published. It looks at the retrogaming habits of this population, born between 1997 and 2012, who are unfamiliar with the hardwares we usually cover here.

The results are surprising, even encouraging, for the hobby we cherish and share.

The survey reveals that, over the last two years, 66% of Gen Z members have purchased retro technology (consoles or other), and 24% own a retro console. This craze for retrogaming is explained in 89% of cases by a desire to break away from the Internet, but also by a feeling of relaxation provided by vintage games for 74% of those surveyed.

We also learn that 77% of the panel feel a sentimental attachment to their original hardware, encouraging them to keep their equipment.

The study was not limited to video games and explored other retro trends. The report is even more surprising in this respect: 30% of Britons say they would consider swapping their smartphone for a flip phone, and 61% say they are interested in audio cassettes, believing they will make a comeback, just like vinyl records.

These figures may seem high, but nostalgia plays an important role. Nonetheless, some of Gen Z are expressing a desire to distance themselves from the omnipresent Internet, in order to rediscover a certain simplicity and a bubble free from constant solicitations.

The report also echoes other persistent fashion effects, such as the return of the success of music from the 90s and 2000s or the growing interest in preserving "Youngtimer ’ cars.

Remember that Gen Z is relatively unfamiliar with vintage consoles and has not been the generation most affected by their use. The oldest were born the year the Nintendo 64 was launched, while the youngest were born the year the Wii U came out.

Finally, one last point that marks an epochal turning point: the Alpha generation, born from 2013 onwards, and those that follow will almost exclusively know dematerialised.

This survey was commissioned by Pringles (photo illustration), to mark the opening of a temporary ‘clinic’ in London, offering free repairs to retro, portable and home consoles. A similar survey was published a few days ago in the United States, reporting similar behaviour (article here). To date, no similar study has been carried out in France.

Source: Metro.co.uk

As Dreamcast owners may know, it's still possible to connect online using DreamPi, a Raspberry Pi-based solution that connects the console to the Internet for online gaming. Although there are other alternatives, this is still the most popular.

If you're tempted by the idea, the Time Extension website published a detailed guide to the procedure last September, available at this address.

Today, a news item linked to DreamPi deserves our attention, once again relayed by Time Extension. Developer Robert Dale Smith has come up with a solution for saving VMU saves in the cloud, just like modern consoles.

Called Virtual VMU, this open source solution is accessible via the Dreamcast web browser through the DreamPi portal mentioned above.

Protecting and recovering your backups online is therefore possible on Dreamcast 26 years after the release of the 128-bit console, with one notable advantage over similar services on modern consoles... it's free.

Nike is continuing its foray into the world of video games with a new collaboration. After partnering with EA Sports, Fortnite, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo 64, the brand with the comma has been forging one partnership after another for over thirty years. Some are purely commercial and questionable - notably those focused on NFTs - while others pay genuine tribute to a franchise or a landmark anniversary.

Today, the spotlight is on a classic from the 90s: Donkey Kong Country 2, released in 1995 on Super Nintendo. Colours, graphics and materials have been carefully chosen to appeal to fans of the franchise.

This pair of sneakers will feature beige, brown and yellow hues, evoking Donkey Kong's fur, with suede even imitating the hair of the famous gorilla. The Nike logo (the swoosh) will adopt the red colour of Donkey's tie and angles inspired by the 16-bit era, recalling Nike's dedicated video game range.

The tribute will be rounded off by a number of details, including a pixelated ‘NIKE AIR MAX’ logo on the tongue and soles featuring iconic gaming motifs such as coins and bananas.

Dubbed SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 ‘Big Head Origins ’, this special edition is expected to be released in Spring 2025 at a price of around €150. It will be exclusively reserved for Swoosh Nike members. Registration available here for those interested.

A new handheld console project aims to bring back the magic of the text adventures of the 80s. Called Ink Console, the device is currently in development and was recently presented on the crowdfunding platform Crowd Supply.

The Ink Console will feature a 7.5-inch e-ink screen, offering a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels in black and white. The device also features Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 4 connectivity, allowing a degree of flexibility when it comes to adding content.

Unlike traditional handheld consoles, Ink Console is not an emulation machine and does not seek to support a wide variety of genres. Its operating system has been designed to incorporate mechanics specific to text-based adventures, such as a health system and an interactive inventory.

Three initial titles, or rather ‘interactive books’, are already in the pipeline: Toto Umbrella, The Visit and Breath. The device will feature an SD card reader to allow players to add new titles to their library. The project also plans to make its development kit public so that other developers can create their own interactive stories. Ultimately, the whole project should even become open source after the funding campaign.

The initiative is spearheaded by Daniel ‘Dana’ Puchau. He explains that the idea for Ink Console was born out of a desire to adapt the concept of text-based adventures from the 80s, such as Zork I, to a new generation of gamers. He also cites other interactive books, hoping that this fun format will encourage young readers to discover the pleasure of reading.

The crowdfunding campaign has not yet been launched, but it is already possible to sign up on Crowd Supply to be notified when it opens and to reserve a copy of the Ink Console.

Source: Time Extension

Originally released in 1998 for Nintendo 64 and later for PlayStation and PC, Glover is a 3D platform game with a unique concept. Players take on the role of an animated glove, tasked with manipulating a bouncing ball through a series of puzzles and challenges. With its six worlds and 30 levels combining skill and reflection, the game has carved out a special place in the platforming landscape.

Now Glover is set to return in an HD remastered version, which promises visual improvements while retaining its original charm. A new trailer has also been unveiled, showcasing modernised graphics and updated gameplay. The icing on the cake is that a physical version of the game is planned for Nintendo Switch via Limited Run Games.

The wait won't be long: the remaster of Glover will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch from 27 February.

As a reminder, Glover features an unlucky magician whose spell goes awry, causing him to lose his enchanted gloves. One of them becomes evil after falling into a mysterious potion, while the other - the game's hero - goes on a quest to find the lost crystals and save the Crystal Kingdom from chaos.

With its mix of puzzles, platforming and action, Glover offers an original experience based on the mastery of glove and ball movements. This remaster promises adjustments for smoother, more accessible gameplay on modern consoles.

As every fortnight, you can take part in a new challenge on the Recalbox Discord. This challenge is open to everyone. The principle is simple: try to achieve the best score on a game drawn at random, often from the arcade catalogue.

🚀 For this third challenge of 2025, the game selected is Sunset Riders

Released in 1992 on arcade terminals, Sunset Riders takes you to the Wild West. A side-scrolling shoot ‘em up developed by Konami, Sunset Riders features four “cowboys” who have to shoot faster than their shadow to hope to reach the end of each level. The game is set in a world taken from westerns, with all the familiar codes: a Wild West town, a saloon, a ride on a train...

You'll need to search the boards, which hold a few secrets that will give you bonus scores and additional, more powerful weapons.

The game's colourful art direction makes it difficult at times to distinguish enemy projectiles, as the scenery is so full of detail. Enemies are fairly easy to kill, but you can quickly get trapped by obstacles.

Each level ends with a boss with a nice ‘dead or alive’ bonus.

🏆Challenge rules

In control of your cowboy, your aim will be to achieve the highest score in a single credit.

The game is less impressive than Gunbird 2, our previous challenge, in terms of enemy projectiles, but don't be fooled: if you get swamped or trapped by a barrel or dynamite, your chances of survival are slim.

**The challenge runs from 18 February to 3 March **.

How do I take part?

🕹️ Launch the game (rom ‘ssridersubc.zip’)

🏹 Play and try to beat the best score.

📸 Take a screenshot or photo of your final score.

📤 Share your score on the Discord #challenges channel or use the /submit score leaderboard command on the same channel.

⚖️ Rules to follow

To ensure a fair challenge: The score must be achieved in a single credit, without save state, rewind, cheats, or auto-fire (unless provided for in the game).

Rewards and fair play

The challenge is all about discovering games, sharing tips and, of course, having fun, all in a spirit of competition that's always welcome!

The winner will receive a game key (GOG, Steam, etc.) to choose from a list of over 80 titles. Note that if you've won a challenge in the last three months, the reward will go to the next one 🥇🥈🥉.

Congratulations to R3DeMoN who won the previous challenge on Gunbird 2 (at least at the time of writing, as the battle is still raging on the challenges channel).

Good luck to you all, and may the highest score win! 🕹️ 🔥

Shinobi is one of those games that has a special aura in the hearts of SEGA fans. The saga, which began in 1987 on arcade terminals, has seen numerous sequels and adaptations.

In recent months, the franchise has remained in the spotlight thanks to several homebrew projects, such as the porting of the Game Gear to Mega Drive version and the adaptation of the arcade game for Neo Geo, a console that had never before hosted the series.

This time, it's an official project that's revealed in detail with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Announced at The Game Awards 2023 without much in the way of details, SEGA has put an end to speculation by revealing a gameplay trailer that confirms that the game is indeed being developed by French studio Lizardcube, already acclaimed for its work on Streets of Rage 4.

One look at the video is enough to recognise the studio's signature style: entirely hand-drawn graphics and exceptionally dynamic animation. However, this modernisation respects the saga's heritage, as Ben Fiquet, the game's creative director, points out:

"Special powers, combos and even certain enemies, levels and bosses capture the very essence of the old Shinobi games. This is particularly true of the bamboo forest, which makes its return in this title and is sure to provoke a sense of nostalgia among fans of the Shinobi games."

The game is due to be released on 29 August on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, priced at €29.99.

If the ‘retro-ninja’ universe appeals to you, this year will be particularly rich, with the concomitant release of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, also in 2D. Developed by Spanish studio The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous) and published by French outfit Dotemu (TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4), it promises to be another serious contender in the genre.

If you follow FPGA projects, you may have heard of the Game Bub, an open source handheld console capable of reading Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges.

This console will also support the Game Boy link cable, incorporate a vibrator and have a docking station, sold separately, offering an HDMI output.

The project is being closely followed by Nintendo retrogamers who still own their cartridges and who, thanks to a single device, would be able to play games from three consoles natively.

However, this project is rekindling a sterile debate between the supporters of FPGAs and those of emulation. As a reminder, an FPGA reproduces the operation of original hardware via its electronic circuitry, while an emulation system simulates this operation on standard hardware (PC, Raspberry Pi, etc.).

Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages. However, some manufacturers, such as MiSTer FPGA and Analogue Pocket, tend to defend their approach by claiming to offer unrivalled precision through software emulation.

Engineer Eli Lipsitz, who is currently working on the Game Bub, does not share this opinion. His project is based on a Xilinx XC7A100T FPGA chip, but in his opinion this does not give it any intrinsic superiority over emulation:

"There's a lot of misleading marketing and hype around FPGA retrogaming. Some people claim that these devices are not emulators (because they are supposed to ‘act like the original chips’), that they achieve ‘perfect precision’ or that they are superior to software emulators", says Lipsitz.

The developer goes even further, calling this claim ‘patently false and actively harmful ’, before adding:

"FPGA retrogaming devices are emulators: they pretend to be something they are not. And they are only as accurate as they are programmed to be, since they are recreations. An FPGA can facilitate some aspects of accuracy, but it doesn't guarantee it.

Software emulators can be extremely accurate. Moreover, perfect accuracy (if it is possible at all) is by no means necessary to take full advantage of a system's game library. Some people say that FPGA emulators are the only way to preserve a system, but I'd say that software emulators are a much more accessible way (no special hardware required!) of achieving this goal.

I think FPGA emulators have only one real advantage over software emulators: they can more easily interact with the original hardware, such as physical cartridges or other consoles via link cables."

Lipsitz concludes:

"I did this project not because I think FPGA emulators are inherently better than software emulators, but because I think they are interesting and fun to build."

FPGA or emulation, the best solution is the one that suits us and that we enjoy working on. Below is a non-exhaustive table that simplifies the comparison between the two approaches:

Source: Time Extension

Many of you follow Fabrice's live every Tuesday, devoted to reading the JV press from our childhood. Many of you send us your collections to share with the community.

This community spirit has attracted the attention of our friends at Abandonware Magazines. If you're not familiar with their site, its aim is to collect and scan as many computer and video game magazines as possible to make them available in their online library.

And their work is colossal! In November 2024, the site reached 20,000 issues scanned, covering around 180 different magazines, all in French.

Created in 2002, the site has continued to evolve thanks to the arrival of new contributors, each of whom has made his or her own contribution to the edifice.

However, some collections are still incomplete, and that's where you can help! The Abandonware Magazines team has got in touch with Fabrice so that we can start passing on issues, and you can also take part in this initiative.

How can you help?

If you have a collection, or even just a few issues, you can contact the Abandonware Magazines team via their Discord. They'll let you know if they're interested in scanning your magazines.

What happens next?

Wondering what happens to the magazines once they've been scanned? There are three possibilities:

• They are returned to their lenders.
• If they have a certain value, they can be resold to finance the purchase of other issues.
• They can be added to the archives of MO5.com or the CNJV.

So, if you've got any magazines lying around in your garage or attic, you know what to do! 👉 Discord Abandonware Magazines

Many thanks to Catel for his availability, his information and, as a bonus, the photo he sent us of a scanner used for the site:

You may have seen it on Fabrice's live show or on our networks: Recalbox is currently in the development test phase on the Steam Deck. Before you rush off to Valve's machine, let's take stock.

As you know, we're deploying Recalbox on a variety of hardware: Raspberry Pi of course, but also Retroflag, Anbernic, Odroid, etc. You can find the list of compatible devices at this link. Our philosophy remains unchanged: to offer a plug and play solution that's accessible and doesn't require too much fiddling. Quality over quantity.

That hasn't stopped us from keeping an eye on new systems and the expectations of our community. The Steam Deck is one of them, and that's why David, one of Recalbox's developers, has been looking into the matter.

On 14 February, you saw the first image of the Steam Deck running Recalbox. But the work is far from over.

So far, David has managed to boot Recalbox via an SD card, without touching the internal storage (after having authorised booting on other media in the BIOS). The video works, but the display is currently rotated 90° (a rotation has been forced for the photo). For the time being, neither the sound nor the controls are functional.

As you can see, we're still in the early stages of development. But the idea of being able to alternate between modern games via Steam and retrogaming via Recalbox is extremely exciting!

For the time being, no roll-out date has been set. We'll keep you posted on the progress of the project on our networks, during lives and on the blog.

And here we are! I've been writing on this blog for three months now, and this is already the hundredth post. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you about this aspect of the Recalbox project, invite you to join me on this adventure and thank a few people.

PRESS START

During the summer of 2017, I was trying to rebuild my PlayStation 1 library: console, controllers, a dozen or so games, some of which were pretty hard to find. Then my brother-in-law said to me: ‘Well, try Recalbox, I've got a Raspberry lying around’. I was intrigued... Two words in that sentence were completely new to me. An hour later, controller in hand, I was playing Micro Maniacs, and all my questions were gone.

I had in front of me the solution I'd been hoping for for years. A real dream! Every time I launched a game, I couldn't help but let out a ‘rho, that's crazy! I was a shadow user for a few years, I set up a bartop, equipped myself with a cathode-ray TV (three, actually, because... ‘you never know’) and RGB Dual to take back a nostalgic slap.

At the same time, from 2015 to 2024, a friend and I set up a website where I learned about writing and journalism. I quickly realised that I enjoyed covering an event as much as sharing it. In October 2024, we sold the site, which had become far too time-consuming for a simple passion project.

STAGE 1

It only took a month for me to contact DigitalLumberjack and offer to share my passion for retrogaming and my belief in the Recalbox project via the blog. After three ‘test’ articles, the ball was rolling.

And it was done with total confidence. Carte blanche. ‘Make yourself happy. I'd like to thank Digi for his trust, for the time he took to guide me and simply for his simplicity and friendliness. Thank you for allowing me to experience this adventure with you.

With you, because Recalbox is above all a human adventure. I've been lucky enough to join the team of beta-testers, a group that's hard to describe because it combines constant humour, incredible hard work and infinite patience to respond to the noob that I am, or to help me with certain articles.

Behind the scenes, I found exactly what I'd imagined: a group of friends united by their love of retrogaming. Whether we're having a good time or working hard, everyone is driven by the same passion. I had no idea how much work goes into developing a new version of Recalbox.

So, personally, I'd like to thank you for welcoming me and helping me, both with Recalbox and with the editorial team. I'm sincerely proud to be part of this adventure. And more broadly, and I think I speak for a lot of users: thank you for this project that you're carrying forward. Truly.

CONTINUE?

Now that everyone is nice and friendly... what's next? We're going to keep going. And I do mean ‘our’, because I'm going to be asking for your help.

As you'll have noticed, I mainly cover general retrogaming news via sites like Time Extension, Retro News, Retro Dodo, Le Mag MO5, etc., as well as ‘inside’ news about Recalbox through its current projects, tutorials, partnerships, IRL events...

But I may miss something you think is important to share. If you discover a neo-retro game, a homebrew project or a fun news item, don't hesitate to pass it on to me on Discord (in a private message or by tagging me). If I can, I'll write about it.

And don't hesitate to let me know what you think. Sometimes I write silly things, get a date or a console wrong, or make some twisted turns of phrase. When you've got your nose to the keyboard, it's not always obvious when you re-read.

Your help is invaluable. Like everyone else, between work, family and free time, my news research and writing time are limited. Sometimes I go too fast or miss relevant publications.

Finally, I'd like to thank you for your feedback, which I wasn't expecting, and for your presence on the blog, which is growing all the time.

Happy Valentine's Day! (I think it's a silly phrase, and a silly holiday, but I didn't know how to end this article). And for those of you who are on your own today... remember that some couples would have preferred to switch on their Recalbox.

Passion only has meaning if it's shared.

The famous beat'em all Golden Axe, originally released as an arcade game in 1989 on the Sega System 16 and then on Mega Drive, had never been officially ported to Neo Geo... until now. Homebrew developer Hoffman, already behind the porting of Shinobi to Neo Geo, has just released its adaptation of the game, the result of painstaking reverse-engineering and development work.

Hoffman explains that the port was created using a combination of analysis of the original code and new development to ensure that the gameplay and visuals were as faithful as possible to the arcade version.

This version includes the original arcade difficulty settings, the ability to select game region (Japan or World), as well as an exclusive soundtrack for the Neo Geo CD version, composed by Richard Douglas.

The developer has also fine-tuned certain technical aspects. He has improved his graphics tools to bring them even closer to the arcade version, and has paid particular attention to sound quality. The soundtrack comes directly from the original System 16 PCB. Some audio files have even been replaced by higher quality versions after extensive research into the original samples.

This homebrew port runs on the original consoles, most flash cartridge solutions and emulators. We haven't tested it on Recalbox yet, but if you'd like to give it a go and give us some feedback on Discord, the game is available now as a free download from Hoffman's itch.io page.

With the announcement of the remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny and the imminent arrival of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Capcom seems determined to revive its famous saga. But for many fans, there's one big absentee: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege.

This third opus, released in 2004, left a lasting impression thanks in particular to the presence of a guest star: Jean Reno, who played Jacques Blanc, a policeman thrust unwillingly into feudal Japan. His face and movements were integrated directly into the game, in addition to his dubbing. Since then, his return in a possible remaster has become a recurring topic among fans.

Jean Reno ready to reprise his role

Following the announcement of the Onimusha 2 remaster, the website VG247 contacted Jean Reno's agent to find out if he would be interested in returning to the Onimusha universe. The response was swift:

Of course Jean would be delighted to reprise his role in Onimusha 3.

A brief statement, but one that will be enough to make fans of the game dream. Because if Capcom decides to remaster Onimusha 3, it would make sense for the 76-year-old actor to be involved again. The saga has already shown its attachment to the original actors: for the remaster of Onimusha: Warlords in 2018, Takeshi Kaneshiro returned to record his dialogue for the role of Samanosuke.

An expected but uncertain remaster

It now remains to be seen whether Capcom will dare to take the plunge. There was a long gap between the remasters of Onimusha 1 and 2 (seven years), and Onimusha 2 hasn't even been precisely dated yet. But with Way of the Sword in the pipeline and interest in the series growing, a remaster of Onimusha 3 could well be the next logical step.

Sources: Time Extension / VG247

The Recalbox blog is not designed to review video games. However, occasionally a neo-retro title catches my eye, prompting me to contact the publisher to obtain a copy and tell you all about it.

This is a rare occurrence: writing a review takes time, and Fabrice already presents many games in the Retrogaming News on Mondays, as well as testing some of them live on Thursdays.

But exceptions have to be made, and Rogue Flight is one of them. This 3D space shoot'em up will immediately remind Star Fox fans of the genre.

I'll admit it: as someone who didn't own a Nintendo 64, I've never played Star Fox. In fact, Rogue Flight was one of my very first 3D space shoot'em ups when I saw it from the back. But as soon as I saw the first trailers, I was immediately taken by its aesthetics and scoring.

A visual and audio tribute to the 80s and 90s

If Rogue Flight is immediately appealing, it's thanks to its meticulous art direction, directly inspired by the Japanese anime of the 80s and 90s. The game uses a grainy VHS-style filter (which can be deactivated) to further accentuate the retro atmosphere. Lighting effects, chara-design, enemies: everything exudes a love of old sci-fi anime.

The soundtrack, surprisingly, avoids the overly ‘gruff’ feel often associated with the genre. As for the dubbing, available in Japanese and English, it offers consistent interpretations without going overboard

The game is very beautiful

A classic scenario

The story is fairly conventional: the Earth has been destroyed by ARGUS, an interstellar surveillance system which, like any self-respecting AI, has rebelled against humans. The survivors, hiding in the shadows, launch a counter-attack with their last hope: Nadia, who seems to be the only one capable of piloting a ship.

At the controls of the Arrow, her combat aircraft, Nadia will have to face down the enemy. The storyline is merely a pretext for the multiple runs that await players, but that's not a problem, since the gameplay is the real strength of the game.

Accessible but demanding gameplay

Having little experience of rail shooters, my first few games were a carnage. Rogue Flight is a demanding game (and that's not a criticism!), where barrels are essential for dodging and absorbing enemy fire.

The only downside is that this mechanic is overpowered at the start of the game, as it has no cooldown. Against the first boss, I felt like I was cheating by using it ad infinitum. A bit more fine-tuning would have been nice.

In terms of controls, the game remains simple to get to grips with:

• A main shot, with several types of weapon to unlock,
• A target lock to send missiles,
• The barrel, essential for survival,
• A super dodge that slows down the action and destroys several enemies in one go.

While the barrel may seem excessive at first, it won't be enough in the higher levels, where the game reveals all its tactical depth.

In terms of gameplay, there's a well-thought-out mechanic: a combo gauge fills up as you shoot. Once it's full, it recharges your ship's shield, so you'll have to hit enemy after enemy to keep the gauge from falling back to zero.

Classic arcade mode and a tough roguelite mode

The arcade mode offers a classic first adventure, with three lives per run. Once you've used up all your lives, you have to restart the current level. Alternative paths offer replayability and different endings.

But the most important part of the game is the roguelite mode, which can be unlocked after completing the arcade once. Here, death means starting all over again. If you like challenges and scoring, you're in for a real treat.

As you complete each run, you'll earn upgrades that modify the ship's performance and appearance. The workshop quickly becomes indispensable if you hope to survive the highest difficulty levels. A New Game + is also available, allowing you to explore alternative routes and remixed levels (and different endings).

Il vous faudra améliorer votre vaisseau pour espérer survivre à haut niveau

Verdict: immediate fun, but limited replayability

Beware, Rogue Flight doesn't have the depth of Hades. The same settings are quickly repeated and the bestiary lacks variety. It's not a game you'll spend 600 hours playing, but that's not its ambition either.

The studio has preferred to concentrate on the essentials: fluid, immediate gameplay, where you spend more time playing than navigating the menus. Everything is designed to be a nervous, instinctive experience.

As soon as you find your rhythm, you become one with the ship. The action is intense, the effects explosive, and each level's end leaves you breathing a sigh of relief after coming so close to disaster.

Arcade mode ends quickly, but it's as you ramp up the difficulty and explore roguelite mode that the game reveals its true potential.

It may lack a little variety to prolong the experience over the long term, but at £20, it's hard to hold that against it. What's more, the 97% positive reviews on Steam speak for themselves.

Rogue Flight was tested on PS5 via a code provided by Perp Games, to whom I extend my warmest thanks. Developed by Truant Pixel, it is available on PC, Switch, PlayStation and Xbox.

If you're a lover of cyberpunk and run-and-gun games, here's a title that should catch your eye. Neon Inferno, a retro-futuristic game developed by Zenovia, is set to hit all platforms in 2025.

The game will plunge you into a dystopian New York in 2055**, where two heroes, members of a powerful city clan, will confront criminals determined to impose their law on a city plagued by a police force corrupt to the bone.

A tribute to the classics with a modern twist

The development team has made no secret of its inspirations, drawing directly on references such as Wild Guns and Contra. While Neon Inferno pays homage to 32-bit games, it also seeks to innovate by offering modern gameplay mechanics. There's a Bullet Time for dodging bullets, and enemies to shoot appear in the background, adding a sense of depth to the levels.

So you won't just be running and gunning: the gameplay looks set to be varied and inspired, as the trailer shows. The bestiary promises great diversity, with several types of enemy and bosses with very distinct patterns.

Striking art direction to great effect

All this is enhanced by a striking art direction, paying homage to the 32-bit era, with a great-looking CRT filter (which can be deactivated, given the Steam screenshots). In addition to its polished atmosphere, Neon Inferno will feature :

• A cooperative mode
• A equipment system
• Several difficulty modes
• An arcade mode dedicated to purists

A demo available

For the impatient, a Steam demo is already available. It allows you to explore an entire level and get a first glimpse of the game's gameplay and atmosphere.

Neon Inferno looks set to be a modern-day run-and-gun staple. It remains to be seen whether it will succeed in capturing the magic of the classics while adding its own identity!

If you are on this blog, it is very likely that you are a Recalbox user. Many of us want to remember our childhood memories and share them with friends and family.

Emulation has never been more accessible than today. Nevertheless, some players continue to play on the original consoles, and we understand them (we are part of it). Our old machines have a design rooted in pop culture, and nothing replaces their original sounds, controllers and sensations.

A poll published in the United States on February 8 (and therefore only relevant to that country) highlights the players' attachment to the original material. Conducted in May 2024 on a panel of 2,022 adult North American residents, this survey provides some interesting and rare enough numbers to be shared.

Let’s get to the point: of these 2,022 people, 14% used an original retro console at home in 2023 (year 2000 being the limit for retrogaming for this survey).

It is important to put this figure in perspective: these are consoles that are more than 25 years old (at best), no longer on the market, difficult to repair and sometimes requiring specific screens (CRT).

We should also note that many retro games are accessible via the online shops of different manufacturers (classics stores), or through emulation, which avoids clutter and multiplication of cables. So you might think that comfort is more important than authenticity. Yet it seems – and we hope so – that our good old consoles still have some guardian angels.

Some Recalbox users are also included. On our dedicated Discord channel real-hardware, many of you share your treasures or ask for help with the restoration of old consoles and even ordinosaures.

If you are wondering if you are a one-off by watching your VHS tapes or using other systems from another time, you can visit the survey page to be reassured.

Source: Time Extension

Square Enix has done a tremendous job on the remake of Final Fantasy VII. Composed of three parts, this project has so far convinced fans with its first two parts.

Graphics, gameplay, storyline development: this is a true remake that assumes its heritage while offering many new features. However, he can be blamed for his episodic pattern, forcing players to go through the checkout three times to wrap up the story of Cloud and his companions. However, the enthusiastic reception of the specialized press and players relegates this disadvantage to a secondary level.

Another Final Fantasy has a special place in the hearts of fans: Final Fantasy IX. Taking a character design close to that of FFVII, it marked a return to the heroic fantasy, thus reconnecting with the first inspirations of the saga. With its deep storyline, mature themes and characters as varied as endearing, it remains an essential opus.

For a few months, persistent rumors have been circulating on the web. Although they should be taken with care, they come from generally reliable leakers.

This is a tweet from NatetheHate2 who recently put Final Fantasy IX back in the spotlight. When asked by a follower about possible news of the game, he replied:

"Both [FF9 and FF Tactics] are still in active development. FFIX is not expected to be released in 2025. Maybe we’ll see him out in 2026."

The project seems to be underway, although Square Enix has not yet made it official. According to previous rumors, the development was initially entrusted to an external studio, but, considered unsatisfactory, it was taken internally by Square Enix and is now at an advanced stage.

Finally, unlike the remake of Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy IX would not receive the same prestige treatment, perhaps due to a smaller fanbase. The game would remain more faithful to the original game, released in 2000 on PlayStation 1.

All this is of course still to be taken lightly, but these leaks are beginning to gain credibility with many media. If a release in 2026 is really planned, an official release by Square Enix this year seems quite plausible.

Source: Retro News