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Released in 1986, Out Run is a legendary game from the golden age of arcade terminals. It remains an essential reference and is often considered to be one of the best racing games of its generation.

Developed by SEGA, Out Run stood out for its innovations:
graphics with a distinctive style, music that you could choose before each ‘run’ and a system for selecting courses as you went along (except for the first race).

A unique atmosphere

The game's atmosphere also made a big impression. While other developers favoured a competitive and sporting approach, SEGA opted for a more ‘chill’ experience, where the player took the wheel of a Ferrari Testarossa, accompanied by a passenger, in a wind-in-the-hair atmosphere. A bold choice, often imitated but never equalled.

A cult item

Out Run wasn't just a game, it was also an object. The arcade terminal offered a real driving station, complete with seat, steering wheel, gear lever and pedals. An alternative version was even released with an F1-inspired aesthetic, with some versions equipped with a hydraulic system simulating the car's movements.

A Game Makers project to revisit Out Run.

Today, it's precisely this ‘object’ aspect that interests us. Although it's nothing new, we wanted to tell you about a fascinating project being carried out in 2021 by the talented creators of Game Makers: an Out Run mini-horn.

But be warned, this isn't just any miniature terminal. It's a complete reinterpretation in the spirit of the legendary 1986 terminal.

A faithful and improved miniature bollard

Inspired by an earlier creation by CircuitBeard, Game Makers has designed a miniature version that is faithful to the original, while retaining the authentic feel of the game.

Miniaturising such an object without sacrificing its proportions or ergonomics was a challenge. Yet the model includes a steering wheel, gearbox and two pedals. The modders didn't stop there and added several improvements.

Firstly, a small built-in motor generates vibrations when braking. But the real icing on the cake is the ‘Breeze’ mode: a built-in fan blows a stream of air over the player's face and hands, recreating the wind-in-the-hair effect during driving sessions.

An open source project for enthusiasts

The project is entirely open source. Game Makers provides all the necessary instructions for building this kiosk: list of materials, 3D printing diagrams, assembly guides, stickers, etc.

But be warned: this is not a conventional project. 3D printing, for example, is particularly time-consuming for this type of object, and you'll need special equipment, patience and attention to detail.

If you're motivated, Game Makers will take you step by step through a detailed inventory, down to the smallest screw, and a precise assembly guide.

Software

The terminal is powered by Recalbox, installed on a Raspberry Pi 3.

And that's not all...

For your viewing pleasure, here are two other Game Makers creations: a Mini Aero City and a Mini New Astro City.

They're just as gorgeous and are detailed on their website if you're in the mood for some extra DIY.

Initially released on the NES, the first three Ninja Gaiden games were a huge success, boosted in particular by the arcade version of the first opus, which greatly helped to popularise the licence. This success propelled the series, which continued to release titles until 2014.

And the licence has not said its last word! It is about to be reborn with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a new opus developed by The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous) and published by Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge). Scheduled for release in summer 2025, this title marks a long-awaited comeback for fans.

Back to retrogaming

Let's focus on the origins of the saga with its first three instalments, released in 1988, 1990 and 1991 respectively. Building on the success of these episodes, Tecmo decided to compile them for the SNES, but the latter was a disappointment. Few improvements had been made to exploit the console's power, and a number of questionable choices had left their mark on gamers.

Among the decisions criticised were

• A modified soundtrack, which moved away from the original compositions.
• The removal of parallax scrolling, a key graphic technique in 2D games. This process, which gives an impression of depth by shifting the speed of different visual planes, was essential to the atmosphere of Ninja Gaiden.

We had to wait 25 years to see these shortcomings corrected thanks to a fan project.

A faithful and improved NES-SNES port

Infidelity's NES-SNES conversion combines the three iconic titles - Ninja Gaiden, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos and Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom - into a single playable ROM for the SNES. Unlike the official 1995 compilation, this port faithfully recreates the original experience while exploiting the capabilities of the SNES to offer notable improvements:

• Elimination of slowdowns and flickering sprites.
• Improved overall fluidity for enhanced playability.
• Ability to switch from one game to another without restarting the console.
• Choice of colour palette directly in-game using the Select button.

All this has been achieved while respecting the legendary spirit and difficulty of the NES opuses.

Where can I play this version?

The ROM for this trilogy, developed by Infidelity, is available free online. Fans can use it with emulators or devices such as the EverDrive to play on an original SNES.

If you're a fan of the saga, you should know that the Ninja Gaiden games can also be played on numerous platforms via Recalbox, including the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Gear, Master System and many others.

If you're looking for a laugh, you've come to the right place. It looks like the SuperSega affair is coming to an end. A quick reminder if you haven't been following the story of the so-called FPGA console that could read all the SEGA console cartridges.

Demonstration videos that failed to convince Internet users (with major doubts about the authenticity of the hardware tested), pre-orders debited for a total of €400 without prior notice, more than dubious overall communication, refusal to send prototypes to journalists on the pretext that there was too great a risk of theft of the project's intellectual property... And, most recently, a letter threatening legal action by SEGA for copyright infringement.

Things have accelerated in recent days: SuperSega project leader Alejandro Martin has put his Lamborghini (bought during the project) up for sale to cover damages, losses and legal costs. This was followed by a statement from the person concerned:

"To be clear, we didn't rip anyone off. Soon we'll be releasing a video to thank you for your unconditional support and to let you know what we're up to. Stay tuned between now and early January 2025. ‘

Alejandro Martin / Photo iainlee

Contacted by Time Extension, Alejandro Martin confirms that this is essentially a problem with the name of the console, and not with the device itself. The company had even proposed the name Super SPGA, which was also rejected by SEGA:

"Why can't we call it SuperSPGA according to SEGA? Why can't we mention the word SEGA on our website, even when showing the TM (trademark)?

SEGA is not friendly to us. We have processed all refunds. We have to wait and see what happens. Nothing more to say at this stage, we'll see what happens in 2025.

So it would seem that the project is on the rocks, but that was without counting on another last-minute turn of events! Alejandro Martin has sent Time Extension a ‘copy and paste’ of an email he received from SEGA (with no official attachment, of course).

We'll leave it to you to read it:

‘Greetings to anyone who may be affected by the SuperSega-SuperSPGA group.

We apologise for interfering with your game console project without providing any evidence of your wrongdoing in relation to these ongoing matters.

We actually approve of your plans and appreciate your contributions to gaming communities/industries worldwide.

Please understand that some of the employees/associates of our legal team behind the false takedown requests have intentionally made false reports in order to commit crimes on behalf of your group members for no reason whatsoever.

We invite you to continue your projects by keeping all the units you have manufactured. Do not hesitate to contact Sega's offices if you need help with the development of your SuperSega-SuperSPGA console.

Please feel free to report certain employees/associates of our legal team who are behind these illegal attacks for misconduct, harassment, etc.

Yours sincerely

Sega Europe Legal Department

The Time Extension team will of course be contacting SEGA to verify the authenticity of this e-mail, which seems somewhat... unexpected...

When Tim Burton released Batman Returns in 1992, the rights to the associated video games were split between several platforms, including the SEGA Mega Drive and the Super Nintendo.

These two versions were radically different. The Mega Drive offered a platform game with stages in the Batmobile, in addition to the classic walking sections. The SNES, on the other hand, offered a game that was more oriented towards side-scrolling combat, which - without fuelling the traditional SNES/Mega Drive war - was a critical success compared to the Mega Drive version, which didn't disappoint.

But Mega Drive owners can take some consolation over 30 years later! A group of developers has released a technical demo of a Mega Drive port of the SNES game, called Batman Returns MD.

This project, led by Pyron (graphics), TiagoSC (code), Inglebard and vectororbitex7866 (music), corrects one of the main faults of the SNES game developed by Konami: the absence of a multiplayer mode. The game will also benefit from a higher resolution and a 60 fps display, while having a larger number of enemies on screen (up to nine).

Our aim was to bring back the essence of the original, taking advantage of the graphics and processing power of the Mega Drive to deliver an arcade-like experience. This project is still in development, so bugs may occur’, explain the developers.

They add:

We made this technical demo to test different concepts and fulfil a teenage dream: to see Batman Returns ported to my favourite console. We have no intention of completing the game, but the results obtained here will be used for future projects.

Finally, the release concludes:

The demo was not created to ridicule the SNES version, but to show that the Mega Drive can handle a beat'em all with impressive technical and graphical qualities. While it has its limitations in some areas, it excels in others, making it an ideal platform for this type of game.

As you can see, the aim is not to develop a complete version of the game, but to test concepts for future projects. When you see the quality of the work, it looks very promising.

The demo is available free of charge in .bin format here.

You may already be familiar with Victor Alonso's Los Ultimos Game Center, a Spanish book that catalogues some 25 arcades in Japan (and their terminals) through more than 200 photographs carefully chosen by the author.

This first book was a huge success, both commercially and critically, to the point of being distributed all over the world even though it was only published in Spanish. Victor Alonso has therefore decided to go one step further by offering a new edition in English and Japanese.

This ‘Black Label’ edition is more than just a ‘simple translation’: the quality of the photos has been improved. It also includes a small ‘zine’ containing photos of a nocturnal videogame adventure in a drive-in that left its mark on the author.

To keep up to date, two rooms have been removed from the book (because they have unfortunately closed), but they have been replaced by two new locations that were not included in the first edition.

In 280 pages printed on high-quality paper, you can admire arcade rooms and machines. As the author is above all a photographer, his attention to detail allows him to capture the unique atmosphere of these spaces in the best possible way.

As Victor Alonso points out, this book is also a means of opening up a personal and collective reflection on the passage of time and the disappearance of these places that are part of Japan's heritage (despite the fact that arcades were a worldwide phenomenon in the 70s and 80s).

They were places for sharing, discovering, scoring and meeting new people, and were often the birthplace of many of today's legendary games (Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, Dragon's Lair, Bubble Bobble, Out Run, and dozens of others).

The crowdfunding will help finance the production of this ultimate version. A total of €30,000 is expected to be raised, with the campaign closing on 14 February.

If you would like to support the project, please visit this address. You can pledge as little as €8 for the e-book in PDF format or €50 for the physical book. Early Bird’ offers for the first entrants mean that you can obtain these rewards at a lower cost. Of course, premium entries are also available with personalised dedications.

Photos: Victor Alonso

There's no need to introduce Minecraft, the phenomenal game that appeals to young and old alike. A veritable sandbox with minimalist cubic graphics, the title was released 15 years ago and has sold over 300 million copies worldwide. In 2025, there will even be a film adaptation starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, among others.

Beyond the ‘simple game’, several innovative projects revolve around this universe. These include a monumental virtual library, comprising 12.5 million blocks, put online by Reporters Sans Frontières. The aim of this project is to give players living in countries subject to censorship access to articles that are usually inaccessible.

A little more levity this time, with a surprising adaptation: Minecraft on Dreamcast! Entitled ClassiCube, this fan-developed project reproduces the Minecraft client as it was in 2009. SEGA's 128-bit console manages to run a ‘light’ version of the game.

ClassiCube lets you explore, build and modify environments in different biomes. The game is compatible with the Dreamcast keyboard and mouse, making it more ergonomic for this type of game.

To top it all off, the game can be played online. All you have to do is create an account on the official website and connect to the dedicated servers directly via the Dreamcast.

This project is a perfect illustration of the agility of ‘homebrew’ developers (unofficial home-made games), who are able to bypass hardware constraints using modern tools.

The game is available for free on the official ClassiCube website. It comes in .CDi format, which you'll need to burn onto a disc to run it on your original Dreamcast console.

The Recalbox team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope that this festive season will be an opportunity to enjoy your loved ones, to spoil them and to be spoiled!

For many of us, Christmas was the time when we entered the world of video games: when we received our first console, when we unwrapped our first games, sometimes unexpected, sometimes forbidden.

It's easy to remember the nostalgia of a simple time when you could switch on your new console in the evening while your parents continued to unwrap their presents. No updates, no accounts to create... the pleasure was immediate!

That's the kind of pleasure we're trying to bring you throughout the year with the Recalbox project. Our greatest gift is to see you on the networks, having fun, sharing your games and memories with your children, family and friends, and simply playing!

So, what can we wish you this festive season? Well, even more retrogaming under the tree: Raspberry Pi, 8BitDo controllers, Retroflag cases, vinyl, the books Fabrice has been introducing you to all year, etc.

We won't hold it against you if you receive a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series or Switch... we promise...

As we look forward to 2025, a year full of surprises and new releases for Recalbox, we'd like to wish you all the very best for the festive season, and for sharing some quality time with your loved ones, as well as a great holiday for the lucky ones.

Title picture: Daze Before Christmas / Megarive / SNES

Back in November, we brought you the 8BitDo keyboard, a tribute to the SEGA Saturn to celebrate the console's 30th anniversary.

Today, a new brand has signed an official partnership with SEGA to offer an accessory in tribute to the 32-bit console.

Onkyo recently announced the availability of Bluetooth headphones in Saturn colours. Each headset features a sticker representing half of a SEGA Saturn controller. The headphones come with a charging case that offers three additional charges. The case is distinguished by a sticker featuring the console. Onkyo has even gone so far as to include the famous Saturn start-up sound, which plays when the headphones are switched on.

As an option, the brand offers a wireless induction charger inspired by the design of a Saturn game disc, an iconic format at the time, albeit launched simultaneously with Sony's PlayStation. Fans of detail will notice that the charger's typography is based on that of Virtua Fighter, a ‘system seller’ for the Saturn, despite its difficulties in competing with the PlayStation.

On the technical side, Onkyo claims a battery life of 5 hours per charge**, which can be extended to 20 hours thanks to the three recharges supplied with the case. The headphones are IPX4 certified, making them sweat-proof and suitable for sports use. They feature Bluetooth 5.3 technology and support AAC and SBC codecs for optimised sound quality.

The headphones are available for 15,500 yen (around €95), while the induction charging cradle is priced at 4,400 yen (around €27).

Finally, for fans outside Japan, Onkyo is offering the option of using the Buyee service for international delivery.

In an interview with The Guardian on Friday, Shuji Utsumi, the current CEO of Sega America and Europe, expressed his misgivings about retro and announced his intention to focus on the future.

Taking advantage of Nintendo's success with its NES Mini in November 2016 and its Super NES Mini in September 2017, SEGA quickly jumped on the mini-console bandwagon with the Mega Drive Mini in September 2019 (which is therefore SEGA's last official console born after the Dreamcast).

The Japanese firm then repeated the experiment with the Game Gear Mini in October 2020 (reserved for the Japanese market) and the Mega Drive Mini 2 in October 2022.

The strategy was simple: play on gamers' nostalgia by offering miniaturised replicas of the consoles of the time, with between 40 and 60 games pre-installed (depending on the model and the region of release).

Although the development of such devices seems inexpensive, SEGA does not (for the time being) seem to want to prolong the experiment. While sales figures for SEGA Minis are hard to come by (we do know, however, that Nintendo has been very satisfied with its sales), the company justifies this choice with a vision of SEGA's development that is more oriented towards the future than the past.

I have no intention of going down the Mini route. That's not who I am. I want to adapt to modern players, said Utsumi.

We are not a retro company. We really appreciate our heritage, we value it, but at the same time, we want to offer something new, otherwise we will become ancient history. That's not our goal, says the chairman, who joined SEGA in 1996.

This statement could not be clearer, at least as far as the hardware is concerned, as SEGA makes no secret of the reboot projects it is currently working on or has in the pipeline (Shinobi, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, etc.).

Photos: SEGA

Accessory manufacturer Genki announced a partnership with 8BitDo earlier this year. The result of this collaboration will be available in early 2025.

If you're familiar with 8BitDo products, you'll be aware that this is just a small relifting of one of their flagship products.

The Genki PocketPro takes its shape and features from the SN30 Pro. It is largely inspired by the SNES controller, with a directional cross and action buttons similar to the good old controller from the 90s.

In addition, you'll find two Hall Effect joysticks (Hall Effect sensors detect the position of the stick using integrated magnets, with no direct physical contact between the mechanical parts and the sensor), a Turbo button, a Hotkey button, vibrations, a gyroscopic system (compatible only with Nintendo Switch), and a battery offering 18 hours of autonomy on a 2-hour USB-C charge.

The main addition of this collaboration is aesthetic: the controller is transparent, revealing the internal circuitry, and the pastel buttons add a discreet touch of colour.

A very welcome addition is the indication of the three connection modes on the top of the controller, so you don't have to rummage around in the manual or on the Internet to find out how to connect to a new device.

The controller is compatible with Windows, Apple (iOS and Mac), Android, Switch, and Steam. Although I don't have this controller in my hands, given that it is 8BitDo's firmware, it seems very likely that it is compatible with Recalbox, by switching on the controller with START + B (the green button on the controller in question).

As such, if you have an 8BitDo controller and are wondering about compatibility, please visit our dedicated wiki page.

The controller is currently out of stock, but should be restocked in January 2025, at a price of €53.95.

Photos: Genki

In the run-up to the theatrical release of Mufasa: The Lion King, a news item should delight fans of The Lion King (which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year), as well as enthusiasts of video game heritage preservation.

The game preservation group Codebound has announced that it has archived a previously unreleased prototype of the famous Super Nintendo platform game The Lion King.

Released simultaneously on Super Nintendo and Mega Drive in November 1994, this game offered the chance to play as Simba, first as a lion cub and then as an adult, as he relives the adventures of the film of the same name.

The prototype in question dates back to 22 March 1994, eight months before the game's official release. Codebound has shared some interesting images showing that the developers were already working on the project before they even had the sprites and backgrounds supplied by Disney, which are to be found in the final version.

The screenshots show a crudely drawn Simba in the famous wildebeest chasm scene. Other images show a lion cub with rudimentary, even comical features, so unrecognisable.

Meanwhile, Codebound has taken the opportunity to reveal images of the game's prototype on Game Gear, dated 25 May 1994. It's an incomplete prototype on which several levels are missing, sending you back to the selection screen when you try to launch them.

Almost all such finds are listed on the Hidden Palace website, which is "a community dedicated to preserving video game development media (such as prototypes, hardware, source code, artwork, and more) ’. A real goldmine for fans of the (often) well-hidden history of video games.

SEGA's Shinobi saga, launched in 1987 on arcade terminals, is a classic of the action/platform genre of the 80s and 90s. You may be familiar with Shinobi Game Gear (GG), released in 1991, which was the first title in the franchise to be ported to a handheld console.

The Game Gear, with its backlit colour LCD screen, had everything to showcase the series. However, the technical constraints of the 90s handheld console meant that it could not match the level of detail of the Mega Drive, which had been released a few months earlier.

However, a developer known as Pigsy decided to pay tribute to Shinobi GG by adapting it for the Mega Drive, in order to take advantage of the 16-bit console's performance.

To do this, Pigsy used the Mega Drive Development Kit (SGDK), which allowed him to start the project from scratch. Although this involves more work, it allows him to create a port specifically designed for the Mega Drive, without being limited by the features of the Game Gear.

New graphics, an enriched soundtrack and adjusted playing mechanics (particularly in terms of collision and scrolling) are all planned to offer improved gameplay.

While these changes are designed to take full advantage of the Mega Drive's capabilities, the developer is keen to preserve the essence of Shinobi GG, without altering it in any way.

Although development is still far from complete, it is receiving a great deal of support from the retrogaming community and fans of the franchise.

On the Recalbox side, if you own the game, Shinobi GG is perfectly playable on Game Gear, and SEGA is even offering a sequel, Shinobi II The Silent Fury on its handheld console. If you're more of a home console gamer, you'll find different instalments in the series on the Master System, Mega Drive and Saturn.

Connecting a console used to seem so simple, but nowadays it can quickly become a real headache. Video and audio inputs and outputs have multiplied over the years and, despite well-known standards, can make certain screens incompatible with our machines.

Many gamers now use upscalers such as Retrotink 4K or OSSC, which allow images from our old consoles to be transmitted via HDMI to modern screens. Nevertheless, purists will always prefer an unprocessed source to obtain a ‘pure’ image.

The main problem in this case is finding a compatible combination of video inputs and outputs. If you dig a little deeper, you'll quickly realise that consoles and screens (CRT and PC) have exploited numerous formats: SCART, Composite/S-Video RCA, VGA, YUV...

What's more, depending on the manufacturer, model, generation or region, input and output types vary. So you end up with a multitude of non-standardised possibilities, which become even more complex when you have several consoles or several screens.

Of course, there are adapters on the market that often do the job, but Scalable Video Switch has taken the concept a step further by offering a fully customisable and scalable analogue video switching solution.

Prototype

In its most advanced (and therefore most expensive) configuration, this adapter can accommodate up to 32 input modules and 6 output modules, in any combination of Peritel, Component, VGA and Composite/S-Video. Far too many for standard use by the average retrogaming gamer, but this solution means you can adapt the components to suit your needs.

To get started, you'll need to buy the control module ($40) and the remote control ($10). You can then add the various input/output modules, available for between $25 and $35, which you clip together to form a single block tailored to your needs.

If you've been following the Recalbox project, you probably know that an in-house solution exists for equipping your Raspberry Pi4 with a Peritel and VGA output: the RGB Dual. This essential accessory for playing on your CRT screens is plug and play. The solution remains compatible with Pi5, subject to specific installation to ensure sound compatibility (as Fabrice explains here).

Finally, if you'd like to know more about analogue signals, Kid has a comprehensive and very accessible article that you can find on this page.

Released on arcade terminals in 1987, Double Dragon is a cult beat'em all, considered to be the precursor of a multitude of games in the genre that have been largely inspired by it. The series includes around ten titles, mostly beat'em all, with a few forays into fighting games.

Until 2002, the franchise enjoyed regular and often successful releases. Since 2012, however, there have been a succession of attempts to revive the licence, with mixed results. While some of the games are not without interest, none has really made an impact or reached the level expected of such an iconic saga.

This year, Arc System Works announced Double Dragon Revive, a new opus that aims to appeal to fans of the original while attracting a new generation of gamers.

The game is scheduled for release on 23 October 2025 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. Pre-orders for the Standard and Deluxe digital editions are already open. The Standard Edition is priced at €34.99, while the Deluxe Edition, priced at €49.99, includes additional content. As a bonus, players who pre-order will receive Double Dragon Dodge Ball, an exclusive game.

French publisher Microids will be responsible for the physical distribution of the game. While the availability of a physical version in 2025 is good news (and unfortunately increasingly rare), it does come with a caveat, given the uneven quality of games recently published by Microids.

Former franchise developer Ebinuma has expressed scepticism about Double Dragon Revive, criticising an art direction he deems ‘dark’ and ‘cheap’, as well as ‘lacklustre’ combat. First impressions vary widely, and it remains difficult to assess the game at this stage, given the wide range of opinions held by the media and influencers.

Fingers crossed for a successful comeback! In the meantime, let's take a look back at the many games in the franchise, which can be played on Recalbox on... just about every platform, so widespread has the Double Dragon franchise been over the years.

Released in 2004 in Japan and in 2005 in the rest of the world, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony's first portable console. And for a first attempt, it was a success: the console sold 80 million units (or even 82 million, according to some sources).

With graphics well ahead of its time and an original game format, UMD (Universal Media Disc), the PSP won over many gamers. It was also able to build on a catalogue of high-quality titles, drawing on PlayStation's iconic franchises.

Produced for 10 years, until March 2015, PSPs still in production are now beginning to reach the end of their life. As with all older-generation handheld consoles, those still in circulation are becoming increasingly difficult to repair.

The main problems are often with the screens or game buttons, which make the console unusable despite the hardware and software still working. Aware of this situation, Retromodwork came up with the idea of giving these faulty models a new lease of life in an original way.

The recovered PSPs have been transformed into home consoles. To achieve this, a number of modifications have been made:

• a Bluetooth motherboard for connecting PS4 DualShock controllers and ‘other compatible devices’;
• a TV output has been added to broadcast the image on a screen;
• a 3D-printed shell, inspired by the design of the PlayStation 2, houses the modified PSP.

It is important to note that the consoles used in this kit are unusable in their original portable form, due to faulty components and modifications. Nevertheless, the consoles can play digital games and UMDs, with the player still accessible and functional.

Priced at $274.99, this redesigned version of the PSP (PSP 2000 or PSP 3000 models) has been a huge success. Barely 24 hours after pre-orders opened, more than 100 units had already been snapped up. This success came as a surprise to the creator, who has no official supplier and has to look for PSPs that are out of service but still usable in order to transform them.

The project has won over fans, particularly owners of the original PSP. As well as being innovative (it's rare to see a portable console transformed into a home console), it's also part of a healthy approach to recycling machines that were originally destined for the scrap heap.

Photo: Macho Nacho Productions

It's impossible to miss the release of Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle. This Xbox exclusive, launched at the beginning of December, has been a huge success.

The game is a declaration of love to the famous franchise, plunging players into an adventure packed with references to the iconic films directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by George Lucas.

Right from its first trailer, the title surprised with a bold choice: a first-person view, a first for the series. This was a departure from the standards set by genre behemoths Uncharted and Tomb Raider, which favoured a third-person view.

It's a winning bet, with critics and gamers alike praising the immersion offered by this perspective. It's an experience that's sure to bring back childhood memories of dreaming of being ‘Indy’.

For some, these memories are also video games, because Indiana Jones games are not new! The website Retrogaming.me has compiled a list of the five best retro games based on the legendary adventurer:

• Indiana Jones and the Mystery of Atlantis (PC, 1992)
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (PC, Amiga, Atari, 1989)
• Indiana Jones: The Emperor's Tomb (PC, PS2, Xbox, 2003)
• Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (SNES, 1994)
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Trilogy (PS2, PS3, PC, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PSP, 2008)

You'll find full details of all these titles on the Retrogaming.me, the perfect opportunity to (re)discover these games that will take you to the four corners of the world.

If you're feeling adventurous and own any of these games, especially the three titles released before 2000, don your best hat, whip and go on an adventure with Recalbox.

Limited Run Games, well known to the retrogaming community for its physical editions of retro and neo-retro games, has unveiled news that will delight nostalgic fans: the forthcoming release of Virtua Fighter 2 on Xbox One and Xbox Series.

SEGA's famous title made its debut on arcade terminals in 1994. A real revolution at the time, it introduced two new playable characters compared to the first opus, bringing the cast up to 10 fighters. With its fast-paced, edgy gameplay, the game immediately stood out in a genre already dominated by heavyweights.

Virtua Fighter 2 was also released on home consoles. The Sega Saturn version, released in 1995, won over fans, while a completely redesigned 2D adaptation on Megadrive failed to convince, somewhat distorting the original experience. If you own these versions, they are still accessible and perfectly playable on Recalbox.

For this physical edition from Limited Run Games, don't expect a remaster or any kind of graphical polish. The game will retain its original aesthetic and gameplay, putting you back in the same conditions as when it was released in arcade form.

However, an online mode will allow players to compete across the globe. An excellent way to relive the experience while adding a modern competitive dimension.

Two editions available

Limited Run Games offers two options:

• The Standard Edition at $34.99, which includes only the game.
• The Classic Edition for $64.99, which includes :
  • a box inspired by the Sega Saturn,
  • 10 art cards depicting the combatants,
  • and a commemorative coin celebrating the golden age of the arcade.

Pre-orders are already open, with delivery scheduled for June 2025. A perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of the series before the highly-anticipated release of Virtua Fighter 6, announced at The Game Awards 2024.

The Games Awards ceremony was held last night in Los Angeles. While the evening is eagerly awaited for the Oscars-style awards, it's also an opportunity for developers to unveil their projects.

We'll skip the announcements about blockbusters and next-gen games to concentrate on our favourite area: retrogaming!

Okami: the long-awaited return

Fans have been waiting for it, Capcom has done it: Okami Sequel was announced last night with a poetic trailer. Drums and flutes, wisps of flowers left in the wake of what appears to be Amaterasu, all interspersed with the familiar brushstrokes of this completely atypical title released in 2006 on PlayStation 2 (2007 in Europe).

The director of the first opus, Hideki Kamiya, will be at the helm of this new adventure with his studio Clover. This is excellent news, since we're dealing with the same team that worked on Okami nearly 20 years ago.

For the moment, there's no release date: the game is in the pre-production phase.

Onimusha : The Way of the Word

Nous restons au Japon avec Capcom, qui joue sur la nostalgie une seconde fois avec Onimusha : The Way of the Word. Le hack’n’slash Onimusha Warlord était sorti en 2001 sur PlayStation 2 et avait été porté en 2003 sur Xbox. Trois suites avaient suivi, dont une avec Jean Reno interprétant Jacques Blanc dans Onimusha 3 : Demon Siege.

Le dernier Onimusha, basé sur le scénario du jeu Dawn of Dreams, est sorti en 2006. Il vous faudra cependant vous montrer patient : Onimusha : The Way of the Word n’est pas attendu avant 2026.

Turok Origins : vous reprendrez bien un peu de dinosaures ?

Très belle surprise de la soirée, Turok nous revient après 16 ans d’absence. Le dernier titre, très oubliable, était sorti en 2008. C’est le début de la saga qui a marqué les joueurs, notamment avec le tout premier Turok : Dinosaur Hunter, sorti en 1997 sur Nintendo 64.

À une époque où les FPS de qualité étaient rares sur console, Turok avait su s’imposer grâce à un univers rafraîchissant. Turok Origins sera, comme son nom l’indique, un reboot/préquel de la série sous forme de FPS coopératif.

C’est l’équipe de Saber Interactive qui s’occupera du développement, ce qui semble être une excellente nouvelle au vu du succès critique et commercial de leurs dernières productions, comme Warhammer : Space Marine 2.

« Turok a été l'un des premiers jeux de tir sur console auxquels j'ai joué. Lorsque nous nous sommes penchés sur les franchises de jeux qui méritaient d'être remises au goût du jour, Turok figurait en haut de notre liste. Chez Saber, nous aimons prendre des classiques et les combiner avec un nouveau gameplay. Nous sommes ravis d'annoncer enfin le jeu, mais nous serons encore plus heureux lorsque nous aurons livré cette expérience à l'ancienne avec une exécution moderne. »
– Matthew Karch, PDG de Saber Interactive

Si vous possédez les jeux Turok et souhaitez réduire dinosaures et aliens en chair à pâté, plusieurs opus sont jouables sur Recalbox.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound - a fine pedigree in development and publishing

Ninja Gaiden is an old franchise. It may be easy to forget, but the very first instalment was released on arcade terminals in 1988. The series has maintained a certain aura through sequels, compilations and a few remasters, with fairly regular releases that have come to a halt since 2014.

To relaunch the machine in due form, Koei Tecmo has called on two great connoisseurs of pixel art and dusting: the Spaniards from The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous) for development and the French from Dotemu (TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4) for publishing.

This talent will be responsible for bringing Ryu Hayabusa to the United States, in a game that looks very dynamic, with demanding platforming and combat.

The game is expected for summer 2025.

Virtua Fighter

This is not an announcement, as SEGA had already confirmed that a new Virtua Fighter was in development.

But tonight, we had a first teaser of one minute and a half, briefly staging a street fight and a few seconds of gameplay that make you want to.

The project is thought to be a major player in eSports. We can only hope for a good development from SEGA, in order to compete with giants like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.

If you are a fan of the SEGA saga and you own Virtua Fighter, the titles are playable on Recalbox.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds

We stay at SEGA with a very short teaser announcing the Mario Kart-like Sonic Racing CrossWorlds. We see Shadow getting ready to board his speedboat. Sonic’s eternal enemy is in the limelight these days, not least with the release of the movie Sonic 3, where he leads the way.

SEGA continues to rely on its licenses, but it must be said that the Sonic Racing remains very good racing games.

No release date has been announced for this game, which still seems to be in pre-production.

Screamer: a classic revisited

Released in 1995 for PC, Screamer, inspired by Ridge Racer, stood out with its compelling graphics for the time and its more subtle gameplay than arcade games.

For this reboot, the developers go beyond mere copy and integrate combat and narrative elements into a science fiction universe, drastically changing the artistic direction and overall style of the game.

Be patient: the title is not expected until 2026.

Shadow Labyrinth: when Pac-Man changes his face

We end with a very surprising game, completely revisiting the universe of Pac-Man. You play as a warrior reanimated by PUCK (Pac-Man), who will have to travel through a hostile planet.

Bandai Namco says the game focuses on an evolving combat system, allowing you to adapt your style based on the skills you’ve gained.

Planned release 2025, new generation consoles only.

Of course, we will continue to follow the news of these games as they are announced and will keep you informed.

We're stepping away from hardcore retrogaming news to talk about a partnership that's as unexpected as it is exciting.

On 11 December, The Pokémon Company announced that a joint project with Aardman was in production and would be released in 2027.

Pokémon needs no introduction, and I'm sure you're already familiar with Aardman's productions, even if the name may sound less familiar.

This British studio is behind such titles as Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep - three major hits. The Aardman style is instantly recognisable, thanks to a unique ‘paste’ 😉 both literally and figuratively.

The studio uses the stop motion technique, animating models and characters made from modelling clay. This time-consuming and meticulous process produces a stunning result that no computer-generated image can match.

This partnership is particularly surprising, as Aardman has never before collaborated with a company as large as The Pokémon Company. Until now, the studio had concentrated on its own universes, animating mainly its emblematic characters mentioned above.

I say ‘work’ rather than ‘film’ because the final format of this project remains unknown. A feature film seems obvious, but Aardman also excels in series. In fact, Pokémon has already explored stop motion with the Japanese series The Pokémon Receptionist in 2023, although it went relatively unnoticed.

For now, we'll have to make do with the press release, in which the vice-president of the Pokémon Company said:

This is a dream partnership for Pokémon. Aardman is a master of their craft, and we've been blown away by their talent and creativity. What we've been working on together ensures that Pokémon fans around the world are in for a real treat!

Sean Clarke, CEO of Aardman, added:

We feel truly privileged to be responsible for bringing the Pokémon characters and universe to life in a whole new way. Bringing together Pokémon, the world's biggest entertainment brand, and our love of craft, characters and humorous storytelling is incredibly exciting. ‘

Pokémon has conquered many formats, from video games first and foremost to TV series and card games. Even if we retrogamers are sometimes a little lost when faced with multiple generations, many of these creatures were with us during our youth.

We can't wait to rediscover them in a new light, in the talented hands of a studio as creative as Aardman!

In the meantime, there's plenty to keep you busy! If you own the titles, you can already rediscover the first three generations of Pokémon on Recalbox, thanks to the Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, across eight games!

If you enjoyed Konami's arcade game WEC Le Mans, released in 1986, you're sure to love Faster, the new title developed for the Atari STE.

Developed by a small team, Faster has won us over. The game features bright colours, lots of sprites, a day/night cycle and a soundtrack that includes engines, sound effects and music. Above all, it runs at 50 fps, offering an exhilarating sensation of speed and a level of gameplay rarely achieved on Atari.

The man behind the project is Jonathan Thomas, aka RetroRacing, an experienced developer well known to Atari users. He notably worked on the Atari STE version of Pole Position and was part of the team that ported Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge to the Atari ST.

The work of RetroRacing is all the more impressive for being entirely handmade. Faster imitates the technique of scaling sprites (which get bigger the closer you get to them), a feature that the Atari ST does not natively support.

Excellent news: Faster is available as a free download here, allowing you to play on original hardware. The game can also be played on Recalbox!

All you need to do is insert the ROM in a sub-folder "ste “ in the roms/atarist folder, launch the game with the BIOS ”Emutos “, force the memory to ”2MB “ in the emulator menu, then exit the menu without forgetting to select ”reset machine ’.

An update will soon allow you to launch the game without having to do this.