AUSRETROGAMER

The Pop-Culture E-Zine

You are here: Home / Archives for Reviews

Reviews

Book Review – Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups

By

If there ever was a book made for us, then Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups is it! As massive fans of side-scrolling beat’em ups (Ed: Double Dragon and Final Fight are still two of our all time faves), this book screamed for us to read it!

Relishing each turn of the page and soaking in all that beat’em up content found in this book, the adrenaline rush we felt was off the charts.

Back in the late 80s going to the local arcade involved checking out the latest and greatest beat’em up games. When the first 2-player co-op beat’em up, Double Dragon, showed up at our local arcade in 1987, we were smitten. We pumped so many 20c pieces in that machine (each credit was 40c), the coin box must have been quite heavy when taking them to the bank! Double Dragon felt fresh, with an amazing array of weapons to use on baddies (we loved swinging the baseball bat!), plus the punching, kicking, backward elbowing and our fave, the knee to the head, all felt visceral at the time.

It was a pleasant surprise to read my hero, Yoshihisa Kishimoto’s foreword! For those that don’t know, Yoshihisa-san was the original creator of Double Dragon – he was only 26 years old when he created the groundbreaking game. Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups is one heavy tome, so you’d be forgiven to think that it could also double up as a weapon in real life! Of course we jest about the weapon part, but we are dead serious about the weight of the book.

Packed with delicious beat’em up content (there are over 450 pages!), Go Straight covers all the major eras of the beat’em up genre, including the golden age from the mid 80s to the early 90s. Each decade from the 1980s onwards, has its own section, documenting all the games that were released during that period. The book documents every beat’em up that has ever graced a video game system (arcade and console) from 1980 all the way up to 2021 – that’s over 200 games!

There has been no stone left unturned in Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups. Dave Cook and the team at Bitmap Books has created a tome for all fans of beat’em ups, and if you aren’t a fan of this genre, we urge you to check this book out, as it is a great guide for first timers wanting to dip their toes in playing some iconic and fun side-scrolling beat’em ups! GO and read it now!!

  • Price: $79.99 AUD / Where to buy: PixelCrib

Specifications

  • 456 pages.
  • 210mm × 297mm. Hardback.
  • Gatefold pages.
  • Spot-varnished cover.
  • Edge-to-edge high quality lithographic print.
  • Sewn binding for enduring quality and the ability to lay flat for ideal double-page image viewing.



Disclaimer: Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat-’Em-Ups book was kindly provided by PixelCrib for this review.

Xeric NASA Voyager Automatic Watch – Review

By

As a homage to the rich history & the farthest human-made object in space, the Xeric NASA Voyager Automatic 100ATM Diver, is a limited edition timepiece that reminds us of the value of exploration.

Ever since I could remember I’ve been fascinated by space and space travel. All I wanted to be was a NASA astronaut, but alas, that never eventuated.

My love of the cosmos hasn’t diminished over the years, if anything, it has gotten stronger, with streaming services making a myriad of astronomy based documentaries available on demand – which I consume with wild abandonment.

That unrestrained impulsiveness and enthusiasm for all things space related has now permeated other stuff I like, wristwatches! When I first gazed at the Xeric NASA Voyager Automatic watch on Kickstarter, I didn’t need much convincing to put in my pledge and snag one of only 1977 watches that pay homage to the rich history and the farthest human-made object in space, NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2, launched almost 46 years ago (in 1977). As Xeric offered (and still offers) nine variations of the NASA Voyager, all named after celestial bodies, my only problem was which one to choose?!

The lume is out of this solar system!

I must admit, I would have loved every singe variation of the watch, but alas, my lotto numbers never came up! I chose the ‘Ganymede’ NASA Voyager watch purely based on the fact that it represented the biggest moon in our solar system and that the metallic look reminded me of the Voyager vessel, complete with the awesome orange accents on the second, hour and minute hand – if you look closely, it does strike a resemblance to NASA’s interstellar traveler. Oh yeah, the NASA ‘worm’ logo on the dial and amazing lume (Super LumiNova) just top off a very robust diver’s watch. But wait, there is more! The caseback features an inlaid replica of “the Golden Record” cover which is found on the outside of the Voyager spacecraft, intended to communicate a story of our world to any intelligent life it could encounter in its journey – the detail is next level cool.

The watch is powered by the self-winding Seiko NH38 automatic movement. As you wear it, the rotor winds the mainspring, creating stored mechanical energy that powers the watch. The movement is housed in a robust stainless steel case complete with a tactile 120-click rotating bezel fit for divers. The watch may look hefty, but it honestly sit quite nice and comfortable on my 7″ wrist. Since this is a divers watch, it has a 1,000 metre depth rating, with an integrated helium escape valve built into the side casing, preventing a pressure differential that can occur during deep dives.

Caseback shot! The inlaid replica of “the Golden Record”, just like the one Voyager is carrying!

Wearing this watch is such a pleasure, thanks to the custom two-tone ribbed silicone strap – it just feels really good on the wrist without a sweat in sight. If you are clumsy, then rest assured that the 4mm thick sapphire glass (with anti-reflective coating) can withstand every day knocks.

The Xeric NASA Voyager Automatic is a special watch, not only due to its limited release (1977 pcs) but the fact that its unique design fuses and celebrates two things many of us love, space and watches. If you have the means and would like something different and something special, then I highly recommend you check out the Xeric NASA Voyager Automatic watch range.



Citizen Promaster Titanium BJ7115-85 Limited Edition ‘Brave Blossoms’ – Review

By

This watch review first appeared on Zeitaku 贅沢 on January 25, 2023.

The limited edition diver’s watch by Citizen that celebrates the Japanese national rugby team and their national flower, the Sakura (cherry blossom)

Likes:

  • The complete package – love the striking look!
  • Super Titanium build makes this watch very comfortable to wear.

Dislikes:

  • The push pins and sleeves Citizen uses on their bracelets make it difficult to alter the length as they are easy to lose.
  • Tri-fold push-type clasp feels a tad flimsy, but I am nitpicking.

I have a few vices that can consume my time, and indeed my finances. One of those vices is watches. Yeah, I shouldn’t call watches a vice, but when you have more in your collection than there are days in the week, then yeah, they become a vice. I am sucker for limited edition watches, and I’m an even bigger sucker for good looking functional timepieces. Luckily for me, the Citizen Promaster Limited Edition ‘Brave Blossoms’ (Model BJ7115-85E) ticks both boxes & then some.

Celebrating Japan’s national rugby team, affectionately known as the Brave Blossoms, and the colours of the Sakura, Japan’s national flower (the cherry blossom), this Citizen watch oozes appeal from its impressive super titanium case and bracelet to its sapphire crystal glass, antimagnetic build and very useful GMT complication. The solar quartz movement powered by Citizen’s amazing Eco-Drive is coupled with the B877 caliber, which on full charge provides 6 months of continuous operation, even if left in the dark – another feather in this impressive watch’s hat.

If you are one to take your watch for a swim, then you won’t have to worry getting this Promaster wet, as it is rated at 20bar (200 metres water resistance) and has a screw-down crown for maximum water resistance. The gorgeous bezel rotates anti-clockwise with a satisfying 120 clicks.

The overall look of this JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) only Citizen is simply stunning. The super titanium makes the watch light on the wrist, and the 43mm wide case size with a thickness of 13.8mm is perfect for 6.75″ to 7″ wrists!  The burned-out charcoal colour looks amazing when coupled with the rose gold bezel trim, screw-down crown and the outline on the lumed markers and hands. The colouring on the outer rim on the dial represents the colours of the Japanese national flower (the cherry blossom), which against the black face, is an absolute beautiful contrast. The cyclops over the date at 3 is under the sapphire crystal, which means there is no bulge protruding above it, thus making it easier to clean the crystal. The caseback is just as gorgeous, with the engraving of the Japanese rugby team’s cherry blossom symbol.

 

I still can’t believe this watch bypassed me when it was released in 2019. Being a limited edition means that you’d be hard pressed to find a new one at a stockist, so your best bet would be to hit the second-hand market online – but be prepared to pay over its original retail price. The Citizen Promaster BJ7115-85E is truly a lovely built watch which would give watches 10 times its price a run for their money. This watch is so good, that if you look closely, Breitling’s new Superocean Automatic range of watches have an uncanny resemblance to it.

If you have the means or are in need of a titanium watch, then I highly recommend you check this one out.

 

Special thanks to The Gnomonist for kindly supplying this Citizen watch for the review.



CASIO EDIFICE ECB-2000MFG: MF Ghost & Initial D Watch – Review

By

This review first appeared on Zeitaku 贅沢 on December 14, 2022. This repost is with permission from Zeitaku.

In the world of wristwatches, there are many brands that successfully collaborate with superstars from movie franchises and well known sports people, just ask the famous MI6 secret agent, 007, what he prefers to wear on his wrist – well, he’ll say Omega, of course.

When it comes to motor racing collaborations, our minds go straight to Formula 1. With timing playing a huge part in racing, from lap times to pit-stops, there is bound to be some big watch manufacturers clamoring for racing driver’s car and wrist real estate. These watch collaborations with big F1 teams and drivers usually come with eye-watering prices which are out of reach for mere mortals.

Luckily for us and for those of you that are into motosports, there are brands like Casio’s EDIFICE. I’ll spare you the history of Casio’s sub-brand in this review, but if you do want to read about it, go here.

Casio’s G-SHOCK range is their premier and most popular product line, but when it comes to stylish analogue and motorsport-inspired design, with an array of functions as their value proposition, then look no further than their EDIFICE collection.

For a more wallet friendly price, you can acquire an EDIFICE timepiece that suits your style and taste. EDIFICE watches come with an abundance of features and functions, from steel-cased, resin, ion plating, chronograph-equipped timepieces, to eye-catching carbon fiber dials with cleverly cut-out subdials to allow light to penetrate the tiny solar panel and the battery behind it.

The latest collaboration between EDIFICE and two landmark works of motorsport-themed manga penned by Shuichi Shigeno has resulted in a striking watch based on the original ECB-2000, which was designed to convey the motorsport worldview. The all-new collaborative design captures the dynamic realism of the street-racing world depicted in the two manga series, Initial D and MF Ghost. The watch pays homage to the two Toyota models that feature in the manga — the AE86 and the TOYOTA GT86, which share the nickname “Hachi-Roku” (Japanese for “Eight-Six”).

So what is so good about the EDIFICE ECB-2000MFG (aka: EDIFICE Initial D & MF Ghost) watch? Let’s start with its striking looks which demand eyes to gaze upon it.

The Build Quality & Watch Face

Let’s be straight – the watch face (aka: dial) is the most important part of any watch. If it’s not striking in looks, then no matter what other bells and whistles the watch may have, it will be bypassed and forgotten. Luckily for us, the ECB-2000MFG is gorgeous! Being part of the EDIFICE Sospensione range, the watch face takes its inspiration from a formula car suspension (the cross brace X) which cleverly separates the sub-dials into quadrants – including the function hand and two mini LCDs. The ECB-2000MFG is also 10BAR / 100-meter water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about water splashing on it when washing your hands or being caught out in the rain. Being 10BAR also means you could go swimming with it and also do some skin diving.

Paired with the Casio 5698 module (think caliber), the ECB-2000MFG offers a range of features on the main face and sub-dials, like seconds display, 24-hour displays, hour time, the date, and an indicator for the battery life, in addition to a reading of the time that’s accurate to +/- 20 seconds (per month).

The first thing that was noticed was the weight of the ECB-2000MFG — this thing is light (65g)! But don’t be fooled into thinking light means cheap quality, this could not be further from the truth. Being used to wearing hefty watches, this one almost felt like a feather on the wrist. Just like a racing car shedding weight to go faster, the lightweight of the ECB-2000MFG is attributed to its resin case, which has been uniquely designed with the lugs in a four-arm configuration – another striking feature.

The gorgeous metallic red bezel, black and red dial are inspired by the front grille of the Toyota GT86 that stars in the manga series MF GHOST. It’s these little details that truly make this a one of a kind watch.

The neobrite (luminosity) on the hands and sapphire crystal with glare-resistant coating are the cherries on top of an already delicious looking cake!

The packaging must get a special mention too – as you can see from the below images, it is in keeping with the theme (and you should keep it in a safe place once you take the watch out!).

The Band

How the watch attaches to your arm is a make or break deal. The ECB-2000MFG comes with a very comfortable Cordura® band, with my only gripe being that it feels a tad rigid. Nevertheless, once the watch is on, the band’s leather underside feels quite nice on the skin.

The red Cordura band also carries over features from the Manga series, with tracks and their round numbering on the top. But wait, there is more! The underside of the band has the Japanese Gyaaa characters stamped on it which were lifted straight from the pages of both Initial D and MF GHOST. Wait, there is more – the underside of the band also features “Fujiwara Tofu Shop (Private Use),” the familiar lettering on the side of the Toyota AE86 driven by Takumi Fujiwara, the protagonist in Initial D. Like I said, it’s the little details that make this special.

On The Wrist

This is a big watch, measuring 47.8mm in width – so it takes up a lot of wrist real estate. When viewed from the top, it could seem like you are wearing a dinner plate if your wrists are on the smaller side (< 7”). However, the watch is quite thin at a smidgen over 11mm, so it doesn’t wear big, like a TW Steel watch would. As already mentioned, the lightweight of the building materials make the ECB-2000MFG very comfortable to wear – you may even forget that you have it on!

On a wrist that is 7” or bigger, this watch demands attention wherever it is worn.

Features & Technology

The ECB-2000MFG comes with a plethora of features, functions and tech – see below. Coupled with smartphone link (iOS or Android app) for effortless watch operation via Bluetooth®, and Tough Solar charging for power, this high-performance chronograph frees you to focus on the road ahead.

  • World time 38 time zones (38 cities + coordinated universal time)
  • City code display, city name display
  • Daylight saving on/off, Auto summer time (DST) switching
  • Home city/World time city swapping
  • 1/100-second stopwatch
  • Measuring capacity: 00’00”00~59’59”99 (for the first 60 minutes) 1:00’00~23:59’59 (after 60 minutes)
  • Measuring unit: 1/100 second (for the first 60 minutes) 1 second (after 60 minutes)
  • Measuring modes: Elapsed time, lap/split time
  • Countdown timer
  • Measuring unit: 1 second
  • Countdown range: 60 minutes
  • Countdown start time setting range: 1 second to 60 minutes (1-second increments and 1-minute increments)
  • Other: Progress beeper
  • 5 daily alarms (with progress beeper)
  • Hourly time signal
  • Double LED light
  • LED light for the face (Super illuminator, selectable illumination duration (1.5 seconds or 3 seconds), afterglow)
  • LED backlight for the digital display (Super illuminator, selectable illumination duration (1.5 seconds or 3 seconds), afterglow)
  • LED:White
  • Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
  • Mute feature: Button operation tone on/off
  • Power Saving (display goes blank to save power when the watch is left in the dark)
  • Battery level indicator
  • Approx. battery operating time:
  • 7 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after charge)
  • 18 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)
  • Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month (with no mobile link function)
  • 12/24-hour format
  • Day display (days of the week selectable in six languages)
  • Hand shift feature (Hands move out of the way to provide an unobstructed view of digital display contents.)
  • Regular timekeeping:
  • Analog: 2 hands (Hour, minute (hand moves every 20 seconds))
  • 1 dial (countdown alert)
  • Digital: Hour, minute, second, pm, date, day
  • Progress beeper on/off

Specifications & Price

  • Case size (L× W× H): 51 × 47.8 × 11.4 mm
  • Weight: 65 g
  • Case / bezel material: Resin / Stainless steel / Aluminum
  • CORDURA® Band
  • 100-meter water resistance
  • Tough Solar (Solar powered)
  • Price: AU$899.00

Is The Casio EDIFICE ECB-2000MFG Any Good?

I’ll be honest with you all, I am not a big fan of reviews — by their very nature they are subjective. My tastes and likes may not be your cup of tea, and vice-versa. The Casio EDIFICE MF Ghost / Initial D (ECB-2000MFG) watch is one of those timepieces that you’ll either like or totally dislike, there’s no middle ground. For the record, I LOVE it!

The ECB-2000MFG is a fun watch that demands attention with its striking looks – the metallic red band around the bezel, and the red accents on the dial are exquisite and really pop when out in sunlight. My geeky intuition tells me that this unique watch will be quite sought after in the future.

This new and limited Casio EDIFICE ECB-2000MFG watch is a must-have edition for fans of cars, racing, and of course — these manga masterworks.

For cool lifestyle content, subscribe to Zeitaku now!



I’m Too Young To Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 1992–2002 – Book Review

By

Just in time for Christmas comes Bitmap Books’ I’m Too Young To Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 1992–2002 book, making the perfect gift for those that are into video games history of the First Person Shooter variety.

There is no doubt the 1990s laid the foundation of one of the most enduring gaming genres, the First Person Shooter, or as we lovingly call it these days, FPS. We recall in high school getting a 3.5″ floppy with the shareware version of Wolfenstein 3D. To say the game blew our mind, would be the understatement of the century! Even with our humble low-spec PC, the game ran at a phenomenal speed. DOOM and DOOM II (and their many many community made WAD files) kept us very busy during the mid 90s, which almost cost us a few exam results at college! Once Quake hit our computers, followed by GoldenEye 007 on the Nintendo 64, the FPS genre had embedded itself in gaming folklore, with many fans around the world enjoying the gaming experience. Ah, those were the days.

I’m Too Young To Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 1992–2002 by Stuart Maine captures the fledgling days of FPS during its experimental and formative years, from 1992 till 2002. The book captures everything there is from the FPS golden age, covering some 180+ titles, from 007: Agent Under Fire through to Zero Tolerance and ZPC!

For the uninitiated, the book has a great intro by the author, Stuart Maine and a Foreword from one of the pioneers of the genre, John Romero. It then breaks down the genre in its constituent parts, so if you had never played an FPS, you most probably will after reading the overview and breakdown. Whether obscure oddities or genre-defining behemoths, first-person shooters transported players to alien worlds, alternate universes and the shores of Hell itself, and in doing so helped to trigger the 3D-graphics arms race.

The meat of this heavy book is the coverage of 180+ FPS titles, containing in-depth research and hundreds of eye popping screenshots. I’m Too Young To Die covers it all, from the classics that defined the genre, including DOOM and Quake, Half-Life, Deus Ex, GoldenEye 007 and Halo; multiplayer-only games such as Starsiege: Tribes, Unreal Tournament and Quake III, along with mods like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress; experimental games that pushed the genre in new directions, including Gun Buster, Codename Eagle, Assassin 2015 and Trespasser; forgotten games like ZPC and ReVOLUTION; and hidden gems like Dust, Wrath of Earth and Azrael’s Tear.

But wait, there is more! Even though the focus of this book is from 1992 to 2002, it acknowledges the precursors to first-person shooters, by charting the genre’s inception and evolution through maze and role-playing games, from Maze War, Spectre and 3-D Monster Chase, through to MIDI Maze, The Colony and Corporation to name just a few.

The in-depth interviews with industry legends such as Ian and Chris Andrew (the Freescape games), Scott Miller (Apogee and 3D Realms), David Doak (GoldenEye 007 and TimeSplitters), Randy Pitchford (Gearbox Software), Karl Deckard (Metroid Prime and Valve’s Prospero), plus many more is a huge highlight of what is an outstanding book. There is always something new that we learn in interview from people that were there at the time.

As we mentioned from the top, this book would be a great Christmas gift for yourself or someone that is into first-person shooters. We’ve read lots of gaming related books over the years – all being quite good, but this one is our current favourite – it’s brilliant!

Specifications & Where To Buy:

  • Title: I’m Too Young To Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 1992–2002
  • Publisher: Bitmap Books
  • Pages: 424 pages
  • Size: 210mm × 297mm
  • Print: Edge-to-edge high quality lithographic print.
  • Cover: Hardback. Sewn binding for enduring quality and the ability to lay flat for ideal double-page image viewing. Spot varnished cover and dust jacket highlighting key elements against a matte background.
  • Price: AU$69.99
  • Buy from: PixelCrib – the gaming culture specialists and purveyors of rare, high-quality video game memorabilia and collectibles



Disclaimer: I’m Too Young To Die: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 1992–2002 book was kindly provided by PixelCrib for this review.

Hands On With The AYANEO AIR

By

We have now had our Ayaneo Air (Standard) for almost two months, so we thought it’s a good time to tell you all about it – the good and the bad!

As already mentioned, this is a hands on and a first impressions article on our Ayaneo Air. Reason for this not being a full review is that our Air unit has been returned to Ayaneo for repairs, so once it arrives back, we will provide our final thoughts – wrapping up the review. However, please don’t get discouraged by us returning our Air for repairs, as Ayaneo’s support and service team has been nothing short of exemplary, with prompt responses and eagerness to resolve the issues encountered.

Specifications of our Ayaneo Air device:

  • Model: Ayaneo Air Standard
  • Colour: Polar Black
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5560U
  • Memory: 16GB LPDDR4X 4266
  • Storage: 256GB NVMe (expandable via MicroSD)
  • Display: 5.5″ AMOLED Touchscreen (1920×1080)
  • Battery: 28W 7350mAh
  • Dimensions (LxWxD): 8.8” x 3.5” x 0.7” inches
  • Connectivity: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
  • I/O: 2 x USB Type-C (top and bottom), 3.5mm audio combo jack
  • Security: Fingerprint Scanner
  • OS: Windows 11 Home
  • Price: US$629.00

Anyway, we know that over time we will discover new things to like and enjoy (or perhaps dislike) about our Ayaneo Air, so the more time we spend with it, we’ll be in a better position to provide our final thoughts. In the last two or so months we have had this device, we have set it up to play contemporary PC games (on Steam, Epic Games, GoG and Amazon Games) and of course, games from yesteryear using RetroBat – an awesome all-in-one emulation system for Windows.

Before we get to the gaming and setup side, we thought we’d start with the physical aspects, like the build quality of the Ayaneo Air and it’s packaging. With that said, the Ayaneo Air is all premium, with no corners cut, from the analogue Hall sticks (with no dead zones!) to the face buttons and shoulder Hall triggers, the integration of all the controls on the Air have been very carefully and meticulously considered for us gamers. The Air feels great in hand as it is light, meaning you won’t fatigue your hands and arms by holding a brick, like the Steam Deck.

The 5.5″ AMOLED touchscreen is an absolute game changer, with eye popping clarity and crispness that has to be seen to be believed – we just wish it was a tad bigger, like 6.5 or even 7″, then it would have been perfect, albeit heavier! By having a smaller screen, it means that Ayaneo were able to keep the Air’s size, weight/thickness and portability to a minimum – it’s 398g and 18mm thick)! The trade off it being slimline is that the battery doesn’t hold charge for long gaming sessions. Unfortunately, we could only manage about 2 hours or so on balanced TDP to play our games. If you do increase the TDP to play the heftier games, then expect a lot less battery time. If you are a gamer that expects at least 4+ hours on one battery charge, then you may need a juiced up powerbank to help you play longer – or go up to the Air Pro model.

Aside from the screen size and small-ish battery capacity, we are still quite impressed with it, as it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Oh yeah, we are also using the Ayaneo Air as our primary PC to do mundane stuff like spreadsheets, answering emails and writing this article 😉

Before we forget, the packaging is top notch too, with the Air device and its peripherals all tucked in nicely and securely in foam, with the outer box feeling like it’s for the Apple iPad – it is that good!

Make your AIR look like a Steam Deck!

On the usability and software side, the Air can be summed up by saying that it’s all-round features and capabilities provide a lightweight and ergonomic device running Window 11 without an issue, but with some performance sacrifices to make it more portable than something like the Steam Deck. The AYA Space companion operating software is a novel addition, but it is still in beta, so tread carefully. The good news is, Ayaneo are constantly updating the AYA Space software and adding new and improved features (and stamping out bugs with each new update) – we can’t wait to see how this matures.

Nintendo Switch VS Ayaneo Air

We had no issues with setting up our games from Steam, Epic, EA, GoG and even Xbox (GamePass Ultimate) on the Air. Our library isn’t too extensive, so for the games we tested, they played well, with the controls feeling like second nature. The aforementioned TDP could be bumped up for the games requiring more CPU grunt, however, we haven’t tested this extensively as yet. The biggest test for us was how the Ayaneo Air would fare with emulation, from 8-bit classic systems all the way up to and including the Wii and Switch. Well, we are happy to report that we found no issues, no lag, stuttering or cropping, bar from a few high end PS2 and Game Cube games. We even got to play Ricky Carmichael MX 2002 on the Xbox core within RetroBat.

Speaking of RetroBat, it was our final choice when it came to a complete emulation system. We threw everything at it, and it worked almost immediately! We did have to tweak some configs to get TeknoParrot, Future Pinball and Yuzu (Nintendo Switch emulator) going, but these were quite simple, with plenty of online help to get you through it.

The Ayaneo Air is for the gamer that wants flexibility in their gaming device, unlike the limitations imposed by Nintendo with their closed system Switch. The Air allows its user to set it up exactly to their liking. But be mindful that this flexibility is a double-edged sword, as Windows is inherently difficult to get stuff configured on and working right, so if you don’t want to tinker too much, then you’ll just be playing the standard PC games on it.

This device is a good option for gamers who like to play their Steam library (and other PC gaming platforms) with enhanced and rich visuals – the Ayaneo Air’s ultra wide angle AMOLED screen provides amazing visuals no matter the viewing angle! If you are after a high quality Windows/PC and retro gaming handheld, then look no further, as the Ayaneo Air ticks all of the boxes!

The dreaded white screen (not of death) – our Air will be repaired by Ayaneo

NOTE: As mentioned earlier in this article, our Air is currently in transit to Ayaneo for them to check and repair the intermittent white screen we get on boot up (see photo below). Ayaneo had arranged DHL to pick it up and will also use DHL to deliver it back once fixed. Ayaneo has assured us that they are aware of the issue and can resolve it. We will keep you informed of how this repair transpires, so stay tuned!



The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition – Review

By

We have known Richard Moss, the author of The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition (TSHoMG-EE) book, for quite a while now. To say we have great admiration for Richard would be a gross understatement.

Speaking to Richard in the past, it was quite evident where his love and passion was focused when it came to retro computing – the Apple Macintosh. Being an award winning journalist and avid game historian, we were glad to see Richard having his book published, as it’s just brilliant, even if you aren’t an Apple Macintosh fan – if you are remotely into retro computing or old school games, then this is a great read!

Let’s start with the physical aspects of the book. The look, feel and presentation of this tome oozes quality everywhere, as we come to expect from Bitmap Books – from the hardback cover (and use of colours) hitting the nostalgic bit of our heart, to the gorgeous blue coloured page edges, it’s truly stunning! The 480 pages are filled with edge-to-edge high quality lithographic print, with sewn binding for enduring quality and the ability to lay the book flat, which is ideal for double-page image viewing.

Richard goes into detail in how the Macintosh changed video games and how it challenged the medium to be more than child’s play and quick reflexes. With human design in mind (as with contemporary Apple products!), TSHoMG-EE informs the reader in how the Macintosh made human-computer interaction friendly, inviting, and intuitive. Of course, one would argue (as the author does), that Mac gaming led to much of what we now take for granted as PC gamers, with the old Apple spawning some of the biggest franchises in video games history — including Myst, Halo, and SimCity.

The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition draws on a combination of archival material and around 80 interviews with key figures from the era to tell the story of those communities and the game developers who survived and thrived in an ecosystem that was serially ignored by the outside world. It’s a book about people who followed their hearts first, and market trends second – showing how clever, quirky, and downright wonderful video games could be.

This newly-expanded edition adds around 70 pages of extra content, including a foreword by The 7th Guest co-creator and id Software and Apple alum Graeme Devine, plus an annotated timeline, over 60 extra images, an icon gallery, and more than 6,000 extra words added to the chapter narratives — on top of the 115,000 words from the 1st edition — covering a variety of additional game and developer stories, including the tales behind Snood, Chaos Overlords, The Dungeon of Doom, and more. It also revises and updates the design, based on reader feedback, to provide a better reading experience. A nice touch is the “Where Are They Now” section in each chapter – giving insight into the career path of key people.

We are suckers for books that delve deep into their subject matter, and this book is no exception. It is beautifully presented and written to draw the reader into the world of the Apple Macintosh and its library of video games that became iconic. We highly recommend The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition book, as it is informative, fun and engaging, the three key ingredients of any great book. This tome deserves to be on your bookshelf.

Availability



Disclaimer: The Secret History of Mac Gaming: Expanded Edition book was kindly provided by PixelCrib for this review.

Formula Bit Racing DX – Review

By

With the explosion in popularity of Formula 1 (Ed: thanks to Drive to Survive), it is great timing to have a game like Formula Bit Racing DX hit our gaming consoles!

So why is Formula Bit Racing DX great? Well, firstly it is a lot of fun to play! Secondly, we love its influence from classic arcade racing games from the 80s and early 90s, so if you enjoyed games like Super Sprint, RC Pro-Am, Super Skidmarks, Micro Machines, Super Off-Road Racing, to name just a few, then you will absolutely love this game from 2Awesome Studio!

The charm of this game is its low-poly HD graphics and top-down/isometric point of view of the race track, coupled with great control and the challenges thrown at the racer before they cross the finishing line.

Borrowing elements from iconic arcade racing games, Formula Bit Racing DX builds on this pedigree with a few modern twists, including the aforementioned gorgeously crisp low-polygon HD grx, catchy retro soundtrack and of course, the 20 fun circuits to race on with one of 10 unique cars! The exciting gameplay that the genre is known for is perfectly captured by Formula Bit Racing DX – lots of high speed action and skill series which are quite easy to get into, but mastering the control to turn, drift on the racing track is what keeps you coming back to it. The only thing we wish this game had was the ability to play against your friends, but the game is still solid playing solo.

At well under AU$10.00, this game is absolutely and totally worth grabbing, no matter your console – Xbox, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch. So go ahead, start your engines and prepare for the craziest and most addictive racing you’ll experience today!



Review: Wonder Boy Collection

By

Let’s get one thing straight, we are checking out the digital version of the Wonder Boy Collection, which is vastly different from the physical boxed edition from Strictly Limited Games. Just so you guys are informed, this digital version contains 4 Wonder Boy games, whereas the Strictly Limited Games (physical) edition has all 6 of the classic Wonder Boy titles, plus every Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Gear and arcade versions of those games, both in English and Japanese, for a grand total of 21 games – so you see, there is a pretty big difference!

OK, we have got that out of the way, let’s get into the 4 games that you get in the digital version of the Wonder Boy Collection. First off the bat (and our absolute favourite, because we grew up with it) is the arcade version of Wonder Boy (1986). The next one is another arcade version, Wonder Boy In Monster Land (1987), with the last two titles being Mega Drive/Genesis ports of  Wonder Boy in Monster World (1991) and (Wonder Boy) Monster World IV (1994).

This is not a bad little collection, but it does feel incomplete if you are a hardcore Wonder Boy fan. Considering there other titles in the main series left off this compilation, coupled with the remakes and Adventure Island ports, this could have been such a stellar collection worthy to be in everyone’s games library. Anyway, we digress!

If you are reading this, then you will know what types of games these are. Wonder Boy is an out and out platformer with jumping and collecting items on the way to rescuing his girlfriend – sound familiar? Yeah, it is in the Super Mario Bros. ilk, which isn’t a bad thing. The rest of the collection take this formula and sprinkle RPG elements to spice things up in each of the successive titles in the collection.

All games have the option to save/load states, modify the controls, rewind speeds and importantly, the video, which includes options to change the display, scaling and shaders – ensuring that you can retro it up to your heart’s content. The arcade ports have the additional options to change the number of lives, bonus lives and difficulty level, with Monster Land having the option to change how you use your special weapon. It would be remiss of us not to mention a blaring error on the Wonder Boy (1986) selection screen where there is reference to Tom-Tom’s girlfriend as Tanya instead of Tina. Hey, we know we are being very pedantic, but come on, this is elementary detail that should have been a no brainer.

All games are faithful to their original content, with the emulation accuracy being quite good on the Nintendo Switch. As it stands, for AU$39.99 (US$29.99), you get four pretty good Wonder Boy titles, but you can’t help it think how much more awesome it would have been if they added Monster Lair and Dragon’s Trap to this collection.



Disclaimer: The Nintendo Switch eShop code for the Wonder Boy Collection was provided by PR Hound.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Review

By

Cowabunga! Sorry, we really had to start with that!

How good do we beat’em up fans have it right now? Both Final Vendetta and TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge get released within a day of one another. The last time we had it this good, I had a mullet and the singing budgie, Kylie Minogue, was killin’ it with her Stock Aitken Waterman hits. Oh yeah, and we are late doing this review because this game is deliciously addictive, just like a capricciosa pizza (minus the anchovies)!

You’ve probably read (or watched) a ton of reviews about this game already, so we honestly don’t know what else to say that hasn’t already been said – if you are into scrolling beat’em ups (playing solo or co-op), then adding TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge to your games library is a no-brainer, GET IT RIGHT NOW!


source: DotEmu

For those that need an extra push that are asking, how darn good is this game, well let us tell ya! We played Final Vendetta before Shredder’s Revenge and called it the beat’em up genre’s magnum opus (it’s darn good), but we honestly reckon Shredder’s Revenge is just as good (if not better!). The main pull for us is the fact that this game oozes nostalgia with its beautiful full-colour pixel visuals, aural (yay Tee Lopes!) and play mechanics by transporting us back to early 1990 in the video rental store where we first played the 4P Konami arcade game which totally blew our mind. Shredder’s Revenge has blown our mind too! Obviously it is a step above the original arcade with ample levels that are choc-full of foot clan baddies to smash with satisfying moves, attacks and brutal combos – there are 21 in total. Some moves do consume your Ninja Power bar, so you have to be strategic when to use it. Being TMNT, there is also a radical mode (basically god mode) that can be unlocked to mow down everyone on screen. Oh yeah, you can also taunt your enemies before you unleash your fist of fury. Did we also mention that you can play with up to six players simultaneously? No? Well, we have now – it’s just so gnarly! What else can we tell you about this game that no one has said already? It’s so bodacious!

We love the fact that you can play Shredder’s Revenge in Story or Arcade mode, with the latter basically giving the player a harder challenge with limited lives, continues and no saved progression – just the way we like it. Both Story and Arcade modes offer an easy (chill), hard (okay) and tough-as-nails (gnarly) difficulty levels, so it all depends on your mood and skill level.

If you need more convincing, then perhaps this game isn’t for you. If you are sitting on the fence, we say get off it and get playing TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge on your chosen system ASAP, you’ll thank us for it! Seriously though, if we had a rating system, we would give this all the stars in the observable universe. Bravo and thanks Tribute Games and DotEmu for giving us a superb game.

image source: DotEmu



Disclaimer: The Nintendo Switch review code for TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge was provided by DotEmu.