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The Atari Lynx: Atari’s Colour Handheld That Deserved Better

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When it comes to retro gaming documentaries, few creators do it better than Nostalgia Nerd. His latest video dives deep into the fascinating story of the Atari Lynx, Atari’s ambitious handheld console that arrived years ahead of much of its competition. Featuring a stunning colour backlit screen, impressive arcade-quality games, and innovative features, the Lynx was a technological marvel that deserved far more attention than it received.

In this engaging retrospective, Nostalgia Nerd explores the origins of the Atari Lynx, its groundbreaking hardware, memorable game library, and the challenges it faced competing against Nintendo’s juggernaut Game Boy. Whether you’re a long-time Lynx owner or simply curious about one of gaming’s most underrated handhelds, this is a must-watch journey through a unique chapter in video game history.


source: Nostalgia Nerd

 

It’s On Like Donkey Kong – DK turns 45!

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On this day (July 9) in 1981, Nintendo unleashed Donkey Kong in the arcades! Ah, the golden age of arcades!

Since then, millions of gamers have fallen in love with the great Nintendo gorilla. DK (as he is affectionately known) has gone from being the villain to now being the hero.

From humble beginnings, kidnapping Pauline and throwing barrels at a moustachioed plumber, DK has come a long way and truly grown up. He has definitely kept us all entertained. Happy 45th Birthday big fella!

‘Rampage’ Arcade Game

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When I played “Rampage” as a kid, it was on a small screen, and I often found all the destruction at times boring. I never liked “Rampage” all that much on my NES; I’d rather play “Double Dragon 2” or “Metroid.” But playing “Rampage” on an enormous screen in an arcade is something different all together. It felt like a totally different game to me.

I only played the “Rampage” arcade game because I couldn’t get on a fun bowling game that I’m somewhat good at. When I’m smashing buildings and vehicles, there’s something liberating and thrilling about it. The screen is so huge, it feels like you’re submerged in the ultra-violent game. It’s all fun until the choppers show up and counter your destruction of the city. When I’m into the game, I usually ignore anyone who’s firing at me when I’m George, Lizzie, or Ralph. Destruction of vehicles and structures is my focus before my time runs out. I like to play as George the most.

 

I don’t like eating people on the street, I never have. It’s sinister and creepy to me. I enjoy crushing cars and punching helicopters as they whiz past my head. There’s a feeling of accomplishment when a tall skyscraper topples to the pavement. The destruction is the point of the classic game, so when I destroy, it’s thrilling for a moment.

“Rampage” is a little repetitive, but the arcade game’s visuals are so enthralling you forget about it as you progress to a new level.

I’ve never watched the Warner Bros. movie with The Rock. I’ve heard it’s not that bad, but I’m not sure how you make a good film out of a game where you’re just smashing and demolishing things. But I’m sure the CGI effects were decent.

The Holy Grail of Nintendo Collections Is For Sale

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Forget a Man Cave – This Is a Full-Blown Nintendo Time Capsule

Alright peeps… We’ve found it. The final boss of retro collecting. The “you win the lottery and disappear for a week” level setup. The Nintendo Kiosk Collection to end all Nintendo Kiosk Collections.

Currently sitting on eBay like it just casually spawned there is an insane private display (by eBay seller from France, Bob.bones) packed with original Nintendo kiosks from the NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy and beyond. Not one. Not two. A full-on museum-grade wall of playable nostalgia that looks like it was teleported straight out of a 90s department store… if that department store was run by a time-travelling Nintendo executive with unlimited floor space.

We’re talking:

🟥 Glorious red NES and SNES demo units
🟦 Chunky, unmistakable N64 kiosks
🟩 Classic Game Boy retail displays
🎮 Shelves absolutely stacked with boxed games
✨ Lighting, branding, and signage that screams “Mum, just five more minutes!”

It’s less a “collection” and more a Nintendo shrine. The kind of room where you half expect the Mario 64 file select music to start playing when you walk in.

And the price? Let’s just say this isn’t “skip takeaway for a few weeks” money. This is “sell a kidney, a car, and possibly a small island” territory. But honestly… for a setup that looks like a playable slice of retail history? There’s a weird part of my brain going, “Yeah, fair.”

What makes this so special isn’t just the hardware – it’s the experience. These kiosks were how many of us first played Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pokémon and more. Sticky controller grips. Timed demos. That kid hovering behind you waiting for their turn. Pure magic.

Seeing this all preserved in one place hits right in the childhood.

So, serious question, retro gaming fam:

If money was no object…
Would you keep this as a private game room, or open it as a public retro Nintendo museum?

Because honestly, this might be the closest thing we’ll ever see to a real-life Nintendo Time Capsule.

Now excuse me while I go stare at the photos again and pretend I have European kiosk money.

image source: bob.bones via eBay

Virtual Boy is BACK (of all things)!

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🎮 Virtual Boy is BACK! Are You Ready For Some Headaches?🎮

Nintendo has officially dusted off one of its most infamous pieces of hardware – the Virtual Boy – and is bringing it back into the spotlight in 2026. Yep, that 90s red-tinted headset that gave everyone a weird mix of wonder and eye strain is getting a second life… on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2!

🗓️ Launch Date: 17th February 2026

Whether you loved it, mocked it, or just remember it as that red thing, the Virtual Boy is returning in a modern form. Starting February 17, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers will be able to play the Virtual Boy classics under the banner Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics.

To actually play them, you’ll need:

  • A Nintendo Switch or Switch 2
  • An active Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership
  • And the special Virtual Boy accessory (more on that below)

🧠 The Games You Can Play at Launch

Nintendo is kicking things off with seven throwback titles that highlight both the quirky and the genuinely good stuff from the original 1995 library:

🎯 Launch Line-Up (17 Feb)

  • Teleroboxer
  • Galactic Pinball
  • RED ALARM
  • Virtual Boy Wario Land
  • 3-D TETRIS
  • GOLF
  • Innsmouth no Yakata (aka: The Mansion of Innsmouth)

This is a way better start than anyone expected. especially Wario Land and 3-D Tetris, which are genuinely fun even beyond the nostalgia factor.

🎁 More Games Coming Later in 2026

And here’s where it gets spicy: Nintendo isn’t stopping at the basics. Throughout 2026, more titles will roll out, including some classics and even games that never officially released back in the 90s!

🚀 Confirmed Incoming Titles

  • Mario Clash
  • Mario’s Tennis
  • Jack Bros.
  • Space Invaders Virtual Collection
  • Virtual Bowling
  • Virtual Force
  • V-Tetris

🔥 Unreleased Classics Making Their Debut

  • Zero Racers – a cancelled F-Zero spin-off originally meant for the Virtual Boy 30 years ago.
  • D-Hopper (Dragon Hopper) – another lost Virtual Boy adventure finally seeing the light of day.

That’s right — Nintendo’s pulling stuff out of the vault that never made it to retailers. Retro archaeologists are going to have a field day. 🦖

🥽 So What’s This Accessory You Keep Talking About?

To recreate that vintage stereoscopic 3D feel, Nintendo’s releasing a Virtual Boy accessory that you attach your Switch into — basically a modern take on the original headset.

They’ve teased:

  • A premium plastic version (harder wearing, classic vibe) – pre-order price: AUD$139.95
  • A cardboard version (budget Labo-style energy) – pre-order price: AUD$29.95

Both plug into your system and let you fire up these retro titles as intended.

🎮 Quality-of-Life Additions

Unlike the 90s original, this service isn’t just about emulating old binaries — Nintendo is including modern comforts like:

✅ Save states & rewind
✅ Control remapping
✅ …and possibly even colour options beyond red later in the year 👀

So even if the original gave you headaches, this version might be actually enjoyable — and worth dusting off that Switch. 😉

🧠 Wrapping Up

Is this a nostalgic gag? A genuine retro renaissance? Or just Nintendo poking fun at history? Probably a mix of all three — and we’re here for it.

Mark your calendars:
📅 17th February 2026 – Virtual Boy classics land on Switch Online.
👾 Retro fans, preppers, and weird 3D enthusiasts unite.

Stay tuned to Ausretrogamer for hands-on impressions once this bizarre comeback lands Down Under!🔥

image source: Nintendo

‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’ video game on the SNES

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

After watching Netflix’s “Frankenstein,” I recalled how much I enjoyed playing “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” on my Super Nintendo.

“Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” looked great on my Super NES. The graphics were typical for an action platform, but at the time of its release, it just looked better than other single-player games of its time. The Creature’s look was genuinely scary to me, and the game recreated the look from the Kenneth Branagh film completely. The game followed the plot of the movie closely. I’m not sure how the weapon of the blue ball of negative energy came about in the game; it wasn’t in the 1994 film. But the weapon is very useful as The Creature plods through the streets of Ingolstadt, Bavaria.

The game does get a little redundant the further you get into it. The ending is anticlimactic. It’s so disappointing, but I do like the ice landscape that The Creature must maneuver to get to its maker. I guess it’s a satisfying ending if you dislike Victor Frankenstein.

When I read the novel “Frankenstein” in college, I didn’t like it very much. When my class was assigned to read the Shelley classic, I thought, I love the video game, the book must be great as well. I was disappointed, but there were memorable moments in the novel.

Watching Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” on Netflix has made me want to go back and read the book. Toro’s film was fantastic. He put you in a world that felt so authentic and gothic. An adaptation of his film into a video game on PS5 or Xbox could be amazing. The Netflix film is far superior to the 1994 film which starred Robert De Niro as The Creature. Del Toro’s film was much more engaging, and Jacob Elordi’s performance as The Creature is worthy of an Oscar. Elordi’s The Creature would be an amazing central character in a modern game that takes you from the lab in the castle to the countryside, fighting off various threats. In the film, The Creature’s fight with a pack of deadly wolves was an outstanding action sequence.

 

Ping Pong + Space Invaders = Bit.Pong

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the future of social gaming!

So you love Ping Pong (aka: Table Tennis) and you also love playing Space Invaders, so the logical question would be, how do you merge these two passions into one?!

The answer, bit.pong! Yep, take a look at this darn cool integration between table tennis and the first killer shoot’em up to hit the arcades in the late 70s! Who said you don’t get any exercise playing video games?! 😉

PS: For more details on this cool invention by Diplik, read this.


source: 80 Level via Facebook

 

Inside DMA Design (AKA: Rockstar Games) In 1996

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From Lemmings to Larceny — DMA Design’s leap into gaming infamy started right here.

Ah, the 90s – that unmistakable era of questionable fashion choices, dial-up internet, and frosted tips! But one thing that wasn’t shocking? The creative brilliance bubbling away at DMA Design (yes, the very same studio behind Lemmings).

A recently resurfaced 1996 video shows the Dundee-based team hard at work on a brand-new project titled Grand Theft Auto. What began as a quirky top-down car game called Race’n’Chase would soon explode into one of the most iconic (and controversial) video game franchises of all time.

The footage offers a fascinating glimpse into gaming history – you can spot early builds of Liberty City, rough animations, and plenty of mid-’90s office vibes. It’s surreal seeing the team at DMA Design – later to be renamed Rockstar North, part of Rockstar Games, laying the groundwork for what would redefine open-world gaming forever.

So throw on your flannel shirt, fire up your CRT monitor, and take a nostalgic trip back to where it all began – before Grand Theft Auto became a global phenomenon, it was just a bunch of Scots tinkering with pixels and possibilities.

🎥 Watch the 1996 development video and witness gaming history in motion!


source: BBC Archive

‘Fantastic Four’ on PS1

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

“Fantastic Four” for the original PlayStation was a blast to play. For 1997, the gameplay graphics were superior to other video games at that time. It was a routine beating up numerous bad guys in side-scrolling stages game, similarly to the “Double Dragon” series and “Ninja Gaiden.” Having Human Torch leading the way and having The Thing cover the rear was always thrilling. Human Torch was a menace with fiery punches. I liked how Sue Storm could bring down the blue lightning when the fighting got extremely intense. Force Power was something I always used when a huge number of foes approached the team.

One complaint about the Acclaim Entertainment game is that the stages seemed too long. The Fantastic Four had to cover a lot of terrain before they got through a rigorous stage. The attack of the Molemen was a fun part of the game, but the time it took to defeat them was taxing. The payoff was lengthy. The payoff was a short fight with The Incredible Hulk.

The final stage: “Is the World Doomed?” was the best part of the game. I always thought that Dr. Doom welding a rocket launcher at the end was a little unfair. Dr. Doom looked great.

source: supplied

I’m excited for the new “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but the trailers have been underwhelming to me. The films starring Chris Evans and Jessica Alba have a quirky, fun quality to them, but they’re in no way good comic book movies. In the second one, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” released in 2007, it’s like they didn’t know what to do with the Silver Surfer. Hopefully the new Marvel film doesn’t make the same mistake.

I’m a huge fan of Vanessa Kirby. She was terrific in “Hobbs and Shaw” and a small, great film called “Pieces of a Woman.” I think she’ll be a wonderful Sue Storm. Her fight scenes in “Hobbs and Shaw” were some of my favourite parts of that fun action movie. And she was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in “Pieces of a Woman.” And I think everyone likes Pedro Pascal. I’m not sure if Joseph Quinn can pull off Human Torch, but he gave two standout turns in last years’ “A Quiet Place: Day One” and “Gladiator 2.”

Retro Classics Added to Xbox Game Pass

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Retro Classics Hits Game Pass – Over 50 Activision Favourites from the ’80s and ’90s Are Back!

If you’ve ever wanted to relive the glory days of gaming—when pixelated action ruled and joysticks (with one button) were king—then you’re in for a serious nostalgia hit. Xbox and Antstream Arcade have teamed up to drop something very special for retro fans: Retro Classics, a brand-new collection of 50+ classic Activision games from the 1980s and 1990s, now playable via Xbox Game Pass!

Yep, you read that right—whether you cut your teeth on Kaboom!, Pitfall!, Commando, Grand Prix, or even the mighty MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, these beloved blasts from the past are back and ready to play on modern devices.

Game Preservation, the Fun Way

This launch isn’t just about a stroll down memory lane—it’s part of Xbox’s bigger mission around game preservation and backwards compatibility. It’s a great example of how the classics can still shine today, especially with a modern twist (like cloud gaming, achievements, and save states—more on that in a sec).

image source: Xbox

Where and How to Play

The best part? You can enjoy Retro Classics anywhere Game Pass goes. That means:

  • On your Xbox console

  • Using the Xbox app on PC

  • Streaming via cloud gaming on supported LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and even Meta Quest VR headsets

All you need to do is fire up your Game Pass dashboard, search for Retro Classics, install it, and boom—you’re back in the arcade.

New Features for Old Favourites

Retro Classics isn’t just about emulation—it’s about enhancing the experience. Players can now:

  • Save and reload progress, a first for many of these vintage games

  • Take on friends, rivals, or global leaderboards with built-in challenges

  • Chase down brand-new achievements designed just for this collection

So whether you’re a seasoned retro warrior or a curious newcomer ready to explore gaming’s golden era, Retro Classics is a must-try.