Super NES

The SNES Classic Mini Is In Da House

September 30, 2017 By ausretrogamer

We may have missed out on the NES Classic Mini, but we were determined not to repeat the same mistake twice!

When the SNES Classic Mini was announced earlier in the year, we jumped in early to lock in our pre-order. Well, the wait is finally over and we have our grubby mits on Nintendo’s latest (and best) Classic Mini system.

Our initial impression is that it is so small and cute! Leaving the aesthetics aside, the console connects easy to any newer TV (via HDMI) with the correct aspect ratio. You can power your SNES Classic by connecting it to your TV’s USB interface – no more worrying about a power outlet. The most important part of this whole Classic Mini thingy are the games, and what a stellar list! The bundled SNES Classic Mini games reads like a who’s who of the greatest games of all time. Just when you thought Nintendo could not top this, they have also thrown in the previously unreleased Star Fox 2!

Did you get yourself a SNES Classic Mini? If you did, we would love to know what you think – hit us up on Twitter or Facebook!

Anyway, enough chatting, time to play!

Super Nintendo Empire: The Vader Challenge

June 23, 2017 By David Cutler

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Darth Vader is such a fascinating film character. He goes away for a while, and then he comes roaring back into our pop culture conscience, better than ever.

After the spectacularly imaginative ending to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Vader is once again as popular as ever. There is something gratifying about seeing people of all ages wearing Darth Vader t-shirts again.

Like the original film trilogy, Super Nintendo’s The Empire Strikes Back, released in 1993, was the best of the Super Star Wars game series.

If you were a talented enough gamer to ultimately advance to Darth Vader, he was very difficult to defeat. That’s what made the game so good. Vader was a challenge, and battling him as Luke Skywalker was really a treat when I played the game as a kid.

Empire has the best lightsaber duel of the entire Star Wars film franchise. And I don’t care what anyone says, the Empire duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in Empire is more dramatic and thrilling than their final duel in Return of the Jedi. Just because it’s the coda of the original trilogy doesn’t make it the best lightsaber battle; satisfying, yes, but not on par with the duel that leads to Cloud City’s central air shaft.

image source: Pinterest

The lightsaber battle in the game is very similar to the one at the end of the 1980 film. However, Vader is a lot taller than Luke in the game; he’s almost giant-like compared to the young Jedi. As a child gamer, I found Vader’s height to be a little intimidating.

I spent many entertaining hours fighting Vader; to a point where I would keep track of how long it would take me to defeat him…if I defeated him. Vader’s not messing around at the end of the game. My friends and I called it “The Vader Challenge.” It was an ideal way to reenact the battle at the end of one of my favourite films.

The rest of the game action is enjoyable, but nothing is as testing and exceptional as the duel with Vader. Battling the AT-AT Walkers on the planet Hoth is really fun as well. The graphics are exceptional and the degree of difficulty adds a layer that makes this a game young Star Wars fans should try playing if they can find a Super NES copy.

It’ll stress you out a few times, but “The Vader Challenge” at the end is worth the anxiety.

Retrogaming Toasters, The Best Thing Since The Breadbin

March 24, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

Retrogaming toasters – why not! Whether you want to play video games on your toaster, cook crumpets with your retro console, or decorate your bread with video game characters, there’s a product for you! Let’s start with the Super Nintoaster.

Super Nintoaster

As the name suggests, the Super Nintoaster is a Super Nintendo crammed inside a toaster – wow! Inventor Stupid Fingers explains it is ‘built from nothing more than a Super NES, a toaster, four different types of adhesives, magnets ripped from a broken hard drive, six orange LEDs, a bunch of resistors, plexiglass, and many many spare wires’.

Source: Stupid Fingers via Geekologie

Nintoaster and Nintoaster II

Just as awesome as the Super Nintoaster is its predecessors the Nintoaster and the Nintoaster II also made by Stupid Fingers.

Source: Stupid Fingers Nintoaster, Stupid Fingers Nintoaster II

But if you are feeling hungry, these actual toasters may be more to your liking – some are real products you can buy!

Super NES Toaster

How I wish the ‘Super Toast Retro Bread System’ was one of the real products, but alas – it appears to have been a 2012 April Fool’s Day joke.

Source: Spinning Hat via Bit Rebels

Space Invaders Toastie Machine

Chris Naylor designed this awesome Space Invaders Toastie Machine in response to a ‘retro Christmas gift’ brief during a one week industrial project in collaboration with M&S. Someone needs to manufacture this ASAP!

Source: Chris Naylor on Coroflot via Remove the Labels

Nintendo Console Toaster

While I’m happy with a toaster being sacrificed to house a console, I’m not sure I am happy about the reverse. It’s a good thing then, that this NES toaster is just a (fantastic) artwork (phew!).

Source: Deviant Art – My Burning Eyes via The DIY Adventures

Hello Kitty Toaster

At last, here is a real product you can actually buy! Your day is sure to go well if you start it with a piece of Hello Kitty toast.

Source: Via Japan Newbie

Darth Vader Toasters

Bread, give yourself to the Dark Side.

Source: Think Geek, Amazon

Keyboard Waffle Iron

And there’s even something for PC gamers – a keyboard waffle iron, yum! This is actually one of artist Chris Dimino’s works looking at giving new life the now useless typewriter.

Source: Chris Domino via Slippery Brick

VHS Toaster

Finally, if you are into DIY, you can make your very own cool VHS toaster. Just follow Instructables member Lemonie’s instructions. Lemonie was inspired by this clip from the classic British comedy ‘The Young Ones‘.

Source: Instructables

Watch it in action:

Source: YouTube

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

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