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The Top Gun of NES Games: My 8 Favourite Classics That Still Soar

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  The Nintendo Entertainment System was more than a console it was a gateway to adventure, a pixelated playground where every click of a cartridge ignited joy. As a lad, I’d lose myself in its worlds, the hum of the telly and the clack of the controller my soundtrack to countless afternoons. Sure, legends like The Legend of Zelda, Castlevania, and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! deserve their praise, but my heart belongs to eight NES gems that defined my late childhood entry to the NES: Top Gun, Super Mario Bros. 3, Kirby’s Adventure, Contra, M.U.L.E., Mega Man 2, Rad Racer, and Batman: The Video Game. These are my Top Gun of NES games - titles that flew high then and still hold up today. Let’s take a nostalgic flight through why they’re so special, what critics thought at the time, and how they play now. 1. Top Gun (1987) Top Gun was my Maverick moment. I’d squint at the screen, imagining myself as a hotshot pilot dodging missiles and nailing that carrier landing. The game’s flight sim v...
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Classic Replay - Sega Nomad

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What is it?   Feeling nostalgic for the golden days of the Mega Drive? Before Nintendo's Game Boy ruled the scene, there was Sega's Nomad—the Mega Drive that (almost) fit in your pocket. Only released in America, the Nomad was a portable version of Sega's 16-bit masterpiece. It was about the size of a chunky paperback book and heavier than your average Harry Potter novel. This pocket-sized powerhouse let you play Genesis (US Mega Drive) games on the go, with its six-button controller, a port for an external second controller, two AV outputs, a large built-in 3-inch colour screen, and the option to plug it into your TV at home. The only downside? It couldn't accommodate your beloved 32X and Sega peripherals. But hey, being able to play Toki on the toilet? Totally worth it! Why you should want one Genesis cartridges, including most UK and Japanese ones with an adapter, are still easily accessible and won't break the bank. Games you really should get From Ghouls 'n...
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Sharp X68000 - What is it?

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  The Sharp X68000: A Retro Gaming Gem The Sharp X68000 is a legendary Japanese computer system that has earned a special place in the hearts of retro gaming enthusiasts. Released in 1987 , this 32-bit powerhouse was ahead of its time, offering arcade-quality graphics and sound that were unmatched by other home systems of the era A Brief History The X68000 was named after its Motorola 68000 CPU , which was also used in other iconic systems like the Atari ST, Amiga, Sega Genesis, and Neo Geo. Despite its high price tag, the X68000 became a success in Japan, finding its way into many homes and becoming a favourite among gamers and developers alike Standout Features One of the most remarkable aspects of the X68000 was its ability to deliver arcade-perfect ports . The system's architecture was similar to Capcom's CPS-1 arcade boards, making it an ideal platform for bringing arcade hits to the home. This capability allowed the X68000 to host some of the best and most faithful arcad...
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Gaming Gear of Yesteryear: Commodore 64

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Commodore 64 Year Released: 1982  Manufacturer: Commodore Did you know? There are numerous underground sites dedicated to keeping the Commodore 64 alive and thriving. Check out C64.com and the more recent C64 Online Emulator . What is it? In the 80s, you were either an Amstrad, Spectrum, or Commodore kid. The C64 boasted a whopping 64K of memory, incredible sound, 16 colours, and superb hi-res graphics (for its time). It was also many kids' first experience with an online network when Commodore released the Compunet Modem, allowing them to spend all night downloading demos and chatting with other like-minded gaming fans. Why do I need it? For a treasure trove of original games that are still worth playing today. Titles like The Eidolon , Creatures , Wizball , and Ballblazer are some of the best and earliest games from Lucasfilm. Their first release, Rescue On Fractalus , used a pioneering technique to generate a believable 3D landscape - finding a 'Jaggi' enemy hammerin...
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Why the Amstrad CPC Stood Out Among 8-Bit Computers

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The 8-bit era was a fascinating time for home computers, with several iconic machines vying for dominance. Let's dive into why the Amstrad CPC was considered one of the best 8-bit computers, and how it compared to the Commodore 64 (C64), ZX Spectrum, and the MSX. Amstrad CPC The Amstrad CPC series, launched in 1984, was known for its robust design and built-in monitor, which set it apart from its competitors. It featured a Zilog Z80A CPU running at 4 MHz, 64 KB of RAM (expandable to 128 KB), and impressive graphics capabilities with a palette of 27 colours. The CPC's sound was handled by the AY-3-8912 sound chip, offering three channels of sound. Commodore 64 (C64) The C64, released in 1982, was a powerhouse in the 8-bit market. It had a MOS Technology 6510 CPU running at 1 MHz, 64 KB of RAM, and superior graphics with a resolution of 320x200 and 16 colours. The C64's SID (Sound Interface Device) chip was legendary, providing three channels of complex sound and music. ZX Sp...
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The ultimate 2 Player Games

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You can't beat an epic two-player experience! My earliest memory of a two-player game is playing Gauntlet on the Amstrad CPC with my cousin. We would spend hours on it, and then came Deeper Dungeons with 500 more levels, many of which were fan-made and from the developers themselves. Another early memory is Target Renegade, a fantastic game that was even better with a friend. It actually improved over the arcade original and then some. Then came Gryzor, and I was blown away. The home conversion I had was far from arcade perfect, but it allowed you to team up with a friend, which was a game-changer for the time in both depth of gameplay and cooperative action. But there were many more. Here's my list of favourite two-player games.  10. Gauntlet (1985): This dungeon crawler was a hit in arcades, allowing up to four players to team up and battle through hordes of enemies. Its cooperative gameplay and unique character classes made it a standout. 9. Contra (Gryzor UK) (1987): Known ...
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The birth of the Amstrad Mega PC

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Back in 1993, 32 years ago, SEGA licensed a machine powered by a 32-bit Intel 80386SX CPU running at 25 MHz. At the time, the Intel DX2 and Pentium processors were just emerging, with the DX2 released in March 1992 and the Pentium in March 1993. Unfortunately, Amstrad's offering came a bit too late to make a significant impact. However, it was upgradable to 16MB of RAM and featured a 40MB hard drive, along with SVGA graphics boasting 256KB of RAM. There were plans to release a Cyrix 486 model, but it's unclear if it ever made it to market. The Amstrad Mega PC had potential, but several factors could have made it more successful: Better Timing: Releasing the Mega PC earlier, before the dominance of more powerful 486 and Pentium CPUs, could have given it a competitive edge. Improved Performance: Upgrading the CPU to a 486 or even a Pentium would have made it more appealing to consumers looking for better performance. Competitive Pricing: Offering the Mega PC at a more affordab...
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