Classic Replay

Retro gaming has seen a resurgence in recent years, with many people looking to relive the golden days of gaming. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or new to the world of retro games, there are plenty of ways to enjoy these classics today. Here's a guide on how to play retro games in the modern era. Emulators Emulators are software programs that mimic the hardware of old gaming consoles, allowing you to play retro games on your computer or mobile device. Popular emulators include RetroArch, Dolphin, and SNES9x. You'll need to download the emulator and the game ROMs (digital copies of the games) to get started. Be sure to check the legality of downloading ROMs in your region. Original Hardware For the purists out there, nothing beats playing on the original hardware. You can find old consoles like the NES, Sega Mega Drive, and Atari 2600 on online marketplaces or at retro gaming stores. Keep in mind that you might need to invest in some maintenance or repairs to get these old ...

In the ever-evolving world of technology, few brands have managed to maintain their relevance and charm quite like the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. This iconic 8-bit home computer, first released in 1982, continues to captivate the hearts and minds of enthusiasts around the globe. But what is it about the ZX Spectrum that keeps it so firmly rooted in modern-day life? Nostalgia: A Powerful Force Nostalgia plays a significant role in the enduring appeal of the ZX Spectrum. For many, it represents a simpler time when gaming was in its infancy, and the thrill of loading a game from a cassette tape was unmatched. The ZX Spectrum was more than just a computer; it was a gateway to countless adventures and a source of endless creativity. The memories of those early gaming experiences continue to resonate with fans, keeping the brand alive and well. Social Media Presence In today's digital age, the ZX Spectrum has found a new lease of life on social media platforms. Hashtags related to the ZX Spec...

Golden Axe, a classic hack-and-slash game developed by Sega, has left an indelible mark on the gaming world since its release in 1989. Let's explore its journey across different platforms and see how it fared.  Arcade   Golden Axe made its debut in arcades, captivating players with its engaging gameplay and fantasy setting.  The arcade version is often hailed as the best iteration, thanks to its smooth controls, vibrant graphics, and immersive sound. It set the standard for beat-'em-up games and remains a beloved classic. Sega Mega Drive/Genesis The Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis in North America) brought Golden Axe to home consoles. While not a perfect port, it retained much of the arcade's charm and added two extra levels and new play modes. This version became a staple for Mega Drive owners and is fondly remembered for its faithful adaptation. Golden Axe on 16-bit Computers Golden Axe, the iconic hack-and-slash game, made its way to various 16-bit computers, including the...

I hope you enjoy my latest video. My fascination with arcade games has never left me, even during the the decline in the mid-1990s. I still cannot get enough, either through emulation or the real thing. Here I've set set out to explore the golden era of gaming with this collection of 95 must-play arcade games from the 1980s! From iconic classics like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong to hidden gems, this list will take you on a nostalgic journey through arcade history. #Pac -Man #donkeykong #Outrun #retrogaming

We all have fabulous memories of the first time we ever experienced an arcade. This is mine. My family would take one or two-week holidays to Wales, Cornwall or other British seaside towns. It's within these seaside places during several blistering summers that I lost my arcade virginity.  I can still remember the first time I ever walked into one. The noise of several arcade machines drowning out all others. Unbeknown to me then, I could hear Magical Sound Shower competing for volume with Atari's Star Wars and those of Pacman. My parents never liked to stay too long, where I was just getting into it. Part of the allure was just to peer over someone's shoulder to see how they played the game rather than just play it and then get completely wiped out, whilst at the same time judging and reviewing which games I wanted to pump my hard-earned coins into. It was a bit of a balancing act, but very rarely did I come across a complete dud, if anything, the major problem I had is th...

Bigger, badder, better, NEO-GEO!!! The crown jewel of a bygone gaming era! The dream was to bring the arcade into the home, a console for purists, indistinguishable from its arcade counterpart. Thirty of the best games included in this video, unfortunately, we can't fit every game in, but what is included is arcade perfection. Please subscribe and like :)) Thanks. Follow us at: https://twitter.com/classicreplay https://facebook.com/classicreplayoff... https://classicreplay.blogspot.com #NEO-GEO #AES #Arcade #MVS #SNK #RetroGaming

I’m a bit late to the party with Taito Legends 2, but if you haven’t experienced this wacky selection of sometimes bizarre arcade games, including football champ, with a control setup that includes ‘shoot’, ‘pass’ and ‘punch’. Then you’re really missing out!   I can’t help but gush over Elevator Action Returns, it’s fast, ultra smooth and offers the best elevator experience I’ve ever had. Then there’s the 1995 Space Invaders comeback, Attack of the lunar loonies, where you get a round of applause for completing a stage, before moving into a vertical scrolling shoot-em-up and boss stage, it’s completely bonkers but massively fun and ultimately cute.   Don Doku Don is a game I can’t even remember, but boy is it fun. It’s nothing to look at, but it’s a really good platformer in the style of Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands. Suffice to say, I kept playing because the challenge is fitting nicely within my skill set. Gekirindan is one of my favourite games of the compila...

You've probably heard about or seen this hidden rant by Richard Aplin buried deep within the Amstrad CPC version of Shinobi, well if not, here it is, after a bit of tidying...  Ok, now all that game rubbish is out of the way, I would like to begin the customary rant, which programmers often put in their code. It is at the moment 04:04:38 on 04/06/89. It is, if you were wondering, very early on a Sunday morning, and I am sitting here in a totally empty office in the centre of Bristol, (13 Small St, if you want to pop in and say hello!) and I am in raptures at the moment listening to the utterly, ridiculously excellent album 'The Wall' by the utterly, ridiculously excellent Pink Floyd. (It's just got to the classic 'How can ye have any pudding if ye don't eat yer meat?' bit!)I am, as if you cared, Richard Aplin, Project Manager (and the person who gets to rush in at the last moment and finish/rewrite games when someone else screws them up totally ...

I first saw Paperboy on the telly, the show was called 'First Class'. I'd get home from school and tune in on the dot at 5:45 to the BBC to watch it, it was basically a quiz show for kids, but with video game challenges tacked on for good measure. I remember the host 'Debbie Greenwood' she would talk to a computer system called 'Eugene' and he'd respond back to her with on-screen text. If you were lucky enough, you had the chance to win an Archimedes computer for your school, the computer I always wanted, but could never afford. They also featured games such as 720, specifically the downhill skate park section, it was fast and furious, the host Debbie would comment in the background as the contestant progressed, you basically had to take it steady, tight corners came out of nowhere, later levels included water hazards and big air, it was a great game, but I remember being on the edge of my seat, almost willing the player across the finish line, kudos ...

In the 1980s, My local fish & chip joint held a striking resemblance to a small arcade hall, I'd never seen anything quite like it, without fail they'd always have the latest and greatest arcade games, it was incredible, absolutely amazing! I spent a ridiculous amount of time there, I'd walk in after a few weeks of not going and be like "will you look at that!", new arcade machines everywhere. The food counter was on the left, but the main reason for the majority of my visits was to play on their growing collection of arcade games. The machines were badly but tightly packed into this tiny right-hand corner of the restaurant. It was a dream come true though, I remember they'd get packed to the rafters, especially after school, sometimes I just went to watch how other people played and completed these games. Throughout the years, this is where I played classics such as Kung Fu Master, R-Type, Bubble Bobble, 1943, Outrun, UN Squadron, Pit Fighter, Bion...

New games continually arriving for the Amstrad CPC...  I’ve been playing quite a lot of Amstrad CPC games of late, it's quite easy to forget about the commercial world of gaming if you allow retro gaming to take over. Recently there's been all sorts of 8-bit competitions and some seriously good games have come out the other end. The library of new games and projects in the pipeline is phenomenal, for example, I'm playing Magica and Doomsday Lost Echoes on the CPC at the moment, with the classic Amiga game Pinball Dreams arriving shortly. I haven't even mentioned the new games I'm playing on my other retro systems, but what a fantastic problem to have, seriously though I can't keep up.  I have  Uncharted 4 and the new Tomb Raider just sitting idle on the shelf gathering dust, nowhere near enough hours in the day to play 'em all.   My Amstrad CPC in 2016 has a wad of original titles, on par and exceeding in most cases the stuff I owned as a kid. I...

I’m sitting here staring at a blank white Microsoft Word background. My head is swimming with random retro thoughts, however, I haven’t got a clue where I’m gonna go with this, but I'll give it a shot.  I've currently been thinking about all these new remakes i.e. The NES, Megadrive and five hundred other devices that are currently available or incoming. Initially, I was really excited by it all, but in essence, these are just more lumps of plastic that I’ve already collected. In 2016, shouldn't we be able to play all our favourite games on a single platform? For sure we have the PC and Raspberry Pie, but I’m thinking more along the lines of a SEGA console that plays all SEGA games, for example; SMS, Megadrive, Game Gear, 32X, Saturn, and Dreamcast all in one lovely lump of Japanese plastic. The same goes for Nintendo, Atari and any other console manufacturer, sick of the prospect of buying yet another lump of plastic and feeling restricted to only one genre of consol...

I'm sure gaming enthusiasts everywhere at one point or another have experienced the arcade behemoth that is Power Drift! In my humble opinion, it is still a great racing game, especially when you consider that it was released way back in 1988? I also had the Amstrad CPC version which turned out to be one of the best arcade conversions for the CPC. It looks a bit messy these days, but back then it felt just as fresh and in y' face as the arcade original. Seriously, it was like a roller coaster ride on steroids. I'm now playing the new 3DS port, which was released by Sega on their Classics Collection compilation, but I'm really struggling. Even on the lowest difficulty, I can't make it past the fifth stage, across any of the twenty-five different circuits. Thrilling and exciting this game might be, but far more difficult than I remember. Lucky for SEGA fans, we now have a 3DS port, re-written and lovingly crafted in 3D. As with 'Outrun' released last ye...

The SEGA Mega-CD was supposed to be the future of electronic entertainment, but what went wrong? I don't recall that much excitement around the Mega-CD in the UK. However; I do recall being rightly pissed off with Sega for launching the Mega-CD a whole two years after it's initial launch in Japan. By the time I got mine, it was late October 1993... the UK launch price was way more expensive than originally anticipated, and the wait continued until I eventually raised the extra funds. I ended up with a Mega-CD MKII model, but happily handed over my hard earned cash, safe in the knowledge that SEGA couldn't possibly screw things up, in fact thinking about it now, "How did they?". SEGA had brand power, marketing might, and Megadrive established living room space "Surely failure was inconceivable?" I completely forget how many months had flown by, all merges into one after a while, but I do recall being quietly convinced that sales were looking good. The ...

There are so many new games available for the PS4 and Xbox, I really struggle to keep up, let alone sift through the good ones. I’ve come up with a cunning plan to combat this - I’m going to stop playing new video games! Instead, I’ve decided to do a retro rewind, take stock, and hunt through my collection of forgotten classics from the 80’s and 90’s, no internet required. I’m just as entertained playing old games, as I am playing new. Most of these games feel terrific and familiar, which means I can now break free of the video game rat race, and the constant fear of being left behind. For the first time in my life, I don’t have to play ‘em all.   With that in mind, I head to my garage, fight my way through all the crap piled up over the years, and stretch across an old sofa, in the direction of an old box. I catch it slightly with the edge of my fingers and pull it slowly towards me; it’s on top of an already unsteady pile. There’s dust everywhere, I blow at the to...

Part one of a chronological view of the consoles and games I've played over the years. Please click on video below... 

In 1986 we visited the Trocadero, in London, on a school trip. This was way before I’d even heard of SEGA; before the Trocadero became SEGA World. I was eleven at the time, and the then Trocadero was a mixture of  entertainment, cinema, and shopping.    I had already played on few arcade machines in my local chippy, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and Pole Position.  But  It was during my short time in the arcade area in the Trocadero, that I first became aware of the many different types of gaming.  As I  travelled upwards on the escalator, t here were several arcade machines sparsely dotted  around the place, but the machine that stood head and shoulders above all others was a stunning piece of  machinery called  ' Outrun' !   The  cabinet resembled a small Ferrari, but constructed out of wood and finished in a  vibrant  red. It looked remarkably like the real thing inside, with peddles for the accelera...

Opening with cold-blooded murder, this game relentlessly pushes your emotional boundaries, as you are taken on a journey of wonder, mystery, and vengeance. Released in 1999, #Shenmue was a #Sega Dreamcast exclusive  from the same team that brought us Sega Rally and Virtua Fighter and was also produced and directed by games designer Yu Suzuki, the same chap responsible for programming the original Space Harrier, Outrun and Hang-on.  Maintaining and average 89% on Game Rankings, Shenmue received the "Excellence Prize for Interactive Art", at the 2000 Japan Media Arts Festival, and was voted "Console Game of the Year" by Game industry News. However, despite the rave reviews and seemingly obvious success, sales simply couldn't justify its staggering budget, which has been estimated to have been between $47 million - $70 million - unheard of at the time, rendering Shenmue, arguably the most highly revered 'flop' in gaming history. During the first sce...

In 1989, long before the likes of Need for Speed petrol heads got their hi-octane fix and highway entertainment from 'Chase HQ'. Borrowing a lot from SEGA's Outrun, but with enough spin to go it alone, this pseudo 3D racer had you chasing down the crooks Miami Vice style.  Originally released by Taito, it was subsequently left with Ocean software to work their 8-bit magic, and boy, they didn't disappoint! Although it was released on several platforms, the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC versions are generally believed to be the most superior conversions which, surprisingly, only took three months to program.  The main protagonists resemble Miami Vices's Crockett and Tubbs and even sport a cool looking black Porsche.  ChaseHQ is really easy to get into and the car features steady, responsive handling, a manual gear shift, and three nitro boosts! Unfortunately, there are a few issues with collision detection, on both the ZX Spectrum and CPC versions, more so on...

I recently read an article in Retro Gamer by comedian, and guest writer, Iain Lee. He reckons that when you are looking back or reviewing old video games, it is advised you do so without the 'rose tinted glasses'. There's probably a lot of validity in this suggestion, but is it always this black and white? I am by no means 'having a go' at his views, just attempting to explore them further. I tend to remember the good games and forget about the bad. My nostalgic feelings towards older games are largely related to my childhood. I grew up playing certain games, with the enjoyable ones having embedding positive feelings, and bucket loads of satisfaction, that have never left me. But I can't help wondering, with my unwavering passion for old games, I am simply viewing them through the tinted specs? When judging an old game, it is necessary to take a couple of factors into consideration, for instance, the social culture at the time at which the game was made an...