Back in 1944, NBC Radio aired an adaption of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1838 short story, Lady Eleanore's Mantle, titled "The Curse Of The Mantle" as part of its 'Weird Circle' horror series.

Now, this classic tale has found a new home on the Game Boy platform in the form of an innovative title that blends elements of a kinetic novel and walking simulator. Asatiir, the developer behind this project, describes it thusly:

THE CURSE OF THE MANTLE //

"When the governor's niece Lady Eleanore receives a cursed mantle, she begins to change and her life falls apart pulling the entire town with her."

Check the original article for a name-your-own-price download link.

Is this niche game up your alley?

Limited Run Games has announced a physical release of one of the most influential examples of fighting games: Virtua Fighter 2. This classic arcade game, first released in 1994, will now be available as a physical copy on both Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X consoles.

• New Online Mode: The release features a new online mode. A six-player online lobby is also supported.
• Editions: Available in two editions - Standard for $34.99 and Classic, which includes a Saturn-style 'longbox', commemorative coin, and art cards for $64.99.
• Launch Date & Order Details: Pre-orders are open now (closing January 12th, 2025) and the game is estimated to ship in June next year.

Are you interested in picking up a physical copy of the game?

Imagine playing Minecraft on the Game Boy back in the day. A developer has created a Minecraft demake for the Game Boy called Minecraft Game Boy Edition, also dubbed Microcraft.

It features an incredible soundtrack from Bitcrushed and nostalgic 8-bit visuals.

• Controls: Simple, with A for using items and B for placing blocks.
• Inventory: Extensive array of items to place around your world.
• Progression: While survival mode is still being developed, it’s already fun to explore.

How To Play

See the original article for a link to Psyco's itch.io page.

Which games do you think deserve the demake treatment?

George Kitchen, the developer behind the popular Shenmue fangame Dreams of Saturn, is set to release an update to the game on December 21st, titled Dreams of Saturn 2.0.

The trailer for this upcoming update (link in the original article) provides a taste of what to expect. Not only does it include new minigames and capsule toys but also bizarre events such as Ryo fighting with quick-time sections based on Streets of Rage, and racing forklifts, inspired by the Sega Saturn game Sonic R. There's even a ballistic missile.

Did you play Dreams of Saturn? Do you think this sequel will be worth checking out?

Mortal Kombat II 3DO Port Nears Completion

The fan-driven adaptation of Mortal Kombat II for the 3DO console is nearing completion. Spearheaded by the 3DO HD team, this ambitious project aims to bring the arcade version to a platform that never officially supported it.

Progress Overview:

• Completion Status: Nearly ready according to recent YouTube releases.
• Port Features: Includes original characters and stages plus single-player mode, two-player versus mode, casual mode without timers or health indicators, and a stage explorer mode.

While technical obstacles are unavoidable due to 3DO hardware constraints, developers are committed to delivering a high-quality experience.

This port will be freely available upon completion for Mortal Kombat II enthusiasts on the 3DO console decades after its initial launch.

How do you think this will compare with ports on other platforms?

Three classic Call of Duty titles—Call of Duty + United Offensive, Call of Duty 2, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare—have recently appeared on the Microsoft Store for PC. These listings have fueled speculation that these titles could soon join Xbox Game Pass, following a similar pattern with other Activision Blizzard games such as Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.

These classic titles align with Microsoft’s ongoing integration of Activision Blizzard games into their ecosystem after the company’s acquisition in October 2023. While no official announcements have been made, fans are anticipating that more legacy Call of Duty titles will be added to Game Pass soon.

Is your favourite Call of Duty on that list?

A new modification called the PSP Placeable has been developed, which transforms the PlayStation Portable (PSP) into a standard game console setup, complete with Bluetooth controller support.

At The Game Awards 2024, Capcom officially announced a sequel to the iconic action-adventure game Okami, with the working title “Okami Sequel". Directed by Hideki Kamiya, known for his work on the original as well as Resident Evil 2, Devil May Cry, and Bayonetta.

• Director: Hideki Kamiya, returning to helm the project.
• Development Partners: Collaborating with M2, Machine Head Works, and Clovers, a new studio featuring many of the original game's production staff.
• Art Style and Gameplay: Continuing the distinctive cel-shaded visuals and gameplay mechanics centered around Celestial Brush.

No specific release date has been announced yet. The teaser trailer showcased lush, painterly graphics similar to those seen in the original Okami. More details are expected as production progresses

Do you think "Okami Sequel" can live up to the original?

Monolith Soft, the studio behind the Xenoblade Chronicles series and a key contributor to Nintendo’s game library, has now become 100% owned by Nintendo.

Nintendo acquired the remaining 4% of shares from Tetsuya Takahashi, Yasuyuki Honne, and Hirohide Sugiura, following its existing 96% ownership after purchasing Bandai Namco’s stake in 2011. With this move, Monolith Soft is now firmly positioned as one of Nintendo’s most valuable first-party studios.

This acquisition solidifies Monolith Soft's future as an exclusive developer for Nintendo platforms and ensures that its innovative RPGs remain integral to the company’s strategy. Fans are eagerly speculating about new projects such as a potential Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster or entirely new IPs.

What do you think could be the next big project from Monolith Soft with full ownership by Nintendo?

A modder has successfully turned a broken PlayStation 4 controller into a retro gaming console using a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W. The project, spearheaded by ConsciousFish6170, involves placing a Raspberry Pi 2 inside a partially hollowed-out PS4 controller.

The setup uses RetroPie as the emulator, supporting numerous classic systems such as NES, SNES, PS1, GBA, and N64. However, it's noted that performance with N64 games is currently suboptimal.

Check out the original article for a link to ConsciousFish’s Reddit page with details of the project.

How might this project inspire you to reuse or repurpose old gaming hardware in interesting ways?

Today, we took apart the ModRetro Chromatic: a new entry in the handheld gaming market that might remind you a bit of something from the past. The ModRetro Chromatic really does hit us hard in the nostalgias, bringing home that Christmas morning feeling. - ifixit

Cronosoft have been publishing new ZX Spectrum games on cassette since 2002, bringing classic gaming to a whole new generation. Now they've announced their latest release: Shapeshifter: Christmas Edition.

About the Game

• Developer: Ian Munro
• Type: Puzzle game
• Theme: Christmas presents and storage space
• Format: Available on cassette, or on the new The Spectrum console; free emulator copy also included

Players will help Santa organize awkwardly shaped presents so they fit in his new eco sleigh. These festive puzzles await you behind each door of an advent calendar.

Check out the original article for a link to the game's web page.

Cause-Focused

A portion of the proceeds (2 GBP) from each sale goes to The Alzheimer’s Society. So, a bit of fun can also be philanthropic.

Have you played any of Cronosoft's previous games? What was your impression?

Class of Heroes 3: The Ultimate School-Themed RPG Returns!

Class of Heroes 3 has been remastered and is set for release in early 2025 on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

Remaster Features:

• Enhanced Visuals: Modern graphics while keeping the charm of the original game.
• Expanded Content: More characters, classes, and larger dungeons compared to its predecessors.
• Streamlined Gameplay: Simplified mechanics from Class of Heroes 2 with retained depth.

Gameplay Overview:

Managing a group of students, players explore dungeons filled with monsters and complete quests in first-person view. Customize your party from races, classes, to alignments for varied playstyles.

Check out the original article for a link to the Steam page.

What are your favourite memories from playing Class of Heroes 3 when it first came out?

Artist Zhou Yichen has created a touching and heartwarming Game Boy game called 'Grandma,' as a tribute to his late grandmother. The five-minute game recounts their final six months together after she fell at home.

Zhou wrote on Instagram: "Half a year ago, my grandma accidentally fell down at home and was injured and unable to move. In order to accompany and take care of her, I moved to my grandma's house and lived with her. This year’s Double Ninth Festival, my grandma left us peacefully. In the past six months, we have woven many memories together."

The game allows players to experience Zhou’s time with his grandmother, helping with daily tasks, as well as preparing for their final farewell.

Zhou believes that games are a way to record life and 'spread love.' This project highlights the special bond between him and his grandmother.

Do you have special memories that you wish you could immortalize in a video game?

Been dumping my GameCube games for my own use. Noticing all kinds of weird things about the old games that I didn't notice before, or had forgotten, because it's been like two decades.

(Didn't get that much into Lost Kingdoms back in the day though. Because as far as inexplicably card-based RPGs go, I sunk so much more time into Baten Kaitos.)

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a throwback to the 8-bit era, has been announced for multiple platforms. This summer, you'll be able to relive the classic action-adventure in a 2D side-scrolling format.

Developed by The Game Kitchen, the game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

Game Overview:

• Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound aims to fuse the core gameplay mechanics and engaging storyline of the original classic with modern polish.
• Storyline: Follow Ryu Hayabusa as he travels to America to honor his father’s wishes. Meanwhile, the boundary between human and demon worlds collapses, leading to a demonic army attacking Hayabusa Village. Kenji Mozu, young but brave, takes up this challenge.

Gameplay Features:

• Classic Gameplay with Contemporary Enhancements: Easy to pick-up, challenging to master, this game promises the best of both eras without compromising on depth or appeal.
• Demanding Mechanics: Also designed for seasoned gamers who expect a challenge when it comes to mastering the game.
• Stunning Pixel Art: Expect visuals reminiscent of classic Ninja Gaiden with a modern flair.

The announcement was made during The Game Awards 2024.

Check out the original article for the trailier.

Do you think Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound will live up to previous entries?

Netflix has released an official trailer for Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2, which will be streaming on January 15th. The new trailer offers glimpses into the vampire hunter Richter Belmont and Co. recovering from their battle with Erzsebet Báthory at the end of Season One.

• Plot: Alucard returns to team up with Richter and his friends, ready for a fight against darkness. A preview hints at intense action and deep lore involving Sekhmet’s power.
• Release Date: January 15th on Netflix.

The trailer features Richter and Alucard engaging in back-and-forth interactions. This new season promises to bring more blood, gore, and adventure to the series.

Check out the original article for a link to the trailer.

What did you think of Season 1?

N64 enthusiasts and modders have long faced the challenge of finding a replacement for the notoriously difficult to replicate controller analogue stick. RockerGaming has been working on a project called 'Project Renaissance' which aims to recreate the N64 stick with modern materials and quality-of-life improvements.

According to RockerGaming’s latest update, they have managed to design and create injection molds for most of the necessary parts. The process involves tuning these molds down to an incredibly precise degree, making them capable of producing extremely high-quality parts.

RockerGaming plans to release these parts one by one, starting with the analogue sticks and gates early next year. This approach will allow for thorough testing and refinement before moving on to full N64 module replacements.

Do you think these N64 controller parts will be widely embraced?

I recently replayed MGS1 for psx and then MGS2 for PS2. I just started up MGS3 and I cannot get into it.

I think I often read that people love MGS3, but I think MGS1 has the most interesting story and levels. I also think the bosses in MGS1 were much more fun than they were in MGS2.

Am I in the minority here? What other games would you recommend that capture the MGS1 vibe?

I'm seeing family over the holidays and they really enjoy comic book stuff and video games. I don't know much about comics and am looking for suggestions on classic comic book based games I can load on my RPi and bring over to play. All I'm aware of are some of the Marvel vs Capcom fighting games but maybe there are others. Any ideas?

Don't expect official Android or iOS versions, though.

The team behind RPCS3 have released an updated version of their emulator that works on ARM64 devices. This update brings support for running PS3 games on ARM-based Windows, Linux, and Mac systems, as well as the Raspberry Pi 5 – albeit with some limitations due to GPU constraints.

For the Raspberry Pi 5, despite overclocking, the Broadcom VideoCore VII GPU was too weak to run PS3 games at its default resolution of 720p. As a result, games are now running at a lower resolution of 273p, which results in less clarity but most titles still manage to reach a playable frame rate of around 30fps.

What does this mean for the long-term preservation of PS3 gaming? According to the team: "Adding arm64 architectural support is a key step to ensure long term preservation of the PlayStation 3 console, as arm64 CPUs make their way into the conventional desktop and laptop market."

The news also highlights that RPCS3 has no intention of bringing its emulator to mobile platforms like Android or iOS due to "toxic users" who have harassed previous emulator developers and various scams related to mobile PS3 emulators.

Do you plan to try out RPCS3 on an ARM64 device?

Accessory maker Genki has pushed the boundaries of what a power strip can become with their latest creation, the Moonbase. This product is not just a charging station; it aspires to be your 'futuristic command center,' combining both visual appeal and functionality.

This device boasts:

• 3 spacious AC "nodes" for multiple laptops, gaming handhelds, tablets, phones, and more.
• A 240W GaN USB-C charger with 4 dedicated USB-C ports capable of ultra-fast charging.
• A sleek, futuristic design inspired by a lunar base concept.

Moonbase includes early bird pricing starting at $88 (£69), and users can also opt for colour-changing capabilities. Additionally, the company has introduced new special USB-C cables with LED screens built-in, a feature they're particularly excited about.

Genki commented on the significance of these cables: "We don’t typically redesign our USB-C cables for new projects, but Moonbase is a special case... Most USB-C cables max out at 60W charging (including our past cables, except those paired with the TurboCharger)."

What do you think? Is it worth the investment for your setup?