Tag Archive for classic gaming

“Commander Keen:” A Trip Down Memory Lane

February 26, 2019 Gaming No comments
Commander Keen: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Commander Keen is a classic action adventure platforming game series from the early ’90s that was originally released for MS-DOS. Learn about the history and the legacy of this classic game series.

“Commander Keen:” A Trip Down Memory Lane

Commander Keen: Goodbye Galaxy is one of the first computer games I remember playing, at about 4 years old, so it was a pleasant and very unexpected surprise to browse the Nintendo eShop’s new releases and find that one of the Commander Keen games was rereleased for Nintendo Switch. Though Commander Keen in Keen Dreams isn’t the game in the series I have the fondest memories of, it was still an instant-purchase for me.

The original MS-DOS Commander Keen games were first released in 1990-1991, with a final stand-alone title released for Gameboy Color in 2001, so most younger gamers are likely unaware of this classic series and its history. Here is a recap of the series and its history thus far.

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“Commander Keen in Keen Dreams” Ported to Nintendo Switch

February 25, 2019 Gaming No comments
Commander Keen in Keen Dreams

The classic action adventure platformer Commander Keen in Keen Dreams was recently rereleased in the NIntendo Switch eShop,

“Commander Keen in Keen Dreams” Ported to Nintendo Switch

In a surprise move, one game from the classic Commander Keen series was just rereleased on the Nintendo Switch as a downloadable eShop title on February 7th, 2019 by Lone Wolf Technology. Commander Keen in Keen Dreams is the second game in the Commander Keen series, which was originally released as a single episode in 1991 (sometimes called episode 3.5 in the series, as it was released between the first Commander Keen title featuring episodes 1-3 in the series, and the second main-series title featuring episode 4 and 5). The original four Commander Keen games were published for MS-DOS in the early 90s, with a 5th stand-alone Commander Keen title for Gameboy Color being released in 2001.

The downloadable Nintendo Switch port of Commander Keen in Keen Dreams is available in the Nintendo Switch eShop for $9.99.

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How to Clean an Old Video Game Cartridge

August 3, 2018 Gaming No comments
how to clean old video game cartridges

Finding out that your old video game carts no longer play can be a bummer. There is hope, however. Many non-functioning classic games just need a simple clean. This guide will show you how to properly clean your old video game cartridges.

How to Clean an Old Video Game Cartridge

Classic gaming is becoming more popular than ever. Many gamers are dusting off their old systems and game cartridges, only to find that their favorite game carts will no longer play. If this happens to you, your first instinct is likely to blow into the cartridge in an attempt to get it working again. Not only is this method ineffective, it may also damage your game. Instead, if removing and reinserting your game (without blowing into it) does not work, you may need to clean the cartridge’s connectors. This works for both handheld games, like GameBoy and Atari Lynx, as well as console games, such as N64, SNES, NES, and Sega Genesis. It is a very easy and inexpensive process to get your old games working like new again.

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All Hail the Virtual Boy

August 1, 2018 Gaming No comments
Virtual Boy

I’ve been thinking about getting a Virtual Boy for several years now. I know it’s a completely pointless console to have, since you can really only play it for about 10 minutes at a time before getting a headache, but it looks neat and I wanted one. My husband bought it for me about a week and a half ago at the Cleveland Classic Console and Arcade Gaming Show.

It can be a gamble buying Virtual Boys because they are prone to many different problems and most are sold “as is.” My Virtual Boy looks just like new. The dealer we bought it from had it completely refurbished with new LEDs inside.

Virtual Boy Virtual Boy 2

I got three games at the show: Wario Land, Mario’s Tennis, and Teleroboxing. I’ve also ordered V-Tetris from eBay, which should arrive in a couple days. Teleroboxing is the only game of these that could be considered “virtual reality.” It is also my least favorite of these games because I have no idea what I am doing.

Virtual Boy 3

Everyone claims that you can only play the Virtual Boy for about 10 minutes before getting a headache. I played all three of the games I bought at the show the day I bought them for about 10-15 minutes each, back to back, and didn’t experience a headache.

That’s all I have to say about the Virtual Boy right now. I may write a more in-depth article about this console later.

Retro Duo NES and SNES Clone Console Review

August 1, 2018 Gaming No comments
Retro Duo

Here is a review of the Retro Duo clone console for NES and SNES that I wrote for LevelSkip.com. The Retro Duo is a great alternative to the original hardware for classic gamers and import gamers.

Retro Duo NES and SNES Clone Console Review

The Retro Duo is an NES and SNES clone console developed by Retro-Bit, which can play both NES and SNES cartridges. It can play games for these systems released in any region, including Japan, Europe, and North America. The Retro Duo is not licensed by Nintendo, but it has the highest capability of any similar clone system. It supports both first-party and third-party SNES controllers (but not NES controllers). The Retro Duo is perfect for gamers who no longer have a working NES or SNES, or for gamers who simply don’t have the space for both an NES and SNES.

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Night Driver: An Atari 2600 Classic

July 26, 2018 Gaming No comments
Night Driver for Atari 2600

Night Driver has always been one of my favorite games on the Atari 2600. I even use NightDriver2600 as my gamer tag. Here is an article I wrote about the classic game. I even discovered that there is a mobile remake of Night Driver in the works while researching for this article.

Night Driver is a classic game for the Atari 2600. It was ported from an earlier arcade game and still has fans around the world. It is a classic game with a cult following that will remain well-loved for years to come. Night Driver was the first “first person” racing video game.

Night Driver: An Atari 2600 Classic

Night Driver was an arcade game made in 1976 that was later ported to Atari 2600 two years later. Versions of Night Driver for Commodore 64 and the Apple II also exist. The Atari 2600 version is the most well-known today. The gameplay of Night Driver is exactly what the name implies: driving a car at night. In the Atari 2600 version, you must dodge cars and avoid hitting the edges of the road, least you be assaulted with bright flashing colors on the screen and explosion noises to simulate a crash. The original arcade version does not feature other cars to avoid, but you still must be careful not to collide with the edge of the road, or you will see a crash simulated by flashing white light on the screen.

Night Driver is notable for being the first “first person” racing game. It is also commonly believed to be one of the first ever published video games to display real-time first-person graphics.

To describe Night Driver as a racing game may be a misnomer, however. You are not actually racing anyone in this game. You are simply driving… at night. Hence the name Night Driver.

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Classic Gaming: Original Console and Cartridge Vs Emulators and ROMs

July 15, 2018 Gaming No comments
Classic Gaming: Console vs. Emulator

Many gamers argue whether classic gaming is best done on its original hardware or by using emulation software. This article will help you to decide which is best for you.

Classic Gaming: Original Console and Cartridge Vs Emulators and ROMs

Classic gaming is becoming an increasingly popular hobby as the original generation of gamers gets older and becomes nostalgic for the classic games they grew up with. There is a lot of debate amongst classic gamers as to whether it is better to play classic games on the original hardware, or if emulators are a preferable way to play classic games. Both options have pros and cons, and many gamers may prefer a middle ground between these two options. There are several factors to consider when deciding between playing classic games on their original consoles, on fan-made emulators, or by utilizing official methods of emulation developed by the games’ license-holders.

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