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@retroxp.bsky.social
2.7K followers 1 following 276 posts

The retro video games newsletter of @marcnormandin.bsky.social retroxp.beehiiv.com

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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 11h
Sokoban is a game series and a genre, one developed by Thinking Rabbit in the early 80s that later spread to other studios and other countries besides Japan. One such international release in the influential series is Boxyboy on the Turbografx-16. It's classic Sokoban gameplay, only more of it.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: Boxyboy, aka Sokoban World
One of the earliest console releases in the hugely important and influential Sokoban series, as well as one of the first released in North America.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 11h
Ever played a Sokoban game? Well you should, whether the answer to that question was yes or no. Here's a brief history of Sokoban, with the PC Engine/Turbografx-16 Sokoban World/Boxyboy as highlight.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: Boxyboy, aka Sokoban World
One of the earliest console releases in the hugely important and influential Sokoban series, as well as one of the first released in North America.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is a spinoff of a spinoff, that took the strategy RPG design to new levels by deciding that this one was also a match-three puzzle game. It works, though, as much back in 2009 as it does in 2026, whether you play the DS original or one of the many HD ports since.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Tactical puzzle RPG action. That's not word salad, that's Clash of Heroes.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It's Guest Feature time at @retroxp.bsky.social, and today's was written by @phantomcobra.bsky.social, on James Bond 007: Everything Or Nothing. What makes a Bond? What makes a good Bond adaptation? What works and doesn't from this seemingly forgotten mid-aughts 007 (action) adventure?
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Guest Feature: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
Very much of its era and of Bond, in ways both complimentary and derogatory.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Alien Syndrome released on basically every platform in existence, then disappeared for years before reemerging with a then-modern reimagining. It's a wonderful example of how different hardware and developers used to mean fairly different versions of the same game.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: Alien Syndrome
Just how good is Alien Syndrome? Well, it depends on which one you play.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Alien Syndrome, Sega's 1987 arcade classic that played fast and loose with the concept of visual inspiration, was excellent in arcades, and then at home? Well, that depends on the platform and your own preferences, but there was no shortage of either to work through.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: Alien Syndrome
Just how good is Alien Syndrome? Well, it depends on which one you play.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Happy 25th birthday to the GameCube, you should celebrate by reading about and then playing one of its finest games: Chibi Robo! Plug Into Adventure! Underrated and under-played then and now, but you can do something about both of those problems in the present, whether via Switch 2 or [redacted]
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Past meets present: Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!
One of the GameCube's final classics is also one of the best Nintendo games going.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The GameCube released 25 years ago today, so here's a reworked and more detailed version of a Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure! article that originally published six years ago to celebrate.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Past meets present: Chibi-Robo! Plug Into Adventure!
One of the GameCube's final classics is also one of the best Nintendo games going.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
happy not-round-number anniversary, North American Dreamcast. Please ignore that this game does not natively play on that particular version of the console and just accept OP's agenda
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Yes it's Labor Day, but I wanted to give you something to read, anyway. Here's B.O.B., a run and gun platformer from 1993 that has been mostly forgotten about, if it was ever truly known to begin with. This one has its quirks [derogatory] but they are outweighed by its quirks [complimentary]
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Re-release this: B.O.B.
Life is tough when you're a teenage robot looking for love.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Battle Pinball is a 3DO game from 1994, developed by a company that only made one other game as far as anyone can tell, a different (and poorly reviewed) pinball game from earlier in the year. That one lacked weird CGI characters and PvP pinball, though. Battle Pinball has both of those things.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
It's new to me: Battle Pinball
Now here's a concept that needs revisiting.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Not Battle Pinball as in the Super Famicom game with Kamen Rider and Ultraman, but Battle Pinball as in the 3DO game by Japan Dataworks where you face off in competitive, simultaneous pinball action against a CPU or human opponent. It's a concept that should be brought to fruition more often.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
It's new to me: Battle Pinball
Now here's a concept that needs revisiting.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
That's right
retroxp.beehiiv.com
40 years of Bomberman: Bomberman Kart DX
The enhanced version of a mostly standard kart racer made itself into much more than "just" a racing game.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Target Earth? Assault Suit Leynos? Genesis? Windows? It doesn't matter what you call it or what you play it on, which version you pick up or whether it's one with checkpoints or limited lives. Assault Suit Leynos is an underrated Masaya gem that you should play.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Past meets present: Assault Suit Leynos
Known as Target Earth in North America the first time around, Leynos is an underrated and unrelenting Genesis game with a modern update that doesn't forget the point.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
TX-1 was designed to be a more realistic and more visually impressive successor to Pole Position, and in Japanese arcades, it dominated for years just like Namco's hit. Unlike Pole Position, though, TX-1's success and influence was regional, and it was never ported to home platforms... until 2026
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Past meets present: TX-1
An underlooke
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I wrote about TX-1, which is practically unknown in America but was huge in Japan for years alongside the likes of Pole Position. A number of TX-1's hardware and game design innovations would eventually make it into the likes of OutRun and even Darius: you should know about this three-screen wonder.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Past meets present: TX-1
An underlooke
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
TX-1 was designed to be a more realistic and more visually impressive successor to Pole Position, and in Japanese arcades, it dominated for years just like Namco's hit. Unlike Pole Position, though, TX-1's success and influence was regional, and it was never ported to home platforms... until 2026
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Past meets present: TX-1
An underlooke
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Here's the thing about MUSHA: it rules. Contemporary critics were exhausted by the volume of STG on the Mega Drive/Genesis and so MUSHA didn't get the attention it deserved. It's on the easier side for a Compile shooter, but don't let that distract you from what matters: sensory overloading vibes.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: MUSHA
Vibes over scoring, and that's not a negative.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
While known as Musha Aleste in Japan, it was just "MUSHA" in North America, a backronym for "Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor." Whatever you call it, though, just know that it rocks. Both the game and the "Edo metal" soundtrack.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: MUSHA
Vibes over scoring, and that's not a negative.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Emerald Dragon is a Japan-only RPG released again and again there between 1989 and 1995, but the excellent PC Engine CD edition finally has an unofficial English translation. And the game is absolutely worth your time to emulate in the present, so you can experience all that makes it great.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Re-release this: Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon used to re-release all the time. Let's go back to that.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Emerald Dragon is a story- and character-centric RPG from 1989, with a killer revamp in 1994 for the PCE CD. A hybrid battle system and character design different from better-known works of the day by Square, and a reminder that the west's idea of the evolution of Japanese RPGs is an incomplete one
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Re-release this: Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon used to re-release all the time. Let's go back to that.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Emerald Dragon is a Japan-only RPG released again and again there between 1989 and 1995, but the excellent PC Engine CD edition finally has an unofficial English translation. And the game is absolutely worth your time to emulate in the present, so you can experience all that makes it great.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Re-release this: Emerald Dragon
Emerald Dragon used to re-release all the time. Let's go back to that.
0125
Reposted by Retro XP
Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Happy 20th to Dead Rising, a kick ass video game that the world maybe wasn't ready for when it first released
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: Dead Rising
The first Dead Rising was one of Capcom's initial truly next-gen HD offerings, and, not to make you feel too old or anything, but that was 18 years ago.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Here's Donkey Kong 3, a game that, despite what you might have read on the internet, did not kill the Donkey Kong series dead for a decade-plus before its triumphant revival in the 90s. If your only experience with this one is the NES port, you have been missing out on 80s Nintendo genre-hopping.
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XP Arcade: Donkey Kong 3
An oddity for both Donkey Kong and Nintendo that you should take the time to appreciate.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Donkey Kong 3, like its predecessors, is a platformer. Sort of. It actually has more in common with Galaga than the original DK, and that's not just because both of those involve loads of bugs.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
XP Arcade: Donkey Kong 3
An oddity for both Donkey Kong and Nintendo that you should take the time to appreciate.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This is out today, and my long rec is the review below, my short one for a very specific audience is "do you want to see what Toaplan and G.Rev are like smashed together?"
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Here's my review of Truxton Extreme, a return to the vital and influential shoot 'em up playstyle of Toaplan, contained within a game that's worthy of both the original Truxton and player expectations in 2026. This one feels both familiar and fresh; it's got the juice.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Past meets present: Truxton Extreme
Truxton is back courtesy its original designer and composer, with an entry worthy of the name.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
The only thing wrong with Elevator Action Returns is that it released in a moment that wasn't interested in it — that shouldn't stop you from playing this classic today. Taito's arcade sequel to the original Elevator Action is bigger, faster, and shows how much the industry changed in 11 years.
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Past meets present: Elevator Action Returns
Do you know what Elevator Action was missing? Explosions, helicopters, and exploding helicopters.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The House of the Dead had zombies shamble toward you instead of being shooting gallery targets waiting to be picked off, and while that made them easier to hit, it also added an additional element of danger to the proceedings. That plus exploding heads and fountains of blood made this one stand out.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: The House of the Dead
Along
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The House of the Dead might have featured a mansion that's actually a laboratory that unleashed zombies and genetically modified creatures with bloodlust all over the place, but other than that, it's nothing like Resident Evil. Besides also being kick ass, I mean.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: The House of the Dead
Along
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The House of the Dead had zombies shamble toward you instead of being shooting gallery targets waiting to be picked off, and while that made them easier to hit, it also added an additional element of danger to the proceedings. That plus exploding heads and fountains of blood made this one stand out.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: The House of the Dead
Along
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is all about parrying. Then, now, and in (fights for) the future. Let @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social explain.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Guest Feature: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Frame perfect.
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Ashley Schofield is looking for work! 🐉 @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
marc was kind enough to invite me to write about any retro game i wished, so i chose third strike turns out i had a lot to say about parries, practice, competition, EVO Moments, and fighting for the future, not for corporate. I love fighting games. please give it a read 💜
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is all about parrying. Then, now, and in (fights for) the future. Let @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social explain.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Guest Feature: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Frame perfect.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Thanks to the always excellent @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social, I learned what makes Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike tick special in the fighting game community, despite its initial, comparatively, tepid reception. It's the latest guest feature at @retroxp.bsky.social.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Guest Feature: Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Frame perfect.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Sure, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is linear, but is that a negative? This wonderfully written graphic adventure from designer and writer Rika Suzuki shined on the DS nearly two decades ago, and remains as gripping of "a mystery novel" in video game form now as it was then.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Re-release this: Hotel Dusk: Room 215
A graphic point-and-click adventure where narrative remains at the heart of things.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The talents of writer/designer Rika Suzuki and artist Taisuke Kanasaki are on full display in the graphic adventure Hotel Dusk: Room 215, which, despite its "unrelentingly linear" gameplay remains as engaging now as it ever was nearly two decades back.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Re-release this: Hotel Dusk: Room 215
A graphic point-and-click adventure where narrative remains at the heart of things.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The dominoes meme with the small domino text reading "1942" and the big domino text reading "Street Fighter 6 incest nerf"
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Capcom's final arcade game of 1984 — the first year it released video games — ended up being its first hit, one that dominated the charts for a couple of years afterward. 1942 was made with "western" audiences in mind, and served as the first of many key hits designed by Yoshiki Okamoto at Capcom.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: 1942
The game that made Capcom into a major player, both in arcades and the living room.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Capcom's initial ascent occurred rather quickly: it pivoted to making games at the start of 1984, and by the end of that year had its first hit, a shooter that persisted on arcade charts for years afterward and became a million-seller NES game, too. 1942 was the signal that Capcom was here.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: 1942
The game that made Capcom into a major player, both in arcades and the living room.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Capcom's final arcade game of 1984 — the first year it released video games — ended up being its first hit, one that dominated the charts for a couple of years afterward. 1942 was made with "western" audiences in mind, and served as the first of many key hits designed by Yoshiki Okamoto at Capcom.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Retro spotlight: 1942
The game that made Capcom into a major player, both in arcades and the living room.
0128
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Wallace @exalclaw.com · 02/07/2026
ICYMI wrote about I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream, differences between the short story and game, and Harlan Ellison’s blatant dislike for video games @retroxp.bsky.social: retroxp.beehiiv.com/p/guest-feat...
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Guest Feature: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
A revision of a short story into a game, with author Harlan Ellison heavily involved, meant to serve a different purpose than the original work.
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Wallace @exalclaw.com · 01/07/2026
Played I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream, walked away with Thoughts. Thankfully Marc let me boil them down to 3k+ words on what was gained/lost in adapting the short story like this, and why Harlan Ellison prob preferred you read rather than play his story. Give it a read!
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Today at @retroxp.bsky.social, guest author @exalclaw.com is here to tell you all about I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, the differences in the game adaptation from the original short story, and what Harlan Ellison thought of games and his purpose in making one in the first place.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Guest Feature: I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
A revision of a short story into a game, with author Harlan Ellison heavily involved, meant to serve a different purpose than the original work.
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Marc Normandin @marcnormandin.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Soccer was key for Taito even before it made video games. An early electro-magnetic game of Taito's was for soccer. Maybe the first "original" Japan-developed game was, too. And it all led to Football Champ, an association soccer game where you can running knee dudes in the back without penalty.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
XP Arcade: Football Champ
That's "football" as in "soccer," except this one is at least as violent as the other football.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Sure, there are fouls in Football Champ. But only if you get caught by a ref who often runs too slow to see you punch a dude in the face or knee a guy in the back. Kicking a ball so hard it sends the keeper flying through the back of the net is also allowed; reality isn't what makes this one work.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
XP Arcade: Football Champ
That's "football" as in "soccer," except this one is at least as violent as the other football.
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Sure, there are fouls in Football Champ. But only if you get caught by a ref who often runs too slow to see you punch a dude in the face or knee a guy in the back. Kicking a ball so hard it sends the keeper flying through the back of the net is also allowed; reality isn't what makes this one work.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
XP Arcade: Football Champ
That's "football" as in "soccer," except this one is at least as violent as the other football.
143
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K'eeg @armormodekeeg.blacksky.app · 23/06/2026
you ever think about how the wii nunchuk is literally just the middle handle of this thing but with an extra button
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Retro XP @retroxp.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Happy 30th to the Nintendo 64 and its controller, which is good, actually.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
25 years of the N64: The N64's controller is good, actually
I am on the right side of history.
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madeline! @mads.haus · 17/06/2026
wrote about Bio Force Ape for Retro XP 🦍 and it won’t even cost you 2K monies to read… 🧈
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