by David Lloyd | Jun 14, 2026 | 1990s
Let’s give thanks to uncompensated fan translators. As a fan of video games developed in Japan, I am keenly aware of the sheer volume of excellent titles that have yet to be localized in English. Thankfully, when a publisher decides not to translate a certain game,...
by Old School Gamer | Jun 14, 2026 | 1980s, 1990s, 2000s
The MSX Japanese home computer system is largely unfamiliar to US audiences, and mayeven fly under the radar of many retro gaming enthusiasts. Elsewhere, it’s a different story. While unsurprisingly commonplace in its native country and in its neighbor South Korea,...
by Old School Gamer | Jun 12, 2026 | 1990s, 2000s, Magazine Preview
Enix’s Dragon Quest is one of the most important Japanese RPGs, as it establishes many of the genre conventions that are used to this day. But it certainly wasn’t the first of its type, as Japanese gamers had been experimenting with their own ideas on computers....
by Indie Retro News | Jun 11, 2026 | 1980s, 1990s, Indie Built-Retro Inspired
One such game I used to love was that fantastic platformer ‘ Wonder Boy ‘ designed by Ryuichi Nishizawa. A game which started its life as a skateboarding rock jumping and axe bashing platformer, that later became the adventure platformer with RPG elements...
by Ben Magnet | Jun 10, 2026 | 1980s, 1990s, 2000s
What makes a JRPG a JRPG? Is it the sweeping stories? The protagonists with super spikey or multicolored hair? Or the simple fact that if an RPG video game was made in Japan, it qualifies as a JRPG? Most of you reading this may instantly go with the last option and...
by Indie Retro News | Jun 10, 2026 | 1990s, 2020s, Indie Built-Retro Inspired
Following the stall of an ambitious project to remake Manic Miner with enhanced graphics, titled Slick Willy, developer Bob Fossil has integrated the new assets into a playable mod that can be downloaded right now. While the original, high-performance engine overhaul...