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Everyone talks about Super Mario Bros., Mega Man, and Castlevania when the topic of NES platformers comes up. And while they deserve the recognition, there’s a whole world of lesser-known gems on the NES that get overlooked. Digging into those obscure corners of the 8-bit library has been one of the most rewarding parts of my retro gaming journey. These hidden titles push the limits of what the NES could do, innovative mechanics, great music, and satisfying challenge, all bundled into carts that slipped under most people’s radar. ...

The classic gray shell of the original Nintendo Entertainment System is iconic, but over time, many NES consoles fall victim to an unsightly yellowing of the plastic. It’s a common problem among retro electronics due to the type of plastic used and the way it reacts to light and air. If you’re like me and love having your vintage gear look its best, learning how to restore a yellowed NES console is a must-have skill in your retro gaming arsenal. ...

Playing the Nintendo 64 today brings back that electric feeling of late-night multiplayer battles and exploration of vast 3D worlds. But modern televisions weren’t designed with N64 hardware in mind. While some TVs still offer composite or S-video inputs, many have dropped analog support entirely. That’s where video mods come in. Doing an easy AV mod for the N64 console can breathe new life into your system, giving it better video quality and compatibility with today’s displays. ...

The Sega Dreamcast didn’t just mark the end of Sega’s console-making era, it marked the beginning of a new age in gaming. For many of us who grew up in the late ’90s, the Dreamcast was more than just a console; it was a revolution. Whether it was the online capabilities, the quirky but forward-thinking controller, or the sheer ambition of its library, there’s no denying how the Sega Dreamcast changed gaming forever. ...

Navigating the world of retro game collecting means dealing with everything from sealed treasures to battered cartridges. It doesn’t take long before you hear terms like “CIB,” “mint,” or “poor condition,” tossed around. If you’re not familiar with grading, you could easily overpay or pass up a gem just because it has a scuffed label. That’s where a solid Game Condition Grading Guide for Beginners comes in handy. Learning how to evaluate the condition of a game can save you money, help you make smarter trades, and protect you from bad deals. ...

The 16-bit era was a golden age in gaming history. The rivalry between the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo was nothing short of legendary, dividing playgrounds, households, and even game developers. I’ve spent countless hours with both consoles over the years, digging deep into their libraries, comparing performance, and watching how each system has held up over time. Now, decades later, I find myself constantly revisiting the debate: Sega Genesis vs Super Nintendo, which aged better? ...

Playing the Game Boy Advance under poor lighting conditions is a struggle every handheld gamer from the early 2000s remembers. The crisp, colorful graphics of the system were unfortunately shackled by a front-lit or non-lit screen depending on the model, making gameplay near impossible without a strong external light source. While Nintendo eventually released the Game Boy Advance SP with a lit screen, the original GBA model never received that love, unless you mod it yourself. ...

The Sega Saturn never got the love it deserved, at least not in the West. While the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 dominated the late 90s console wars in North America, the Saturn quietly faded into obscurity. But behind that commercial failure was a powerhouse of a system packed with unique and memorable games, many of which barely made it out of Japan or flew under the radar entirely. Some of my favorite discoveries in retro gaming have come from digging deep into the library of hidden gems on the Sega Saturn. ...

Keeping old gaming consoles in top condition requires more than just storing them in a safe spot. Dust, oxidation, and grime are enemies of performance, especially for systems like the Sega Genesis that rely on physical cartridges and contact pins. It’s not enough to just blow into the cartridge slot and hope for the best. If you’re serious about keeping your collection functional, setting up a proper cleaning routine is essential. A simple Sega Genesis cleaning kit setup can go a long way in maintaining longevity and reliability for both the console and the games. ...