• Retro Swap
  • Posts
  • Why This Forgotten SNES Gem Will Make You Flip

Why This Forgotten SNES Gem Will Make You Flip

PLUS: Why Sunset Riders Is Still the Wildest Shoot 'Em Up in the West

In partnership with

These cannabis gummies keep selling out in 2024

If you've ever struggled to enjoy cannabis due to the harshness of smoking or vaping, you're not alone. That’s why these new cannabis gummies caught our eye.

Mood is an online dispensary that has invented a “joint within a gummy” that’s extremely potent yet federally-legal. Their gummies are formulated to tap into the human body’s endocannabinoid system.

Although this system was discovered in the 1990’s, farmers and scientists at Mood were among the first to figure out how to tap into it with cannabis gummies. Just 1 of their rapid onset THC gummies can get you feeling right within 5 minutes!

Fun Fact: Did you know that the iconic "1-Up" mushroom sound in Super Mario Bros. was originally an accident?

The story goes that while composing the game's music, Nintendo's sound designer Koji Kondo accidentally played the wrong sound effect. However, he liked how it sounded so much that he decided to keep it in the game. This happy accident became one of the most recognizable sound effects in video game history!

This little tidbit showcases how sometimes, unplanned moments in game development can lead to memorable features that stand the test of time. It's a great example of creative serendipity in the world of video games.

In today’s email:

SNES

Unicycle Mayhem: Why This Forgotten SNES Gem Will Make You Flip

Remember when games were simple, addictive, and didn't require a 50GB update? Buckle up, because we're taking a wild ride down memory lane with Uniracers, the cult classic that'll have you questioning everything you thought you knew about unicycles.

The Premise: It's Wheel-y Good

Imagine Mario Kart, but strip away the characters, replace the karts with unicycles, and crank the speed up to 11. That's Uniracers in a nutshell. It's a racing game that defies logic and gravity in equal measure.

Graphics: A Psychedelic Fever Dream

Fire up Uniracers and you're immediately assaulted by a kaleidoscope of colors that would make a '90s raver jealous. The tracks twist and turn like a rollercoaster designed by M.C. Escher on acid. It's beautiful. It's nauseating. It's everything we miss about the '90s.

Gameplay: Easy to Learn, Impossible to Master

The controls are simpler than your ex's personality:

  • Accelerate

  • Brake

  • Stunt

But don't let that fool you. Mastering the art of flips, twists, and loops while maintaining breakneck speed is harder than explaining NFTs to your grandma.

The Secret Sauce: Stunts = Speed

Here's where things get interesting. Pulling off sick stunts isn't just for show – it actually makes you go faster. It's like if Tony Hawk and Sonic had a baby, and that baby was really into unicycles.

Multiplayer: Friendship Ender 3000

Nothing says "I value our relationship" like absolutely demolishing your friend in a unicycle race. The split-screen multiplayer is where Uniracers truly shines, offering more heated moments than a Twitter debate about pineapple on pizza.

The Pixar Controversy: David vs. Goliath

Fun fact: Uniracers' production was cut short due to a lawsuit from Pixar. Apparently, the animation giant thought they owned the rights to CGI unicycles. Talk about putting a spoke in the wheel of progress.

The Bottom Line

Uniracers is the gaming equivalent of finding a $20 bill in your old jeans – unexpected, thrilling, and leaves you wondering why you ever stopped wearing those jeans in the first place.

Is it perfect? No. Is it a one-of-a-kind experience that'll have you grinning like an idiot? Absolutely.

So dust off that SNES, call your most competitive friend, and prepare for a night of unicycle-based trash talk. Just remember: in Uniracers, like in life, sometimes you need to flip yourself upside down to get ahead.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some intense unicycle racing to get back to. These loops aren't going to loop themselves.

GENESIS

Saddle Up, Pardner: Why Sunset Riders Is Still the Wildest Shoot 'Em Up in the West

Remember the days when your biggest worry was whether you had enough quarters for the arcade? Well, grab your cap guns and polish your spurs, because we're taking a trip down memory lane with Sunset Riders on the Sega Genesis.

The Good, The Bad, and The Pixelated

Konami's 1991 arcade hit made its way to living rooms in 1992, and boy howdy, did it make an entrance. With its four playable cowboys and two-player co-op, Sunset Riders was the perfect way to settle sibling rivalries without resorting to actual fisticuffs.

But what made this game stand out in a sea of side-scrolling shooters? Two words: Mustache power.

Why It's Still a Rootin' Tootin' Good Time

  1. Multiplayer Mayhem: Nothing says "brotherly love" like accidentally (or purposely) shooting your partner in the back.

  2. Boss Battles That'll Make You Say "Yeehaw!": From a corrupt sheriff to a Native American chief (problematic representation aside), these showdowns kept you on your toes.

  3. Power-Ups That Pack a Punch: Rapid-fire guns and horses that appear out of nowhere? It's not historically accurate, but who cares when you're having this much fun?

The Not-So-Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Let's face it, pardner. Not everything about Sunset Riders has aged like fine whiskey:

  • The cultural representations are about as sensitive as a bull in a china shop.

  • The difficulty spike in later levels might make you want to throw your controller faster than you can say "tumbleweed."

By the Numbers

  • Release Year: 1992 (Genesis version)

  • Number of Playable Characters: 4

  • Stages: 8

  • Average Playtime: 30-45 minutes (if you're good)

  • Number of Times You'll Yell "Bury Me With My Money!": Countless

The Bottom Line

Is Sunset Riders a perfect game? Nope. Is it still an absolute blast to play nearly 30 years later? You bet your boots it is. So dust off that Genesis, call up your childhood bestie, and get ready to paint the town red... with pixel blood.

Remember, in the words of the game: "It's time to pay!"

SNES

From Mana to Mania: How Secret of Mana Casts A Spell on Modern Gaming

The SNES Classic That Keeps on Giving

Remember the days when "multiplayer" meant huddling around a tiny CRT TV with your buddies? Secret of Mana, the 1993 SNES gem, took that experience and cranked it up to 11.

Here's why this pixelated masterpiece still has gamers buzzing:

  • Real-time combat that was smoother than your dad's pickup lines

  • A lush, vibrant world that made you forget about homework (sorry, Mom)

  • Music so good, you'd swear orchestras were hiding in your SNES

But let's cut to the chase: Secret of Mana wasn't just a game. It was a portal to another world, one where magic was real and friendships were forged in the fires of boss battles.

The Mana Drought Is Over, Folks!

Fast forward to 2024, and guess what? The Mana series is about to get a fresh coat of paint that'd make Bob Ross jealous.

Enter Visions of Mana, the upcoming title that's got retro gamers and newbies alike frothing at the mouth. Here's the scoop:

  • First new entry in the series in 15 years (yeah, it's been that long)

  • Gorgeous 3D graphics that'll make your eyeballs dance

  • A soundtrack that promises to be ear candy of the highest order

But here's the million-dollar question: Can Visions of Mana capture the magic of its pixelated ancestor?

Why Secret of Mana Still Slaps in 2024

Let's break it down:

  1. Nostalgia Factor: Playing Secret of Mana is like wrapping yourself in a warm, pixelated blanket of memories.

  2. Timeless Gameplay: The combat system is still smoother than a freshly waxed bobsled track.

  3. Multiplayer Magic: Nothing beats the chaotic joy of three-player couch co-op.

  4. That Soundtrack: Hiroki Kikuta's score is the audio equivalent of a gourmet meal for your ears.

  5. Moogle Cuteness Overload: These fluffy creatures walked so Final Fantasy's Moogles could run.

The Bottom Line

Secret of Mana isn't just a game; it's a time machine. It transports you back to an era when games were simpler, but no less magical.

As we eagerly await Visions of Mana, there's no better time to dust off that SNES (or fire up an emulator – we won't tell) and relive the magic.

After all, in the world of Mana, the adventure never truly ends. It just gets a shiny new sequel.

Reply

or to participate.