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- The Analogue 3D Is the N64 Rebirth We’ve Been Dreaming Of
The Analogue 3D Is the N64 Rebirth We’ve Been Dreaming Of
PLUS: The Ayaneo Pocket VERT Is the "Game Boy" You Hallucinated in 1998
Fun Fact: Nintendo is Older Than Video Games Nintendo was founded in 1889, more than 90 years before releasing the NES. They originally manufactured hanafuda playing cards, and at various points in the 20th century, they tried running taxi services, love hotels, and instant rice companies before settling on toys and games.
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The Analogue 3D Is the N64 Rebirth We’ve Been Dreaming Of
Forget the expansion pak—this is the upgrade the Nintendo 64 always deserved.
Let’s be real for a second: going back to the Nintendo 64 in 2025 is usually a harsh reality check. We remember the glory of Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye, but we often forget the muddy textures, the aggressive fog, and the nightmare of trying to hook composite cables up to a 65-inch OLED TV. Enter the Analogue 3D, a sleek, FPGA-powered beast that doesn’t just play N64 games—it essentially hallucinates a better version of reality where the N64 was capable of razor-sharp 4K output without losing an ounce of its 1996 soul.
If you’ve been waiting for the definitive way to replay Mario Kart 64, stop looking. This is it.
The Fog Has Lifted (Literally)
The magic trick of the Analogue 3D isn't just that it upscales games; it’s how it does it. Unlike software emulation, which can introduce input lag and visual glitches that make speedrunners weep, the Analogue 3D uses an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) chip. In English? It mimics the original N64 hardware at the transistor level.
There is zero lag. None. When you press Z to drift, you drift.
But the real showstopper is the Original Display Modes. Analogue has engineered 4K CRT filters that are genuinely jaw-dropping. We aren't talking about a cheap scanline overlay; these modes replicate the phosphor glow and aperture grille of high-end Trinitrons. It tricks your brain into seeing the game exactly how you remember it, rather than the jagged, blocky mess it actually was.
The Trident Returns (Sort Of)
We can’t talk about the N64 without addressing the elephant in the room: the controller. The original three-pronged "trident" is iconic, but let's be honest, it hasn’t aged well.
Analogue teamed up with 8BitDo to create a wireless controller that bridges the gap. It keeps the Hall Effect joystick (no more stick drift!) and the crucial C-buttons but repackages them into a modern form factor that won't give you hand cramps during a long Smash Bros. session. Note: The console has four original controller ports, so if you’re a purist who insists on using the original gray pad (or the transparent purple one, you person of culture), you absolutely can.
No Borders, No Limits
One of the biggest headaches of retro collecting is region locking. Want to play the Japanese version of Sin and Punishment? Previously, you needed a Japanese console or a plastic tab modification. The Analogue 3D is completely region-free right out of the box.
It accepts NTSC (US), PAL (Europe), and JP cartridges seamlessly. The system detects the region and adjusts the refresh rate automatically, meaning our PAL friends in Europe finally get to experience games at full speed without the dreaded "PAL border" squish.
⚡ Quick Bits: The Analogue 3D
The Brains: Powered by the Intel Cyclone 10 GX FPGA.
The Cost: $249.99 (Console), $39.99 (8BitDo Controller).
The Launch: Shipping began November 18, 2025.
Did You Know? This is the first time the N64 has been recreated with 100% compatibility at a hardware level. No patches required.
Connectivity: Supports Bluetooth and 2.4g WiFi for firmware updates, plus 4 native controller ports for that authentic couch multiplayer.
The Verdict
The Analogue 3D is undoubtedly a premium product with a premium price tag, especially since the controller is sold separately. But for the dedicated retro enthusiast, it’s a bargain. It rescues the N64 library from the blurry depths of composite video and presents it with the reverence of a museum piece.
If you still have your cartridges in a shoebox somewhere, it’s time to dig them out. Hyrule has never looked this good.
Snow Bros. Is Finally Coming Home (Again), And This Time It’s Bringing The Whole Family
Limited Run Games rescues the cult classic platformer from the depths of eBay with a new collection for Switch, PS5, and PC.
If you grew up frequenting smoke-filled arcades or renting random cartridges based solely on their cover art, you probably remember Snow Bros. It was the "cool" alternative to Bubble Bobble—a game where, instead of blowing bubbles, you turned monsters into giant snowballs and bowling-balled them across the screen to trigger satisfying, screen-clearing chain reactions. For years, playing these games legally meant hunting down pricey original cartridges or hoping for a random cameo in a compilation.
But now, the freeze is over. Limited Run Games has announced the Snow Bros. Classic Collection, bringing three distinct console ports of Toaplan’s legendary platformer to modern hardware.
The Coolest Trio Returns
Unlike the recent 3D reboot Wonderland, this collection is strictly for the pixel purists. Developed in partnership with Headless Chicken Games, the collection includes three specific "home" versions of the title, each with its own unique flavor and quirks:
Snow Bros. (NES): The version most North American kids remember, featuring extended story cutscenes and those catchy 8-bit earworms.
Snow Bros. Nick & Tom (Sega Genesis): Often considered the superior console port, this version (originally a Japan and Europe exclusive) features better graphics, background music that slaps harder than it has any right to, and those sweet, sweet 16-bit backgrounds.
Snow Bros. Jr. (Game Boy): A surprisingly robust portable version that adds its own story twist (one brother gets kidnapped!) and proves you don't need color to have a good time.
A Note for the Hardcore Purists
There is one caveat worth mentioning before you rush to pre-order: this collection focuses exclusively on the home console ports. The original 1990 arcade ROM is not included in this specific package. While that might sting for arcade preservationists, having the rare Genesis and NES versions easily accessible on a PS5 or Switch—region-free, we might add—is a massive win for accessibility.
Physical Media Forever
In true Limited Run fashion, you can grab a Standard Edition for $34.99, but the real draw is the Classic Edition ($64.99). It screams 90s nostalgia, packing the game inside a retro-styled silver box (reminiscent of old NES packaging) along with a physical soundtrack CD and a poster.
Pre-orders are live now and run through December 14, 2025. Since this is a numbered release, once that window closes, your only option will be the second-hand market—which is exactly what we're trying to avoid here!
Quick Trivia: The Snow Bros. Files
The Devs: Originally created by Toaplan, a studio arguably more famous for "shmup" classics like Truxton and Zero Wing (yes, the "All Your Base" guys).
The Heroes: The brothers are named Nick and Tom. In the Game Boy version (Snow Bros. Jr.), the story changes: one brother is kidnapped, forcing you to play solo.
The Villains: You are fighting to rescue the twin princesses, Puripuri and Puchipuchi, from the evil King Atchich (sometimes localized as King Scorch).
Speedrunning Tech: The "invincibility frame" mechanic when you launch yourself as a snowball is key to high-level play—use it to pass through enemies unharmed!
The Verdict
Whether you have fond memories of renting this from Blockbuster or you're just a fan of tight, arcade-style action platformers, the Snow Bros. Classic Collection is an easy recommendation. It preserves three distinct eras of console gaming in one neat package.
So, are you ready to chill out? Head over to Limited Run Games and lock in your copy before the pre-order window melts away.
The Ayaneo Pocket VERT Is the "Game Boy" You Hallucinated in 1998
Ayaneo's latest handheld ditches the analog stick for pure, unadulterated pixel density.
There is a specific kind of retro gamer who doesn’t care about playing Call of Duty Mobile on a Game Boy. They don't need to emulate the PlayStation 2 on the bus. They just want the crispest, sharpest, most mathematically perfect version of Tetris imaginable. If that sounds like you, put down your wallet and listen: Ayaneo just announced the Pocket VERT, and it might be the most beautiful, over-engineered Game Boy tribute we’ve ever seen.
Revealed just yesterday, the Pocket VERT is a sharp pivot from the company's usual "power at all costs" strategy. Instead of trying to do everything, this handheld is trying to do one thing perfectly: make 8-bit and 16-bit games look better than they ever have before.
The Screen of Your Dreams (Literally)
The headline feature here is the display. Ayaneo has equipped the VERT with a 3.5-inch LTPS LCD screen running at a startling 1600 × 1440 resolution.
If you’re doing the math, that’s a pixel density of 615 PPI—essentially "Retina" quality for pixel art. Why so high? It allows for 10x integer scaling of original Game Boy games. That means no blur, no shimmering, and no weird artifacts. You get sharp, chunky pixels that look exactly like the developer intended, just drawn with laser precision. It’s a direct shot across the bow at the Analogue Pocket, trading FPGA hardware for raw screen fidelity.
Heavy Metal Nostalgia
While the recently released Pocket DMG (Ayaneo's other vertical handheld) is a plastic-shelled powerhouse, the VERT is built like a tank. It features a CNC-milled metal unibody that screams premium. It’s designed to feel like a "playable sculpture," which is marketing speak for "it’s going to feel cold and expensive in your hands."
The design is strikingly minimalist. In a bold move for 2025, Ayaneo has seemingly ditched the physical analog stick entirely on the face. The layout is strictly D-Pad + ABXY, catering to the purists who know that Super Mario World doesn't need a joystick.
But there's a twist: a "hidden" dual-mode touchpad is integrated into the device, allowing you to map analog inputs or mouse controls if you absolutely need them. It’s a clever compromise that keeps the face uncluttered while keeping the door open for slightly more modern emulation.
Power and Specs: The Mystery Box
Ayaneo is still keeping the exact processor under wraps, but we do know it packs a massive 6,000mAh battery. Given the smaller screen and retro focus, this thing should last through an entire cross-country flight—and the layover.
It also includes the proprietary "MagicSwitch", a rugged side key originally seen on the Pocket DMG, which likely handles quick menu access or performance toggles.
🕹️ Quick Bits: The Pocket VERT
The Launch: Revealed November 18, 2025. Pre-order dates are TBD.
The Build: Full metal CNC body with diamond-cut shoulder buttons.
The Rivalry: Sits alongside the Ayaneo Pocket DMG. The DMG is for power users (OLED, Snapdragon G3x Gen 2, plays PS2); the VERT is for retro purists (LCD, High-Res Scaling, Metal).
Did You Know? The 1600x1440 resolution is specifically chosen to be a perfect multiple of the Game Boy's original 160x144 resolution (exactly 10x).
Regional Info: Like most Ayaneo drops, this will likely be a global Indiegogo campaign initially, so no region locking to worry about.
The Verdict
The Ayaneo Pocket VERT is a fascinating pivot. It’s not trying to be the most powerful handheld on the market; it’s trying to be the most precise. By focusing on build quality and a screen purpose-built for scaling, it’s carving out a niche for the gamer who values accuracy and aesthetics over raw horsepower.
We’re still waiting on the price tag, but if the metal shell is any indication, start saving your pennies now.
We hope you tune back in for our next issue, where we'll dive deep into more retro gaming news!
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