The Retro Respawn

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Arcade Game — Pizza Parlour Pandemonium and Konami at Full Power In this episode of The Retro Respawn, we’re rewinding the clock to 1989 — the height of Turtlemania — when Konami dropped a quarter‑eating monster that turned every pizza parlour, bowling alley, and seaside arcade into a battleground for four friends and a whole lot of Foot Soldiers. Teenage Mutant N...

Toy Story (Mega Drive): Pixar Polygons, 16‑Bit Magic, and Traveller’s Tales Going Turbo In this episode of The Retro Respawn, we dive back into 1995 — the year Pixar rewrote animation history and Traveller’s Tales tried to do the same on Sega’s 16‑bit powerhouse. Toy Story on the Mega Drive isn’t just another movie tie‑in; it’s a wild, ambitious tech flex that pushed the console harder than almost...

THE SUPER‑SPIDER CROSSOVER CAST (2026) Two heroes. Two publishers. One legendary event. The Super‑Spider Crossover Cast dives head‑first into the 2026 comic‑book phenomenon that brought Spider‑Man and Superman together in a way fans never thought possible. We explore the art, the writing, the villains, the Easter eggs, and the jaw‑dropping moments that had the comic community buzzing for months. W...

Rugrats: Search for Reptar — Babies, Chaos, and PlayStation‑Era Mayhem In this episode of The Retro Respawn, we crawl back into the wild, imaginative world of Rugrats: Search for Reptar , the 1998 PlayStation classic that turned living rooms into playgrounds and proved that licensed games could be more than quick cash‑ins. For millions of 90s kids, this wasn’t just a tie‑in — it was a full‑blown a...

When the King of the Monsters rises again, the Heroes in a Half‑Shell discover a shocking truth: the Foot Clan was originally created to defend Japan from kaiju. Now, with Godzilla and other titans returning, Shredder twists that ancient mission into a new plan—using kaiju genetics to forge a devastating mutagen of his own. As chaos erupts across the globe, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michel...

Casper (1996): Friendly Phantoms, FMV Fever, and Saturn‑Era Spookiness In this cosy‑but‑curious episode of The Retro Respawn, we drift into Casper on the Sega Saturn — a 1996 adaptation that blends puzzle‑solving, exploration, and full‑motion‑video melodrama into one of the most unusual licensed games of the era. Part ghostly adventure, part emotional mystery, and part “only‑in‑the‑90s” multimedia...

Spinmaster (1993): Treasure Trails, Cartoon Chaos, and Neo Geo Charm In this high‑energy episode of The Retro Respawn, we dive into Spinmaster , Data East’s 1993 arcade gem for the Neo Geo — a vibrant, Saturday‑morning‑cartoon adventure bursting with colour, personality, and that unmistakable ’90s arcade swagger. Equal parts platformer, treasure hunt, and slapstick action romp, Spinmaster is one o...

Christmas Nights into Dreams: Snowfall, Stardust, and Saturn Magic In this festive episode of The Retro Respawn, we unwrap Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams , Sega’s 1996 holiday surprise for the Saturn and one of the most charming seasonal specials ever released. More than a demo, more than a bonus disc, this was Sonic Team at their most playful — transforming the dreamlike world of NiGHTS into a snow...

When nostalgia takes a pit stop, Bonus Stage hits the gas. This brand-new spin-off from Retro Respawn shifts gears into the world of modern gaming, where we put fresh titles head-to-head in a high-octane review format. This week, it’s a racing rivalry for the ages: 🚗 Mario Kart World Tour – Nintendo’s mobile juggernaut, packed with iconic tracks, item chaos, and global competition. 🦔 Sonic Racin...

Kuri Kuri Mix: Rabbits, Chaos, and Co-op Frenzy In this episode of The Retro Respawn, we hop into the colorful chaos of Kuri Kuri Mix , the 2000 PlayStation 2 cult classic from none other than FromSoftware—yes, the studio that would later plunge us into the dark worlds of Dark Souls . But before bonfires and bosses, they gave us Cookie and Cream: two rabbit siblings on a frantic quest filled with...

The Console Wars of the 90s weren’t just about games—they were about identity. In this Retro Respawn showdown, Billy takes up the mantle of the Sega Mega Drive, the sleek 16-bit powerhouse that brought us Sonic the Hedgehog , Streets of Rage , and a marketing campaign that proudly declared: “Genesis does what Nintendon’t.” With its edgy attitude, blistering speed, and arcade-style flair, the Mega...

Donkey Kong Country: Bananas, Kremlings, and Jungle Beats In this episode of The Retro Respawn, we swing through the treetops to revisit Donkey Kong Country , the 1994 SNES blockbuster that redefined platforming with its groundbreaking visuals and jungle swagger. Developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, this side-scrolling adventure stars Donkey Kong and his nephew Diddy as they battle King K....

Zombies Ate My Neighbors: Suburbia vs. the Undead In this episode of The Retro Respawn , we grab our squirt guns and soda grenades to revisit Zombies Ate My Neighbors, the 1993 cult classic that turned every horror trope into pixelated chaos. Developed by LucasArts and published by Konami, this top-down shooter stars Zeke and Julie—two teens battling zombies, werewolves, aliens, and giant babies t...

💥 Metal Slug X: Explosions, Aliens, and Arcade Perfection In this episode of The Retro Respawn , we lock and load with Metal Slug X, the remixed masterpiece that took Metal Slug and cranked the chaos to eleven. Released in 1999, this Neo Geo classic fixed the slowdown, added new enemy placements, and gave us more explosions, more aliens, and more absurdity than ever before. We dive into the pixel...

Super Mario 64: The Leap That Changed Everything In this episode of The Retro Respawn , we dive into the game that didn’t just redefine Mario—it redefined gaming itself. Super Mario 64 launched alongside the Nintendo 64 in 1996 and catapulted players into a fully 3D world for the first time, setting the gold standard for platformers and camera control for decades to come. We explore Peach’s castle...

Sonic R: Running in the Right Direction or Just Spinning in Circles? In this episode of The Retro Respawn , we lace up our red sneakers and hit the track with Sonic R , Sega’s bold attempt to bring the Blue Blur into the 3D racing scene. Released on the Sega Saturn in 1997, Sonic R ditched the karts and let characters race on foot—because when you're Sonic, wheels are optional. We dive into the ga...

Shrek 2 Review: Fairy Tales, Fame, and Flatulence In this episode, we journey back to the Kingdom of Far Far Away to unpack the sequel that turned a swamp-dwelling ogre into a box office king. Shrek 2 took everything we loved about the original—irreverent humor, pop culture jabs, and heart—and cranked it up with royal drama, magical mayhem, and one very persuasive Fairy Godmother. We break down th...

Streets of Rage: The Beat-'Em-Up That Defined a Generation In this episode of The Retro Respawn , we throw down in the neon-soaked streets of 1991 and revisit the side-scrolling brawler that started it all— Streets of Rage . With its iconic soundtrack, slick pixel art, and unforgettable trio of vigilante heroes, this Sega Genesis classic didn’t just raise the bar for beat-'em-ups—it set it. We bre...

Boogerman: A Pick and Flick Adventure – The Gross-Out Hero We Didn’t Know We Needed In this episode of The Retro Respawn , we plunge headfirst into the slimy, snot-slinging world of Boogerman , the 1994 cult classic that dared to ask: what if flatulence could save the world? Developed by Interplay and released on the Sega Genesis, this game was a bizarre blend of toilet humor, surprisingly solid p...

Super Mario 3D Land Review: A Leap Forward in Handheld Platforming In this review, we dive into the game that redefined portable platforming— Super Mario 3D Land . Released for the Nintendo 3DS, this title bridges the gap between classic side-scrolling Mario and modern 3D exploration, delivering a fresh yet familiar experience that’s both innovative and nostalgic. Whether you're a longtime fan or...