MTV Multiplayer's Tracey John writes:
"Not too long ago, I got a chance to get my feet on Namco Bandai's "Active Life: Outdoor Challenge" pad, on which I jumped to avoid rolling logs and stomped to whack hapless moles.
But all the while, I couldn't help but wonder: How is this different from the original Power Pad?
The first Power Pad was developed by Bandai in 1986, and at first glance, the "Active Life" pad didn't seem much different from the now 22 year-old technology of the Nintendo Entertainment System. Though I'm not sure why or how, I expected the new Power Pad to be well, new (at least the Wii Balance Board tells me how bad my posture is).
I wanted to know how the "Active Life" pad for the Wii was made, if there were any differences from the old Power Pad, and what they plan to do with it next. So I asked "Active Life: Outdoor Challenge" producer Yusuke Sasaki a few questions, and he answered them via e-mail, translated from Japanese."
It's been six years since Capcom dropped Devil May Cry 5, but it's still more than worth replaying in 2025 thanks to its rich gameplay.
Because the anime is on Netflix and we gotta ride that DMC in the news again wave.
It’s been sitting in my backlog for a while now. One of the first games I wanted to try for this current gen due to the long load times of previous gen. I’ll get around to it soon!
One of the best, stylish, and fun action slasher on the system. You definitely should get to it, as soon as you can.
The DMC5 team went on to make Dragons Dogma 2, the DMC director (3,4,5) left capcom to make an action game at another studio and the rumor is that a DMC remake is next...so i wouldn't hold my breath on DMC6.
Everytime its on sale I think about buying it but never do. I only played the orginal and somr of 3 so I guess that's part of it.
Nick Fernandez writes, "After decades of questionable practices around emulation, a chance conversation with a retro game store owner changed my views forever."
This is a great article and it's what many in the retro community feel.
I still play on original hardware if I have nostalgia for those systems I have my nes, mega drive, PS1, n64, PS2 connected through a retrotink 2x to a OLED Bravia and I'm happy with the image. Sometimes it's not even the games but the sound of a PS1 laser firing that makes the experience the changing cart or disc it's cathartic
If I don't have nostalgia for the system like SNES, Saturn, Dreamcast I'll emulate and maybe use a Bluetooth knock off controller or NSO controller to feel sort of genuine like the SNES NSO gamepad is awesome.
I also use ever drives for the cart based systems I own a few classics I love like super Mario Bros games, sonics etc but retro gaming is expensive so everdrive gives me that full library like emulation but I have the right gamepad in my hand because some systems just don't feel right unless you have the right controller mainly the N64.
But I'm under no illusion I'll have my retro systems forever all the console will inevitably die and that where emulation becomes vital. Its great for preservation and it helps make these old games accessible to younger generations who may wonder where their favourite franchises started and expose them to new things like games from the 8 and 16 bit era which still hold up really well.
I enjoy articles like this. It's actual game journalism. I would love to read more about the context of the store and the owner one day.
I started out completely against downloading emulators and roms. I considered it stealing.
However, recently, with companies like Ubisoft and others, telling me I don’t own my digital only game, and even the physical games that I do own are incomplete on physical media, some with nothing more than an executable file, on disc so that I have to download the entire game anyway. I have since changed my opinion on the subject. If game publishers don’t care about me, trying to do the right thing, then I’m not going to care about them. The industry brought this upon themselves.
At this time, emulation is the number one way to ensure game preservation. Even Sony and Nintendo is using this method officially to make older games playable on their consoles.
If my emulation were to go away then there is a chance the retro gaming market is likely fall into an even smaller niche since the newer generation of gamers will not even know those games existed.
Celebrate National Pet Day with our countdown of the best video game pets! Discover which virtual companion tops them all!
I knew he wouldn't make this list, but I do have a soft spot for Cheeseburger from FarCry 5.
