Calling all retro gaming fans! Get ready to count down the 100 most essential games of yesteryear, as voted for by the Retro Gamer team, its contributors and an army of devoted readers. Inside, we’ll showcase these iconic titles in style, and we’ve even quizzed developers on their personal picks and insights. That’s not all, though. We’ll also delve deep into the nuts and bolts of the top ten titles, with in-depth features like Making Ofs, Ultimate Guides and series retrospectives to shed light on what makes these top picks so essential. So, have your favourites made the list? Well, there is only one way to find out…
WELCOME
THE 100 GREATEST RETRO GAMES • JOIN THE RETRO GAMER TEAM AS WE HIGHLIGHT THE CLASSIC GAMES THAT HAVE HAD A LASTING IMPACT ON BOTH READERS AND DEVELOPERS
SUPER MARIO WORLD • Nintendo’s magnum opus sold over 20 million copies and launched one of the greatest consoles of all time. Nick Thorpe takes a look back at Mario’s very first 16-bit platform adventure for the Super Nintendo
GAME BOY ADVANTAGE • Super Mario World only has one non-emulated conversion and Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World is certainly interesting…
THE SHORTEST ROAD • Do you want beat this classic, but are pressed for time? Worry not – with this guide, you’ll have the game finished quick
Q&A: ROBERT FENNELL • Known online as GreenDeathFlavor, this speedrunner shares his insight on demolishing Mario’s finest game
BOSS RUSH • What kind of hero would Mario be if he didn’t bring down a few behemoths on his travels? Here’s a rogue’s gallery of the miscreants he comes up against in Super Mario World
THE STORY OF SHENMUE • WHEN ONE OF GAMING’S MOST CELEBRATED DESIGNERS DECIDED TO CREATE A CUTTING-EDGE CONSOLE RPG, THE RESULT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECTS OF ALL TIME. YU SUZUKI TELLS US HOW HIS DEFIANTLY ORIGINAL CLASSICS WERE MADE
DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS • WHEN THE GOING GETS SLOW AND RYO HAS TO KILL SOME TIME, THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO DO IT
CAM-RYO • ALTHOUGH RYO TOOK A LENGTHY HIATUS AFTER SHENMUE II, HE DIDN’T DISAPPEAR FROM GAMING ENTIRELY
FALSE DAWNS • SHENMUE FANS FINALLY GOT THE REVIVAL THEY HAD HOPED FOR WITH SHENMUE III, BUT IT’S NOT THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE THE SERIES SINCE SHENMUE II…
WORKING 9 TO 5 • HOW EXACTLY DOES RYO MAKE A LIVING? LET’S FIND OUT…
WHO’S WHO • A GUIDE TO THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THE SHENMUE WORLD
MARIO PLATFORM SUPERSTAR • MARIO IS ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT STARS IN GAMING, APPEARING IN 2D PLATFORMERS THAT HAVE ATTRACTED CRITICAL PRAISE AND MASSIVE SALES FOR OVER THREE DECADES. WITH THE AID OF A PANEL OF EXPERT COMMENTATORS, WE REVEAL WHAT MAKES THEM SO FANTASTIC
SUPER SPEED BROS • STEN EXPLAINS WHY SUPER MARIO WORLD REMAINS AN ENDURING FAVOURITE IN THE SPEEDRUNNING COMMUNITY
THE BASICS OF BRILLIANCE • FOR MANY, WORLD 1-1 IS THE PINNACLE OF INTRODUCTIONS
BREAKING THE RULES • The Super Mario Maker community has come up with plenty of stages that do things Nintendo never would. Here’s a look at some of those things – as well as some Super Mario Maker 2 stages that do them…
AN EXTRA DIMENSION • DESPITE BEING A 3D GAME, SUPER MARIO 64 HAD A HUGE INFLUENCE ON THE MODERN MOVES THAT MARIO CAN PULL OFF IN HIS 2D ADVENTURES
ELITE ULTIMATE GUIDE • THE BEAUTY OF ELITE IS THAT IT REWRITES THE RULES. IT’S A SHOOTER WITH TRADING, YOU DON’T GET LIVES AND ITS OPEN WORLD HAS NO LEVELS OR GOALS. RETRO GAMER REVISITS THE ACORNSOFT CLASSIC, ITS MANY CONVERSIONS AND THE SEQUELS THAT FOLLOWED
CONVERSION CAPERS • THE PROS AND CONS OF THE MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF ELITE
DEVELOPER Q&A • RICARDO PINTO ON CONVERTING ELITE TO THE SPECTRUM AND AMSTRAD
ELITE ESSENTIALS • HOW TO RISE UP THE RANKS...