DF Retro
(2016)Streaming Episode Guide
Season 5
Final Fantasy 7: A JPRG Epic Analysed Across The Generations!
Episode 8 - 4-26-2020
What made the original Final Fantasy 7 such an epic release for the original PlayStation way back in 1997? How well did the ports to other systems fare and how did Square seek to follow up on his stone-cold classic? Join Digital Foundry for a celebration of a groundbreaking game, culminating in its recent release as the Final Fantasy 7 Remake for PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Hardware - Evercade Review: The Cartridge-Based Retro Handheld That Works
Episode 7 - 4-25-2020
We've had a ton of requests to take a look at Blaze's Evercade - a cartridge-based retro handheld. It's certainly a fascinating device with a unique game delivery mechanism, and the emulation is strong. DF Retro's John Linneman gives the device a thorough road-test.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro EX: Doom 64 - Remaking an N64 Classic For PS4, Xbox One, Switch + PC!
Episode 6 - 4-05-2020
In a DF Retro exclusive, John Linneman talks with Nightdive Studios about the process of bringing the classic, totally original Nintendo 64 rendition of Doom over to the current-gen platforms. In this video, you'll see what made the original release so fascinating, while Nightdive staff tell all on how the game was reverse-engineered and delivered on current-gen platforms. Oh - and is this the first 1440p Xbox One S game?
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Play: Messiah PC - Revisiting Shiny Entertainment's Ambitious Action Game!
Episode 5 - 3-22-2020
Join John Linneman and Audi Sorlie as they break open a vintage 2000 sealed copy of Shiny Entertainment's Messiah. Lauded in its day for its groundbreaking tech, but not exactly renowned for classic gameplay, DF Retro revisits the game on period appropriate PC hardware.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Play: Batman Forever PC - Baffling, Infuriating And Utterly Bizarre
Episode 4 - 3-01-2020
John Linneman returns with one of his latest retro gaming finds - and it's a fascinating one for all of the wrong reasons. Behold the baffling, infuriating and downright strange movie tie-in - Batman Forever - sort of like Mortal Kombat meets Streets of Rage, but where the controls benefit from having two sets of hands and where you need the manual to figure out the various button combinations required to do the most basic things. It's a gameplay experience you won't want to miss.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Play: Road Rash 3DO vs Blackdog Technology 3DO RGB Mod!
Episode 3 - 2-16-2020
One of the shining lights of its game library, Road Rash on 3DO was an impressive title for its day, with conversions following for PlayStation and Saturn. Here, you'll get to see the game being played on original 3DO hardware - with a twist. Picture quality from the 3DO out of the box isn't exactly impressive, but John's packing the Blackdog Technology 3DO RGB mod - so you'll get to see a key title looking pretty much as good as it's going to get.
Haven't Seen
Mortal Kombat: The Legend, The Arcade Tech, The Console Ports - 16 Versions Analysed!
Episode 2 - 2-02-2020
Join John for a very special, extended episode of DF Retro. Midway's classic Mortal Kombat is under the microscope, with a look at its beginnings, its meteoric success in the arcades and the inevitable ports to console systems - and beyond.
Haven't Seen
Cooly Skunk: The Lost SNES Platformer Miraculously Recovered Via Satellite Download!
Episode 1 - 1-26-2020
A Super NES/Super Famicom game thought lost forever has been miraculously recovered. Cooly Skunk may never have received a physical release on 16-bit, but it did get a PlayStation 1 revamp. It's the most fascinating example of a cross-gen game we've seen to date. Learn about the Super Famicom's satellite gaming download system, how it made recovering Cooly Skunk possible and - of course - how the completed but never released SNES game compared to the actual PS1 release.
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Season 4
DF Retro Buried Treasure: Our Best Retro Gaming Finds Of 2019!
Episode 29 - 12-29-2019
Join John Linneman and Audi Sorlie for an end-of-year DF Retro Direct, where they share their best 'new' retro gaming finds of the year.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Festive! Let's Play Christmas NiGHTS on Sega Saturn!
Episode 28 - 12-24-2019
It's the only Christmas Let's Play that matters. John Linneman and Audi Sorlie travel back in time to 1996 to revisit Sonic Team's remarkable NiGHTS - or more specifically, its one-off Christmas variant.
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DF Retro's Nightmare Before Christmas: Let's Play The Worst Festive Retro Games
Episode 27 - 12-23-2019
Join DF Retro for an extended look at three of the least appealing Christmas games ever made - one for PlayStation 1 and two on the reliably terrible Philips CDi. Join John Linneman as he subjects Audi Sorlie to a barrage of terrible festive gaming turkeys. But do not fear: DF Retro returns tomorrow for one of the best Christmas games ever made.
Haven't Seen
Star Wars Shadows of the Empire: Revisited on N64 and PC!
Episode 26 - 12-15-2019
Released at the tail-end of 1996 during Nintendo 64's launch window, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire gained massive attention owing to some phenomenal graphics - but there was a PC version too that was arguably even prettier - if you had the right hardware. Join John Linneman for a retrospective on Shadows of the Empire on N64, along with detailed analysis of the PC version, running on contemporary hardware.
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Terraonion Mega SD Review: The Definitive Sega CD Emulator For Real Hardware?
Episode 25 - 12-01-2019
Join John Linneman and Audi Sorlie for a look at Terraonion's excellent Mega SD - an FPGA-based recreation of the Sega CD (aka Mega CD) allowing you to run the entire library of compact disc-based titles on original Mega Drive/Genesis hardware. It's a fascinating piece of kit, and DF Retro has a lot of opinions about it.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Let's Play: Philips CDi... And The Worst Game Ever Made?
Episode 24 - 11-30-2019
A fascinating but ultimately terrible video games machine, the Philips CDi nevertheless attracts the attention of retro game collectors - including John Linneman and Audi Sorlie, who take four games for a spin in this special Let's Play. And it all kicks off with Dark Castle, possibly the worst port of what is already one of the worst games ever made? But is it the actual worst? Well, let's talk about the equally atrocious Alien Gate at a later date.
Haven't Seen
Capcom Home Arcade: Emulation Analysis, Hardware Breakdown + More!
Episode 23 - 11-12-2019
This is an interesting product. We went into this one expecting to spend most of our time replaying the Capcom classics but ended up discovering a whole lot more of interest in the arcade giant's exceptional CPS1/CPS2 line-up. Join John Linneman and Audi Sorlie for the definitive breakdown of the Capcom Home Arcade.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Direct: Chris Huelsbeck Interview - Star Wars, Factor 5, Turrican and more!
Episode 22 - 10-26-2019
DF Retro takes over DF Direct this week with a deep dive into the music of the legendary Chris Huelsbeck - courtesy of a conversation with Chris himself. Learn all about his music for Rainbow Arts, Factor 5 and more on C64, Amiga, consoles and beyond.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Let's Play: Rocket Knight Adventures - Classic Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Action!
Episode 21 - 10-06-2019
DF Retro's very own John Linneman teams up with Sekai Games' Audi Sorlie to revisit one of the Sega Genesis' finest games - the brilliant Rocket Knight Adventures from Konami. Essential retro viewing.
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Sega Genesis Mini/Mega Drive Mini Review: The Ultimate Nostalgia Trip?
Episode 20 - 9-15-2019
It's not perfect - but it's very, very good nonetheless. M2's work on the Sega Genesis Mini (aka Mega Drive Mini) is pretty awesome, the hardware itself is beautiful and the game selection is astonishing. What's not to like? John Linneman has the DF Retro verdict right here.
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DF Retro Let's Play: Vintage 1999 PC vs Quake 3 Arena, Unreal, Half-Life + More!
Episode 19 - 9-08-2019
In honor of Eurogamer - our partner website - reaching its 20th anniversary, we decided to honor its birthday by revisiting some of the most classic and interesting games of 1999, running them on a vintage retro PC with Coppermine Pentium, plus Voodoo 2 and Riva TNT2 Pro graphics cards.
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DF Retro EX: Turok 2 Revisited! Switch/N64/PC - Original + Remastered!
Episode 18 - 8-18-2019
The original Turok: Dinosaur Hunter was a landmark release. Its sequel? Not so much. However, the new remaster fixes most of the original release's issues and is now on Switch, alongside PC and Xbox One. In this video, Turok fans John Linneman and Alex Battaglia discuss the game in its various incarnations - and John shows the game running on original 3DFX Voodoo Graphics hardware. Plus: just how bad was N64 performance back in the day? Spoilers: pretty poor.
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Nintendo 64 HDMI Video Options: EON Super 64, Retrotink 2x, UltraHDMI + N64 RGB!
Episode 17 - 8-10-2019
Of all the major retro consoles, N64 is the machine that causes the most problems when hooking up to a modern flat panel display - mostly because S-Video was the top-end output offered by the machine itself. So what's the best solution here? John talks HDMI adapters and mods with MyLifeInGaming's Marc Duddleston, with a focus on the brand new 'plug and play' EON Super 64 adapter.
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DF Retro Let's Play: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: NES Turtlemania Revisited!
Episode 16 - 8-03-2019
It's the late 1980s: the Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom is the most popular console in the world and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the latest TV/comic sensation - with a movie in the works. One of the best game developers of the era, Konami, has the console rights - but the end product doesn't quite live up to expectations. Join John Linneman and guest Audi Sorlie from Sekai Games for a return visit to NES Turtlemania.
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DF Direct Retro! Nintendo's Famicom Disk System: 'Mass Storage' Gaming in 1986?
Episode 15 - 7-27-2019
DF Direct goes retro. John Linneman sits down Sekai Games' boss - and game historian - Audi Sorlie to talk about the Famicom Disk System, a Japan-only 1986 release that aimed to make gaming cheaper - and better. It's a fascinating insight into a little-known area of Famicom gaming.
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Blazing Chrome is the Contra 'Sequel' We Needed: DF Retro x Modern Analysis!
Episode 14 - 7-21-2019
For years we've been waiting for a proper sequel to 16-bit classics Super Contra and Contra: The Hard Corps - but Konami failed to deliver. So why not check out the next best thing, Blazing Chrome by JoyMasher successfully captures everything that made the originals so great, and it's available on virtually all modern platforms. Join John Linneman for a detailed analysis on how this game was made - and why you should buy it.
Haven't Seen
Turok Dinosaur Hunter: How An N64 Classic Evolved The Console FPS
Episode 13 - 7-14-2019
DF Retro is back with a deep dive into one of the most technically impressive console games of its period - Turok Dinosaur Hunter's reputation may have diminished in the last 20 years, but in some respects it challenged and even exceeded the mighty Quake. John takes us back in time.
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DF Retro Let's Play: Castlevania 64! Is It Really A Series Low Point?
Episode 12 - 6-15-2019
And now for something a little different - a Digital Foundry Retro Let's Play. In this video, John returns to play some of the controversial Castlevania 64. Is it really a series low point? Audi Sorlie guests.
Haven't Seen
Castlevania Anniversary Collection: Series Retrospective
Episode 11 - 5-28-2019
John explores the recently released Castlevania Anniversary Collection checking out each and every game included. What did each installment bring to the table and how do they hold up today? And how about the emulation quality? Watch to find out.
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DF Retro EX: Ninja Gaiden 2 X-Enhanced on Xbox One X vs 360/PS3/PS Vita/Xbox One!
Episode 10 - 5-11-2019
Microsoft delivers once again with a brilliant Xbox One X enhanced back-compatible release for Ninja Gaiden 2. John takes a look at the latest version of the game and stacks it up against every release of NG2 on consoles - one of the most fascinating multi-platform projects of the last decade.
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Virtua Racing Switch vs Every Console Port vs Model 1 Arcade!
Episode 9 - 5-01-2019
A very special DF Retro as John Linneman takes a look at the phenomenal new Switch version of Virtua Racing, stacking it up against every console conversion and, of course, the arcade original.
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DCHDMI Review: The Ultimate Dreamcast HDMI Upgrade!
Episode 8 - 4-14-2019
Sega's Dreamcast broke the mold by introducing 480p rendering to consoles, backing it with the legendary VGA box. Modern 480p options are available but none have the same pure digital quality as the brilliant DCHDMI. John Linneman tests out the mod and ranks it up against the analogue-to-digital alternatives.
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Bubsy: The Ultimate Mascot Platformer?!
Episode 7 - 4-01-2019
Bubsy's back...again. This time on DF Retro. Join John and special guest Audi, the one and only World Heavyweight Champion of Bubsy, as they step through the history of everyone's favorite mascot. What's the connection between Bubsy, Naughty Dog and Studio Bend? Is Bubsy really as bad as his reputation would suggest? Can you guess all the mascots featured in this video? You know what to do - click on this video. Then, when you're finished, watch it again. Bubsy is your friend.
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DF Retro Extra: Sega's Blast Processing Was Real: But What Did It Actually Do?
Episode 6 - 3-31-2019
Join John Linneman and talented coder Gabriel Morales discuss Sega's almost legendary 'Blast Processing', what it actually was, how it worked and why it never actually appeared in any Genesis/ Mega Drive games - nope, not even Sonic 2.
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Analogue Mega Sg Review: The Ultimate Genesis/Mega Drive Clone?
Episode 5 - 3-31-2019
Is this the coolest, most impressive - and accurate - Mega Drive clone yet? Join John Linneman for a detailed breakdown of the new Analogue Mega Sg, including an overview of its features, and the most comprehensive battery of emulation tests.
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DF Retro: Killzone 2 Ten Years On: An Iconic PS3 Tech Showcase
Episode 4 - 3-17-2019
DF Retro returns. It's just over ten years on from the release of Killzone 2 on the PlayStation 3. Join John Linneman for a look at the game's controversial beginnings, to its final, technologically astonishing result.
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DF Retro Extra: Sony at E3 2006: PlayStation 3's Darkest Hour Revisited
Episode 3 - 2-24-2019
oin John, Alex and Rich for a DF Retro Extra, as the team re-examines the darkest hour for the PlayStation 3 - the legendary E3 2006 media briefing. Yes, it's the one with Riiiidge Racer, real-time weapons change, the giant enemy crab and of course MASSIVE DAMAGE.
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Contra 3: The Alien Wars! Sublime 16-Bit Shooting!
Episode 2 - 2-10-2019
DF Retro returns with a detailed look at one history's greatest shooters - Contra 3: The Alien Wars. John goes in-depth on how this classic SNES shooter works, what makes it brilliant and how the astonishing Game Boy port compares. Then it's on to the controversial Game Boy Advance conversion, including its bizarre method of borrowing content from Contra Hard Corps on Genesis/Mega Drive.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Extra: Our First Games PCs and Component Upgrades!
Episode 1 - 1-21-2019
John, Alex and Rich sit down to discuss their very first gaming PCs, their early hardware upgrades and the games that inspired them to improve their gaming hardware.
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Season 3
GameCube HDMI: The Best Video Quality Possible From Nintendo's Classic Console
Episode 22 - 12-16-2018
PlayStation 3 was the first mainstream console with a digital AV output - or was it? Nintendo's GameCube featured digital output functionality that was never fully utilized - until the release of HDMI adapters based on the GCVideo project. In this DF Retro special, John talks with MyLifeInGaming's Marc Duddleson about the various solutions available, showcasing the Eon GCHD Mk2.
Haven't Seen
Resident Evil 2: Classic Survival Horror
Episode 21 - 12-09-2018
Join John Linneman for a look back to the PlayStation classic, Resident Evil 2 - including footage of the canned RE 1.5 running on OG PlayStation hardware, plus detailed analysis of every single version. Oh - and look out for a special, Platinum-level cameo.
Haven't Seen
PlayStation Classic Review: Great Games, Poor Emulation
Episode 20 - 12-02-2018
This could - and should - have been a lot better. DF Retro Hardware returns with a deep dive analysis into the PlayStation Classic, its games and the quality of its emulation stacked up against every way that matters when it comes to revisiting one of gaming history's most important consoles.
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Pitfall The Mayan Adventure: A Truly Special 16-bit Platformer!
Episode 19 - 11-25-2018
John Linneman returns with a brand new DF Retro, this time concentrating on one of the most fascinating 16-bit platformers of its era.
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Tetris!
Episode 18 - 11-14-2018
DF Retro returns with a visual tour through the history of Tetris. From 1984 to 2018, John examines nearly 30 versions of Tetris across multiple generations of consoles.
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DF Retro Extra: Sonic Chaos 2018, Sonic Z-Treme + 8 More SAGE 2018 Game Demos!
Episode 17 - 9-29-2018
SAGE is the annual festival that shows talented developers sharing their visions for new platform games based on Sonic the Hedgehog - and SAGE 2018 served up some genuine classics, such as Sonic Z-Treme - based on the canned Saturn game - as well as the potentially brilliant Sonic Chaos 2018.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Extra: Revisiting Xbox 360's E3 2005 Reveal!
Episode 16 - 9-16-2018
Join John, Rich and Alex for a lighthearted look at the original reveal for Xbox 360 way back at E3 2005. How does the presentation stand up today and how does it compare to the infamous Sony PS3 conference?
Haven't Seen
Forsaken: The Classic 90s Shooter Returns to PC and Xbox One!
Episode 15 - 8-12-2018
A pioneering game from the early days of PC 3D acceleration, Probe Software's excellent Forsaken enjoyed an impressive PS1 port and a very different incarnation on Nintendo 64. And now the game is back, remastered for PC and Xbox One - with full Xbox One X support.
Haven't Seen
Okami HD Hits Switch! All Console Versions Tested!
Episode 14 - 8-08-2018
Fancy a little bonus DF Retro? Okami HD is heading to Switch - as good an excuse as any for John to check out all the major console versions, including the mysterious '4K' PlayStation 3 release. All of the ports have their plus points and you can see them all in action here.
Haven't Seen
H2O! Water Rendering: Wave Race 64, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D + Many More!: Part 2
Episode 13 - 8-05-2018
John is back for part two of in-depth look at water rendering in classic games, as we complete our look at the PS2, Xbox and GameCube eras and dip our toes into last-gen.
Haven't Seen
H2O! Water Rendering: Wave Race 64, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D + Many More!: Part 1
Episode 12 - 7-22-2018
DF Retro returns with a two-part showcase covering the history of water rendering in games, starting from the early 90s to and ending with the last-gen consoles. In this first part, we start with a look at 16-bit 2D raster tricks on Megadrive/Genesis, Super NES, NES and Game Boy before moving into the 3D era.
Haven't Seen
DF Retro Extra: Halo 2 - Revisiting E3 2003's Impossible Xbox Demo!
Episode 11 - 6-06-2018
Bungie originally envisaged technologies for Halo 2 that turned out to be completely impossible for the team to deliver in the actual game. That original vision debuted in an extended gameplay demo created especially for E3 2003 - but was scrapped soon after. In this DF Retro Extra special, John revisits that demo, explains why it was impossible for OG Xbox hardware and compares it with the final game to see just what - if anything - of that work persisted into retail code.
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DF Retro Extra: Sony PSP vs Nintendo DS at E3 2004! The Console War That Defined Mobile Gaming
Episode 10 - 5-20-2018
Nintendo DS vs Sony PSP - when these two handhelds debuted at E3 2004, it looked like the most one-sided console war ever, but history would go on to tell a very different story. Join John and Rich for this look back over the reveal of two very different mobile devices, each of which would help define the template of handheld gaming - right up until today.
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Sega Nomad: The Original Switch-Style Hybrid Console?
Episode 9 - 5-13-2018
Nintendo Switch is rightly lauded for its hybrid console concept - the idea of having a fully mobile console you can also use for living room play, with full multiplayer support. But whether through design or through sheer luck, Sega actually got there first with its Nomad, way back in 1995. John picks up the story.
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DF Retro at Rezzed 2018: 90s Games Magazines Remembered!
Episode 8 - 4-29-2018
Remember when you used to read about games in magazines rather than on websites? Our very own Rich Leadbetter was at the forefront of games magazines throughout the console era. Join John and Rich for this edit of their talk at Rezzed 2018, discussing how games magazines were made and how things have moved on in the move to the internet and YouTube.
Haven't Seen
Sonic CD: A Genuine Sega Classic!
Episode 7 - 4-08-2018
John explores Sonic CD and all its ports. With a focus more on exploration rather than speed and a bright presentation, Sonic CD remains one of the most unique games in the series. Curious about how it uses the Mega CD hardware? Or how about the three separate versions of Sonic CD for Windows? It's all here.
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DF Retro Extra: Ion Maiden Tech Interview
Episode 6 - 3-18-2018
So what would happen if we got a brand new 2018 game built on the classic 3D Realms Build Engine? That's exactly what Ion Maiden is - and it's awesome. On this Extra episode of DF Retro, John sits down with 3D Realms VP Frederik Schreiber and Voidpoint co-founder Evan Ramos to chat about the creation of the game and the experience of working with the Build engine in 2018.
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DF Retro Extra: PS3 Reveal at E3 2005: What Was Faked? What Was Real?
Episode 5 - 3-04-2018
It is one of the most infamous console reveals of all-time and the arrival of the 'target render'. But how much of PS3's initial reveal was actually faked? And what was actually running in real-time and on what hardware? John, Rich and DF's new PC expert Alex Battaglia consider the evidence.
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Panzer Dragoon/Panzer Dragoon Zwei: Sega Saturn Masterpieces
Episode 4 - 2-25-2018
DF Retro takes a look at two genuine Sega Saturn classics - Panzer Dragoon and the phenomenal Panzer Dragoon Zwei. The technology, the ports, the art direction - these games are wonderful pieces of work worth celebrating today.
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Secret of Mana Remake Analysed! SNES vs PS4/Pro/PC/Vita!
Episode 3 - 2-18-2018
Our comparison of the original Secret of Mana on Super NES vs the new remake running on PS4 Pro, PS4, PC and - yes. - PlayStation Vita. Every version stacked up with some fascinating results.
Haven't Seen
Analogue Super Nt Review: a 21st Century SNES!
Episode 2 - 2-11-2018
DF Retro tackles Analogue's Super Nt - an FPGA based console designed to play Super NES games via HDMI. Analogue boasts perfect accuracy but is that really the case? We put the system to the test using challenging games known to cause problems with most software emulators. How does it stack up? The answers and more in this week's episode of DF Retro.
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Powerslave/Exhumed: A Game Ahead of its Time
Episode 1 - 2-04-2018
The 2018 season for DF Retro kicks off this year with a look at Exhumed or PowerSlave, as it was known in the US. Created by Lobotomy Software, this remarkable game combines the fast paced action of Doom with the exploration and power-up system of Metroid to create something wholly unique at the time. Powered by Lobotomy's in-house Slave Driver Engine, PowerSlave also pushes the Sega Saturn to its limits offering a level of performance rarely seen on the platform. A later PlayStation version of the game was also released along with a completely different game of the same name on PC. Curious what makes this game stand out even today? Join us on a journey through one of the best shooters of its era.
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Season 2
Donkey Kong Country + Killer Instinct: A 16-Bit CG Revolution!
Episode 16 - 12-16-2017
DF Retro levels up with a full analysis of Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct, along with behind-the-scenes stories on the making of these key games from the developers that worked on them.
Haven't Seen
The Super NES Classic Mini Review! Can It Match Original Hardware?
Episode 15 - 10-01-2017
A brilliant 21-game package, but just how close does the SNES mini match original hardware? John Linneman presents the definitive breakdown of the Supes NES Classic mini.
Haven't Seen
Doom: Every Console Port Tested and Analysed!
Episode 14 - 9-17-2017
id software's Doom played a key part in gaming's transition from two to three dimensions, and its legacy of technical innovation continues to this day. John explores its origins on the PC before comparing and contrasting this against every official console conversion. There's a lot of ground to cover so buckle up for the longest episode of DF Retro yet.
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Failed Consoles: Sega 32X: Part 2
Episode 13 - 8-13-2017
John plays every single game available for Sega's mushroom-shaped disaster - the Sega 32X, or Mega Drive 32X. And not only that, but each title has platform comparisons where available, plus a full breakdown of which components run on the Mega Drive/Genesis and which parts are handled by the add-on. You won't want to miss this.
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Failed Consoles: Sega 32X: Part 1
Episode 12 - 7-30-2017
Part one of a two-part DF Retro special. John plays every single game available for Sega's mushroom-shaped disaster - the Sega 32X, or Mega Drive 32X. And not only that, but each title has platform comparisons where available, plus a full breakdown of which components run on the Mega Drive/Genesis and which parts are handled by the add-on. You won't want to miss this.
Haven't Seen
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver: A Classic Revisited on PS1/PC/Dreamcast
Episode 11 - 7-16-2017
One of the greatest titles available on the original PlayStation, Soul Reaver's 3D 'Metroidvania' gameplay pushed the system to its limits. John presents the history behind the game, examines the core technology, analyses performance and checks out the PC and Dreamcast ports.
Haven't Seen
SNES Mini Preview: A 16-Bit Tech Showcase!
Episode 10 - 7-02-2017
The SNES Mini reveal has John excited. Here's his breakdown of the key titles in the line-up, how they expanded on the SNES's core technology - plus thoughts on key titles that should have made the line-up.
Haven't Seen
Soul Calibur: Beyond Arcade Perfect
Episode 9 - 5-28-2017
John takes a look at the seminal Dreamcast classic - Soul Calibur. With its roots in the arcade, Soul Calibur stands as one of the very first games to greatly exceed the original release. After all, back then, console makers were all about touting "Arcade Perfect" when it came to home ports but it was difficult to achieve unless you were SNK. Soul Calibur for Dreamcast completely blew the doors off expectations and this video places the two side by side for a proper comparison. In addition, we finish up with a look at Soul Calibur on Xbox 360 and iOS while also checking out some emulation options.
Haven't Seen
Quake 2: The Legacy And The Ports!
Episode 8 - 5-14-2017
John dives into id Software's 1997 classic Quake II. With its cutting edge technology, Quake II furthered id's domination of the PC. Against expectations, a pair of talented development studios managed to bring Quake II to console owners of that era. We're looking at each official port of Quake II while breaking down what makes each one so impressive.
Haven't Seen
Metal Gear Solid 2: A Kojima Masterpiece
Episode 7 - 4-23-2017
John is back with the longest, most detailed Digital Foundry Retro yet - a deep dive analysis into one of Hideo Kojima's most accomplished, yet controversial titles.
Haven't Seen
Saturn vs PlayStation: Live at EGX Rezzed 2017!
Episode 6 - 4-09-2017
Catch up with John and Rich's discussion panel at EGX Rezzed 2017, where the duo tackle the great Saturn vs PlayStation battle of the mid-90s. Come meet us at the full-fat EGX event this September where we'll be hosting more of these events.
Haven't Seen
Blaster Master: An NES Classic Lives On! Plus Genesis, Game Boy and more.
Episode 5 - 3-19-2017
With the arrival of Blaster Master on Nintendo Switch, John looks back at the original game, how it worked, what made it special, and how its sequels stacked up. Also - Switch vs NES? Let's do it.
Haven't Seen
Analogue Nt Mini: The 21st Century NES
Episode 4 - 3-05-2017
John takes a closer look at the Analogue Nt Mini - the premium console designed to play NES games and more.
Haven't Seen
The Need for Speed Revisited on 3DO/PC/PS1/Saturn!
Episode 3 - 2-19-2017
Rewind to 1994 and join John Linneman for an in-depth retrospective on the original Need for Speed, from its beginnings on 3DO all the way through to the PC, Saturn and PlayStation ports and special editions.
Haven't Seen
NES Classic Mini: The Enthusiast's Review!
Episode 2 - 2-05-2017
And now for something completely different. DF Retro tests out the hugely popular NES Classic Mini. Does the quality of the emulation and the choice of games hold up for the most hardcore NES enthusiast? John has all the answers.
Haven't Seen
Halo: The First Person Shooter Evolved
Episode 1 - 1-22-2017
John delves into Bungie's seminal Halo: Combat Evolved. Starting with a look back at the history of Bungie, John takes a close look at Halo itself including the technology powering it and the smart design choices made during its production. We also take a look at real performance numbers in each of its single player and multiplayer modes. Then it's off to compare the original Xbox game against other released ports including those on PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
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Season 1
Shadow of the Colossus Revisited - The Ueda Collection: Part 2
Episode 21 - 12-18-2016
John revisits Shadow of the Colossus, revealing early concept work, deep-diving into the brilliant technology, then moving on to the best way to play this PS2 classic today.
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Ico Revisited - The Ueda Collection: Part 1
Episode 20 - 12-11-2016
To celebrate the arrival of The Last Guardian, Digital Foundry Retro revisits the Ueda Collection on PlayStation 2, starting with Ico.
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Shenmue 2: A Masterpiece Revisited
Episode 19 - 11-27-2016
John revisits Shenmue 2, checking out what made it special, how well it holds up today and the best way to play in the 21st century. Plus: all the Xbox vs Dreamcast graphics comparisons and performance tests you'll need.
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Tomb Raider Analysed on PS1/Saturn/DOS/Win95
Episode 18 - 11-13-2016
John returns to Lara Croft's original adventure, comparing the Saturn and PS1 versions, along with the various PC editions - and what's the best way to revisit this classic on today's hardware?
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Metroid Prime: First Person Action Redefined GC/Wii
Episode 17 - 10-30-2016
John revisits Retro Studios classic installment in the Metroid series. Now in first person, Retro and Nintendo manage to perfectly translate the essence of the Super NES classic into full 3D. Metroid Prime delivers some of the richest visuals on the GameCube all at a rock solid 60 frames per second. We follow up with a quick look at the Wii version of the game and check out Metroid Prime running on the PC using Dolphin Ishiiruka.
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Origin Systems and the Crusader Series on PC/PS1/Saturn/PSP
Episode 16 - 10-23-2016
John explores one of the most important developers in PC gaming history - Origin Systems. From Ultima to Wing Commander, Origin produced a wide variety throughout its existence but today we're going to focus on the Crusader series. Created by Tony Zurovec, Crusader is an advanced isometric shooter which delivered striking SVGA graphics in a time when most PC games were still 320x200. We also explore its semi-sequel, No Regret, along with the console iterations of the original game.
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Silent Hill 2: Horror Perfected on PS2/Xbox/PC/PS3
Episode 15 - 10-16-2016
John pays a visit to Silent Hill for a look at this fan favorite. Silent Hill 2 remains one of the most revered experiences on the PlayStation 2 but it was also a technical masterpiece in its day. With impressive visual techniques and a disturbing art style, Silent Hill 2 still holds up even now. It was also ported to a number of different platforms and John explores each of these ports including the much maligned Silent Hill HD Collection.
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Daytona USA and Why Frame-Rate Has Always Mattered
Episode 14 - 10-01-2016
The forecast is calling for blue blue skies. That's right, it's Daytona USA. At the time of its release, Daytona USA was the single most technically impressive game ever made and we explore each of the major iterations of the game. Daytona also helped illustrate just how important frame-rate is and was during this time. So join us as we fire up the game on Saturn, Dreamcast, the PC, and even the PlayStation 3.
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MDK: Shiny Entertainment's PC Masterpiece
Episode 13 - 9-18-2016
John returns to examine Shiny Entertainment's PC masterpiece. It's a PC game by console developers designed to push the limits of the platform circa 1997 and it does so with a look all its own. We take a look at the original software rendered versions alongside a couple different 3D accelerated versions before. Then we stack it all up against Neversoft's PlayStation 1 port of the game - one of the studio's first releases before striking gold with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Oh, and we discuss the best way to play MDK on a modern PC. All this and more is packed into this massive episode of DF Retro.
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MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat: DOS/Win95/3DFX/PS1/Saturn
Episode 12 - 9-11-2016
John steps back into the Activision classic MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat. We explore how the game looks in its various forms on PC and determine the best way to play it today. We also take a look at the completely different arcade style version of the game released on consoles.
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Ridge Racer 5 and Ridge Racer Type 4 PS2/PS1
Episode 11 - 9-03-2016
John takes a trip to Ridge City for a weekend of racing action. We start with a look at PlayStation 2's first game which offers a wonderful blend of arcade racing, tight controls and a beautiful presentation. Then we move over to arguably the best racing game on the original PlayStation - Ridge Racer Type 4. We even take a quick look at the bonus disc included with the game for good measure.
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Deus Ex is A PC Classic, But What About PlayStation 2?
Episode 10 - 8-28-2016
John takes a look back one of the greatest PC games of all time - Deus Ex. Then we jump over and examine its port on PlayStation 2 - a port which should never have worked out but somehow manages to play very well. We finish it all up with some mod recommendations so be sure to stick around till the end.
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Rare's N64 Classics: GoldenEye and Perfect Dark
Episode 9 - 8-14-2016
John takes a look back are the classic Rare shooters for Nintendo 64 - GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. These innovative classics helped shape an entire genre on consoles but do they stand the test of time? We take a look at each game's accomplishments and performance in 2016 in addition to removing Nintendo 64's default anti-aliasing for a sharper image.
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Half-Life 2: The Shooter Evolved
Episode 8 - 8-06-2016
John returns to the world of Half-Life for a look at its sequel - Half-Life 2. We revisit Half-Life 2 across every major platform from its original PC release running on vintage hardware to the Japanese exclusive arcade game and, of course, the various console ports including the original Xbox version. We even take the time to check out a couple mods for good measure including the Cinematic Mod. So grab that crowbar and tune in for our biggest episode yet.
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The Nintendo Launch Spectacular: NES/SNES/N64/GCN/Wii
Episode 7 - 7-30-2016
As a new Nintendo system draws closer to launch, John takes a moment to look back at some of the most impressive launch titles to grace each of Nintendo's consoles. From the original NES to the Nintendo 64 all the way up to the Wii, it's all here and captured on original hardware.
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Castlevania Symphony of the Night In-Depth Analysis
Episode 6 - 7-23-2016
John takes on Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. How did the game work on PlayStation and what went wrong with the Sega Saturn port? We seek the answer to this question and more within.
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Half-Life: The Shooter Redefined On PC, PS2 And Dreamcast
Episode 5 - 7-17-2016
John takes a look back at Half-Life, one of the most influential shooters in history. What impact did it have on the industry, how were the console ports, and what's the best way to enjoy it today? They're waiting for you, in the test chamber.
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The Birth Of Unreal Engine On Console
Episode 4 - 7-10-2016
John tackles Unreal Tournament on consoles. As the very first set of console games powered by Unreal technology, Unreal Tournament for PlayStation and Dreamcast mark the beginning of an era.
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Duke Nukem 3D: Come Get Some... Ports!
Episode 3 - 7-03-2016
DF Retro returns with a bang. This time, John takes a look at five different console ports of Duke Nukem 3D all ported by different studios. Does Duke hold up across all of them? Watch to find out.
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Shenmue: A Game Ahead Of Its Time
Episode 2 - 6-05-2016
John revisits a genuine Dreamcast classic - Yu Suzuki's stunning Shenmue. But what made it so special, and what's the best way to play the game today?
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Quake Sega Saturn Analysis: The Impossible Port
Episode 1 - 5-30-2016
First in an occasional series where we take a look at some remarkable games from previous console eras. Here, John analyses Lobotomy Software's port of Quake. It shouldn't run on Sega Saturn, but somehow - it does.
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