We’re wrapping up spring break in Hawaii, and we took a family trip to the mainland, so I was (thankfully) away from the Internet most of this week. Lucky for you I prepared ahead of time so I was still able to drop a couple videos this week!

🎥 Now Playing

Two fun videos for you this time around:

My Favorite Sega Genesis Games Of All Time

Growing up, the Sega Genesis was our family 16-bit console; here is a roundup of all my favorite games from that era (and some others I discovered later in life). This collection isn’t meant to be a “hidden gems” sort of list, but more a celebration of the games that shaped that particular era for me.

Linux on the AYN Thor (and Other Handhelds)

Many powerful Android-based handhelds (those that use a Snapdragon chip) can also boot into Linux, which turns the device into a simple but powerful gaming-focused system. Here's how to set it up on devices like the AYN Thor, Odin 2 handhelds, and the Retroid Pocket 6.

📰 Power-Up(dates)

Some cool things that happened this week:

• The Nintendo Switch 2 got an unexpected (but welcome) update that adds Handheld Boost Mode, letting compatible Switch 1 games run in docked mode while playing it handheld; depending on the game, that could mean 1080p graphics and/or 60fps gameplay, at the cost of battery life. Read about it at Retro Handhelds, and here is a megathread highlighting some of the most improved games.

• Cloud-based emulation suite RetroAssembly v6 added PlayStation support via PCSX ReARMed, but it is limited to CHD images and without multi-disc swapping for now. This latest update also introduces a favorites system and external RetroArch save state importing.

• March 21st marked the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy Advance, a landmark console with a formidable library (about 1,500 games!). It was the first mainstream handheld to bring 16-bit era graphics to handheld consoles, and even got a backlit (technically front-lit) display with the GBA SP a couple years later. The games were all over the place: some pushed the hardware in new directions, others were stellar ports of classic games, and many others were cash grabs that mutilated some of our favorite IP.

• The Bryant Review published an interview with the RetroDeck devs that explores some of the work and decisions that go into designing a Steam Deck-focused retro gaming solution as cohesive as theirs. An interesting read and a rare look at how the sausage made, with no dev drama in sight! Check out my RetroDeck video from last year if you’d like to see it in action.

• Anbernic’s divisive RG Vita handhelds are now up for sale as of today. They come in two variants: the RG Vita with a T618 chipset, 3GB RAM, and 720p screen, and the RG Vita Pro with RK3576 chipset (can dual-boot Linux/Android), 4GB RAM, and a 1080p screen. I briefly tested the non-Pro version before its screen became completely unresponsive, and new models were waiting for me when I arrived home yesterday. I’ll work on a review video this week, but at this time I can’t really recommend them just based on the catastrophic hardware failure I experienced with my previous test unit.

• Another cool interview: Zophar (of legendary emulation site Zophar’s Domain) spoke with Randy Linden, legendary developer and the mind behind Bleem!, a late-90s PlayStation emulator that was so ahead of its time that it could run on a Pentium 166 and even the Sega Dreamcast.

❤️ Currently Grinding

Retro Game: Phantasy Star IV

As part of my Sega Genesis favorites roundup video, I tried out a few RPGs that I never played when they released, in order to get a better idea of what options we had in the 1990s. Among those, I was really impressed with Phantasy Star IV, especially as it compares to more celebrated contemporaries like Final Fantasy VI. In some ways, Phantasy Star IV feels like the superior JRPG, with its more immersive panel-based dialogue, macro battle options, and ability to host a five-character party during battles. I ended up playing this game the most this week, and finished it on the flight home yesterday. My favorite feature: while on the map, you can use the “Talk” command to get a quick summary of where you are and where you should be heading next.

Modern Game: Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Like many of the others listed in the Now Playing section below, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is on sale this week, and it’s a great side-scrolling beat ‘em up. Developed by Tribute Games (who made Panzer Paladin and TMNT Shredder’s Revenge), this brawler is full of characters and a variety of special moves. The combat and level progress is somewhat linear, and initially I was not fond of its $30 retail price tag — likely the result of licensing all those Marvel characters. This week it’s on sale for $20, and that feels like a fairer price for what you’ll get.

Music: Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West

I was randomly chatting about Modest Mouse with my buddy Todd the other day, and it inspired me to give my favorite album of theirs a spin. This one came out in 1997 - well before any of their more mainstream success - and it remains a quirky (and slightly challenging) indie rock masterpiece. It’s a sprawling journey, with 15 varied tracks clocking in at over 73 minutes, and sonically it is all over the place: sometimes channeling older grunge rock anthems, other times tastefully borrowing elements of hip-hop. This one took me years to fully unpack, and even today I often break it up into two halves to make it more palatable; but it’s a rewarding experience every time, and unflinchingly a “Pacific Northwest” record in both sound and lyrical imagery. Their third album, The Moon and Antarctica, is the easiest Modest Mouse record to recommend, but The Lonesome Crowded West is an excellent choice once you’re ready for something a bit more edgy.

💰 Bargain Bin

A few deals this week:

• AliExpress is currently running an Anniversary Sale, and there are some surprisingly good deals considering the rising price of electronics right now.

  Here are the coupons for each price point. The ones with "RGC" in the name are made specifically for you folks, but they have a limited amount of uses; the other codes should have unlimited redemptions. Note that these codes are US-based only; to see codes for your region, I recommend checking the AliExpress frontage for your country and seeing what codes are listed there.

  • ASRGC3 or USAS03 or 3USAFF: $3 off orders of $15 or more

  • ASRGC5 or 5USAFF: $6 off orders of $30 or more

  • USAS06 = $6 off orders of $35 or more

  • ASRGC7 or 7USAFF: $7 off orders of $49 or more

  • USAS09: $9 off orders of $55 or more

  • ASRGC11 or 11USAFF: $11 off orders of $79 or more

  • USAS13: $13 off orders of $89 or more

  • ASRGC23 or USAS23: $23 off orders of $139 or more

  • ASRGC35 or USAS35: $35 off orders of $219 or more

  • ASRGC45 or USAS45: $45 off orders of $319 or more

  • ASRGC60 or USAS60: $60 off orders of $429 or more

  • ASRGC70 or 70USAFF: $70 off orders of $509 or more

  • RGC100 or 100USAFF: $100 off orders of $569 or more

• Here are the links (cheapest to most expensive):

  • BATTLEXP G350 ($34 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Miyoo Mini Plus ($43 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG35XXH ($44 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG40XXH ($47 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Miyoo Mini Flip ($48 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG40XXV ($50 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG35XXSP ($51 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG Cube XX ($53 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • TrimUI Brick ($57 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Anbernic RG DS ($84 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Retroid Pocket 5 ($181 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

  • Retroid Pocket Flip 2 ($186 after coupon):
    Affiliate / Non-affiliate

• Steam is running their massive Spring Sale right now and there are some chunky discounts to be had:

  • Absolum ($18.74)

  • MARVEL Cosmic Invasion ($19.49)

  • TMNT Shredder's Revenge ($12.49)

  • Ninja Gaiden Ragebound ($17.49)

  • The Witcher 3 ($7.99)

  • Streets of Rage 4 ($6.24)

  • Control ($3.99)

  • TMNT Splintered Fate ($2.99)

  • Fallout New Vegas ($0.99)

• UGREEN’s entire product line is on sale at Amazon right now. Below are a few standout deals, but there are literally dozens more of you're in the market for cables, power banks, location trackers and more.

  • USB-C/USB-A MicroSD and SD Card Reader, $8 (Normally $10)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • FineTrack Wallet Tracker with Apple FindMy Support, $16 (Normally $24)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Nexode Pro Power Bank 10,000mAh 45W with built-in USB-C Cable, $38 (Normally $55)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

  • Nexode 25,000mAh/165W Power Bank, $70 (Normally $100)

    • Buy it here: Affiliate / Non-Affiliate

⏪ Previously on Retro Game Corps

My 15 Favorite NES Games

I’ve only ever made one other “favorite games for a system” video, and it was for the NES (our family 8-bit console) a couple years ago. Of all the console systems throughout history, I feel like my NES knowledge is probably the deepest, mostly because we spent so many years renting these games or playing them at friends’ houses. Even looking at these boxes and cartridges right now, I want to immediately tear through this catalog all over again.

🎬 Behind The Scenes

Our family visited Washington and Oregon this week, touring prospective colleges with my oldest son. He’s still undecided, but we had a great time traveling around the areas where I grew up (and putting nearly 900 miles on a rental car). The kids were shocked to see snow on the ground when we landed in Seattle, and my youngest child reminded us that it was the first time he had seen snow in the wild. We also visited a few of my favorite Northwest eateries; I normally stick to a pretty strict gluten-free diet for health reasons, but a couple things I’ll bend my diet for include Pietro’s Pizza and fried clam strips.

That’s it for now, have a nice week!
Russ