Some games stay with you long after you’ve finished playing them. Others are worth returning to, whether for the memories, the challenges, or simply to see how they hold up today.
Retro Reflections is where I look back at games I’ve played, the experiences they’ve given me, and the things I’ve noticed along the way.
These aren’t traditional reviews. I’m not here to assign scores or decide whether a game deserves a place among the greatest of all time. I’m simply sharing my experiences, observations, and thoughts after spending time with them.
Sometimes nostalgia plays a part. Sometimes returning to an old favourite reveals things I hadn’t noticed before. And occasionally, a game surprises me in ways I hadn’t expected.
Whether it’s a childhood favourite, a game I’ve only recently discovered, or a challenge that pushed me further than expected, there’s usually something worth reflecting on.
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Retro Reflections: Conker’s Bad Fur Day
How Did Rare Get Away With This? Revisiting the Games That Shaped a Lifetime of Gaming There was one thought that kept coming back to me throughout my return to Conker’s Bad Fur Day. How did Rare get away with putting this on a Nintendo console? Nintendo had built a reputation around games that could…
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Retro Reflections: Banjo-Kazooie
Nearly Thirty Years Later, the Rare Magic Is Still There Revisiting the Games That Shaped a Lifetime of Gaming Gruntilda had been defeated. Every Jiggy had been collected. Every musical note had been found. Every Jinjo had been rescued. The final Honeycomb Pieces were mine. There was nothing left to collect. After working my way…
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Retro Reflections: Diddy Kong Racing Adventure 1
When the Familiar Journey Became a Different Challenge Revisiting the Games That Shaped a Lifetime of Gaming I did not expect to write another Retro Reflection about Diddy Kong Racing quite so soon. At the time of writing this, only a few weeks have passed since I finished my reflection on the Diddy Kong Racing…
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Retro Reflections: Diddy Kong Racing Randomizer
When a Childhood Favourite Became Unpredictable Revisiting the Games That Shaped a Lifetime of Gaming Wizpig had been defeated. Not once, but twice. The first time by a Kremling driving a car. The second by that same Kremling piloting a plane. It sounds ridiculous when you put it like that, but then this was never…
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Retro Reflections: Donkey Kong ’94
When Four Levels Became a Ninety-Seven Level Adventure Revisiting the Games That Shaped a Lifetime of Gaming When people think about Donkey Kong, they no doubt picture the arcade classic released back in 1981. It introduced both Donkey Kong and Mario to the world, laying the foundations for two of Nintendo’s most recognisable characters. Since…
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Retro Reflections: Sonic the Hedgehog (Master System 2)
One of My Earliest Gaming Memories: Sonic the Hedgehog on the Master System 2 Surviving, Not Suffering. Most people who grew up during the NES, Mega Drive/Genesis, and SNES era probably have a story about the game that introduced them to gaming. For some it was Mario. For others it was Zelda, Donkey Kong, or…
