Retro Gamer

Retro Gamer is the only magazine in the UK that’s fully dedicated to the halcyon days of classic gaming. If you’ve ever fondly blasted away at the Bydo Empire in R-Type, swung Bowser by the tail in Super Mario 64, or navigated all 20 levels of Matthew Smith’s Manic Miner, then this is the magazine for you. Created by a dedicated team of experts, Retro Gamer’s mission is to deliver constantly engaging and passionately written articles that cover a wide range of subjects. We offer our readership in-depth looks at classic games and franchises, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the software houses from yesteryear, and one-on-one exclusive interviews with industry veterans such as Archer Maclean and Hideo Kojima. Stylish, entertaining and beautifully presented, Retro Gamer is the ultimate guide to videogaming’s rich and diverse history.

THE RETROBATES • WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ASSASSIN’S CREED GAME

LOADING…

GOOD TIMES AHEAD • There are plenty of retro-related games to look forward to

A Super Auction story

NINTENDO CALLS TIME • OCARINA REMAKE IS REVEALED AT DIRECT PRESENTATION

UK KONG KING CROWNED • FIRST KONG OFF HELD AT ARCADE CLUB IN BURY

ALIENS ARCHIVE

COMMODORE CALLS BACK

Sorry, lad

A golden time

Spooky Doorway • Dave McCabe and Paul Conway discuss their pixel-art classics

FEBRUARY 1980 • Galaxian takes flight and HAL Laboratory is hatched

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF FEBRUARY 1980

Atic Atac • BECOME THE CASTLE MASTER

THE EVOLUTION OF ASSASSIAN’S CREED • DRIVEN BY A DESIRE TO RIVAL GTA FOR FREEDOM AND STAND OUT IN A SEA OF ACTION GAMES, ASSASSIN’S CREED KICK-STARTED A FORMULA THAT UBISOFT WORKED TO PERFECT FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS. ITS STORY IS ONE OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND COURSE CORRECTION, AS JEAN GUESDON, PAUL FU AND ROGER CRAIG SMITH EXPLAIN

STAGES OF EVOLUTION: CREEDER’S DIGEST 2007-2011 • THE EARLY ADVENTURES

STAGES OF EVOLUTION: CREEDER’S DIGEST 2012-2014 • THE SERIES BRANCHES OUT

STAGES OF EVOLUTION: CREEDER’S DIGEST 2014-2016 • BUGS, LONDON AND SIDE-SCROLLING QUESTS

STAGES OF EVOLUTION: CREEDER’S DIGEST 2017-2020 • THE SERIES EVOLVES

STAGES OF EVOLUTION: CREEDER’S DIGEST 2023-2026 • THE LATEST ADVENTURES

THE MAKING OF ASSASSIN’S CREED BLACK FLAG RESYNCED • FEW ASSASSIN’S CREED GAMES ARE AS BELOVED AS BLACK FLAG, WHICH WEAVED PIRACY INTO THE POPULAR SERIES AND INTRODUCED GAMERS TO EDWARD KENWAY. WITH A MODERN REMAKE NOW UPON US, WE SPOKE TO CO-DIRECTOR PAUL FU TO FIND OUT WHY IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO REVISIT THE CLASSIC GAME

HANDS-ON HO! • OUR EARLY PLAY WITH BLACK FLAG RESYNCED

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND ENJOY GREAT SAVINGS!

PHOENIX • DESPITE NUMEROUS GROUND-BREAKING INNOVATIONS, PHOENIX IS RARELY MENTIONED IN THE SAME BREATH AS ITS LEGENDARY ARCADE PEERS. RETRO GAMER LOOKS BACK AT THE SHOOT-’EM-UP THAT CEMENTED THE CONCEPT OF THE BOSS FIGHT AND BECAME A MASSIVE HIT FOR ITS US DISTRIBUTOR

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE • WE LOOK AT PHOENIX’S LONE – OFFICIAL – HOME PORT, ON THE ATARI 2600

DEVELOPER Q+A • RETRO GAMER CATCHES UP WITH ERSTWHILE ATARI 2600 DEVELOPER, JOHN MRACEK

PHOENIX FROM THE FLAMES

THE RISE OF THE PHOENIX CLONES • RETRO GAMER EXAMINES THE MOST PROMINENT UNOFFICIAL PORTS OF PHOENIX

THE MYSTERY DEV • WHO MADE PHOENIX?

Fruity Frank • MR DON’T!

THE MAKING OF ZOMBi • UBISOFT IS KNOWN TODAY FOR ITS OPEN-WORLD GAMES AND BIG FRANCHISES SUCH AS ASSASSIN’S CREED AND FAR CRY, BUT ONCE UPON A TIME IT WAS ALL VERY DIFFERENT. THIS IS THE STORY BEHIND THE PUBLISHER’S VERY FIRST VIDEOGAME

EARLY BEGINNINGS • HOW UBISOFT STARTED OUT PRODUCING AND DEVELOPING VIDEOGAMES

CREATING HURLEMENTS • FROM THE LIVING DEAD TO...