Est. 1998
Playing Out of Control Gaming

Retro reviews, vintage hardware, classic PC builds, and modern ways to keep old games alive.

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VERDICTS
Sega Master SystemR-Type4.0Sega Master SystemKenseiden2.5Sega Master SystemAlex Kidd in Miracle World4Game GearWonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap4.5Xbox 360Ascend: Hand of Kul4.0Xbox 360Armored Core V3.0Windows 95/98Ares Rising4.0Anomaly: Warzone EarthAnimal Crossing New Leaf ReviewAliens Versus Predator 1999Age of Wonders III Eternal Lords ReviewAge of Empires Online Free to Play ReviewGemini Wars (2012) ReviewMidtown Madness ReviewHalf-Life ReviewKing’s Quest: Mask of Eternity ReviewDethKarz ReviewBoss Rally ReviewTomb Raider (2013) Review: Reforging a LegendPlayStation 3Watch Dogs2Sega Master SystemR-Type4.0Sega Master SystemKenseiden2.5Sega Master SystemAlex Kidd in Miracle World4Game GearWonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap4.5Xbox 360Ascend: Hand of Kul4.0Xbox 360Armored Core V3.0Windows 95/98Ares Rising4.0Anomaly: Warzone EarthAnimal Crossing New Leaf ReviewAliens Versus Predator 1999Age of Wonders III Eternal Lords ReviewAge of Empires Online Free to Play ReviewGemini Wars (2012) ReviewMidtown Madness ReviewHalf-Life ReviewKing’s Quest: Mask of Eternity ReviewDethKarz ReviewBoss Rally ReviewTomb Raider (2013) Review: Reforging a LegendPlayStation 3Watch Dogs2

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May 31 2026
Industry
PS4, Xbox One, and Switch physical games are dirt cheap right now and it won’t last
PS4, Xbox One, and Switch physical games are clearing out at $9.99 at Best Buy and Walmart. Collector prices on older systems are already rising — this is the window.
May 28 2026
Preservation
Samurai Spirits RPG Saturn Hack Unlocks PlayStation Bonus Content
A new Sega Saturn patch for Samurai Spirits RPG unlocks bonus material previously associated with the PlayStation version, highlighting the archival value of old version differences.
May 28 2026
New Release
Namco’s Ace Driver Gets Its First Home Release
Namco's 1994 System 22 arcade racer Ace Driver has joined Hamster's Arcade Archives line, marking the game's first official home release.
May 28 2026
Preservation
Real Robots Final Attack Gets English Translation After 20 Years
Aeon Genesis has released an English patch for Real Robots Final Attack, opening up a 1998 import PlayStation game after a translation project that dates back to 2006.
May 26 2026
Preservation
OmniDrive Firmware Makes Some Classic Game Discs Easier To Back Up On PC
OmniDrive adds support for reading GameCube, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360 disc formats on compatible MT1959-based Blu-ray drives, giving collectors a new path for backing up their physical libraries.
May 16 2026
New Release
Mad King Redemption Enters Steam Early Access With Retro Brawler Action
Retro-inspired roguelite brawler Mad King Redemption is now available in Steam Early Access with co-op play, pixel art visuals, and arcade-style combat.
Mar 9 2026
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The Vault
Games
Database
Every game we've written about — organised by series, platform, era, and verdict. The canonical POCG reference.
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Games Tracked
34
Reviewed
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Series
45
Platforms
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The Lab
Hardware
Database
Handhelds, GPUs, sound cards, and the machines that ran it all — tested, specced, and rated. The canonical POCG hardware reference.
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Hardware Tracked
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Reviewed
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Categories
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Latest Reviews

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4.0Excellent
Irem / Sega · 1988
R-Type
Excellent
The SMS port of R-Type pushes the hardware to its limits with vibrant colors; despite slowdown, it remains one of the best shooters of the 8-bit era.
2.5Average
Sega · 1988
Kenseiden
Average
Kenseiden brings the Castlevania vibe to feudal Japan with stellar graphics and crushing difficulty, but stiff controls hold it back.
4Excellent
Sega · 1986
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Excellent
Sega's bizarre Mario competitor replaces jumping with punching and features Rock-Paper-Scissors boss fights.
4.5Excellent
Westone Bit Entertainment · 1989
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap
Excellent
A genre-defining 1989 classic with brilliant animal transformations and vibrant colors, despite a frustrating password system.
4.0Good
Signal Studios · 2013
Ascend: Hand of Kul
Good
3.0Average
FromSoftware · 2012
Armored Core V
Average
4.0Good
Imagine Studios · 1998
Ares Rising
Good
Score
Distribution
0
Masterpiece
9
Excellent
5
Good
5
Average
1
Poor
0
Broken
34
Reviews
Published
across 21 platforms
2013
June · 13 yrs ago
This Month in Gaming History
Tekken Revolution
Revolution borrows Tekken's mechanics without earning its place in the lineup. No local play, a coin ceiling, and a roster that teases more than it delivers.
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