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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Alex Kidd in Miracle World

If you had a Master System II back in the day, you already know this game intimately because it was built right into the console. No cartridge required, no blowing into contacts, just flip the switch and you were in. Alex Kidd was Sega’s original mascot, their weird, big-eared answer to Mario before a certain … Read more

Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap

If you want to talk about games that were way ahead of their time, Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap sits at the top of the list. This is a foundational Metroidvania before that term even existed, delivering an open-world platforming experience in 1989 that plays a lot like the later Castlevania titles on the … Read more

Ascend: Hand of Kul

Ascend: Hand of Kul mashes God of War combat, Dark Souls soul management, and asynchronous multiplayer into a free-to-play package that has no right being this engaging. The servers are long gone, but when it worked, it worked.