DIRECTLY RETRO

The latest online shows from Nintendo and Blaze were full of retro goodness

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Evercade and Nintendo fans have plenty to be excited about in the coming months, thanks to great online shows from the two companies. Blaze Entertainment's third Evercade Showcase featured a number of things, some predictable, others less so. As is now becoming the norm, two new Super Pockets were announced, one featuring 18 arcade games from Data East, the other featuring 14 Neo Geo arcade games. Surprisingly, there wasn't a reveal of a Neo Geo-themed Alpha, but we're guessing there's still time to announce one. Both Super Pockets will be available later in the year and will cost £49.99 and will be fully compatible with the entire Evercade cartridge range.

In terms of cartridges, the pickings were slim but good all the same. The biggest surprise was the announcement of SNK Arcade 1, something we cynically weren't expecting due to so many games from the bigger Japanese publishers appearing on the Super Pocket range. Due for release in July, six games will be included: Metal Slug, The King Of Fighters 2000, Shock Troopers, Sengoku, Magician Lord and Iron Clad. It's a solid mix of titles, although six games does feel a little miserly (ten feels like a good sweet spot for most of these carts nowadays). Still, it's great to see another Japanese publisher onboard the cartridge train, so hopefully others will follow suit.