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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️

@sharkabytes.bsky.social

22K followers 3.9K following 25K posts

Freelance Writer│Magazine Editor│UK VG & Anime Historian│🦈 fur │Transfem she/her│AuDHD │❤️ : @kitnibbles.bsky.social │Business Enq: [email protected] More info in pinned ❤️ : https://ko-fi.com/retrobytes ❤️ : patreon.com/SashasRetroBytes

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · Oct 17

New pinned post and info sheet!

I'm curious and passionate about a whole bunch of nerdy and cool stuff! I also publish a fortnightly retro gaming and anime 'zine and write on several blogs:

Scanlines zine: betweenthescanlines.itch.io
Main blog: scanlineartifacts.wordpress.com

A pixel campfire themed info sheet giving an introduction about how I'm a self-employed freelance writer, a zine publisher, a collector and enthusiast of older games and computer/console hardware and also run a racing competition, and very much into 90s and 2000s anime!

Passionate about PS1, Amiga, Wii, and Mega Drive in particular!

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 1h

Even the ZX Spectrum seeks its own level these days @barleybap.bsky.social

A CRT TV screenie of a ZX Spectrum game from 2019 called Ooze with a purple cavern filled with darkness and a cute little white blob either side of control options.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 1h

Sasha.exe booting up; good morning/afternoon, y'all. 💜

a cartoon drawing of a machine with a purple light shining through it

Alt: An anime clip of an encased CD being inserted into a cyberpunky drive and a screen lighting up with a gridline map.

media.tenor.com

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 11h

Thinking about PS1 demo discs has reminded me of my favourite iteration of the 'Blown Away' promo music vid that Sony put out on VHS and also included on the Power Source charity demo disc.

It's such a cool vid that I still really dig.

(There's some soppy past me for a few mins on my upload of it)

Blown Away PS1 Music Video | Sharka's MicroBytes #8

YouTube video by Sharka's RetroBytes

youtu.be

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 11h

Bit more detail and disc contents here.

Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · Sep 12

We've had something pretty damn cool arrive to join our collection of PS1 demo discs and assorted multimedia: a music album and demo disc combo called 'Double Life: Music for PlayStation' from 1999.

Alongside 'PlayStation vibe' music, one banger demo disc of games; just look at what's on there!

A photo of the album with its blue and purple tubulatr bells-esque design and playstation face button logos on them glowing away.

A photo of the discs with gorgeous art following the same vibes.

A list of the artists including Manic Street Preachers, Hybrid, Supergrass, Ocean Colour Scene, and Super Furry Animals.

The demo CD has Ape Escape, Wipeout 3, Ridge Racer Type 4, Omega Boost, Smash Court Tennis, Tomb Raider 3, Um Jammy Lammy, and Crash Team Racing.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 12h

One of my favourite pieces of disc artwork. 💙

Ocean chill PlayStation vibes with the game demos disc from the 2CD 'Double Life' Music + Games album from 1999.

A PS1 demo disc with oceanic blue artwork and red sleek ribbons curling across it.

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Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️

Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 1d

A quick thread digging into Software Sculptors' Bubblegum Crisis: The Screensaver from 1994.

At 34.99, the screensaver is a bit flimsy, being simply a gallery of short gif-like clips (vid clip below), but floofing it out, in value are the music vids from Hurricane Live 2032/3.

A snap of the 'video screen saver' menu box window open in Windows 98 where you can arrange the vid clips or make your own using them or other bmps.

Video Jukebox - Loading Hurricane Live. A loading screen with Priss in Replicants getup and blonde wig.

A screencap of the video clip window with 8 music vids to watch, each around 3-5 mins.

The cover of Bubblegum Crisis: The Screensaver's big box. Let the Knioght Savers Save Your Screen! (from crt monitor burn-in)

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Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️

Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 1d

Dragon Quest, Ultima, and Parodius!

A tri-force of adventure for this issue of MSX FAN from 1988, whose covers remain some of my favourites.

Psst! You'll also receive information on some of Hydlide 3's secrets too. *whisper*

A scan of March 1988's issue of MSX FAN with three little figurines with anime-ey aesthetic, one wielding sword and shield and wearing a flight cap and goggles, the other a rapier and buckler, and a magic user with robe and staff.

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Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️

Abandonware France @abdw.fr · 19h

New blog article!

#MadeInFrance 12 : Robots, dragon balls and ABsurdities

Do you want to know how Japanese animation and mangas became so popular in France?

A wacky tale of money, betrayal, vengeance, tasteless humor, silly dubs, moral panics and scorpions. ⬇️

Abandonware France, #MadeInFrance 12 : Robots, dragon balls and ABsurdities

The goal of the section

www.abandonware-france.org

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 13h

Yeah, I think that's part of what makes it feel an older game that should really have come out a year or two before.

Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 13h

xD Omg, yes, totally. I shall always call it Ninja the Gaiden now.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 15h

xD It's such a cute name. Beep! was originally a multi-format mag, but then it started focusing on Sega stuff until rebranding as Dorimaga and going multiformat again after the DC.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 15h

From adventurous trios on the cover of MSX FAN magazine (shared earlier today) to now this, a most knightly sonic in wooden form for the cover of BEEP Mega Drive in 1992.

A new phase of Mega Drive, the issue proclaims! Konami entering the Mega Drive market, Sega CD, Sonic 2, and Landstalker.

A lovely and vibrant issue of BEEP! Mega Drive with a wooden painted Sonic on horseback (standing the horses back!) and holding a lance and pointing dramatically to the side. No doubt indicating the new phase of hoped for success for the Mega Drive in Japan, which was struggling against PC Engine and Super Famicom.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 16h

Ahh, cheers. I knew it was by a comic artist and had that 2000AD look but couldn't remember which one.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 16h

xD I have a similar reaction to Dani California by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. It was one of the songs that we were allowed to play in a used goods/exchange shop I worked at for a while, and I heard it about five times a day for eight months.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 17h

Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you’ll never watch again, and one song you can’t stand.

Mushy peas. Can't go near them.

James Cameron's Avatar. Couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

Butcher Pete, which I only know thanks to Fallout 3. Revolting song.

OneEyedFleshBag @oneeyedfreakbot.bsky.social · 17h

Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you’ll never watch again, and one song you can’t stand.

ONIONS. Cannot stand them.

Vampegeddon. Worst horror move I've ever seen.

Pretty much anything by Train. It's like they excel at making the lamest music possible.

ElectricDC @electricdc.bsky.social · 20h

Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you’ll never watch again, and one song you can’t stand.

Ranch dressing. 🤢

Godfather 3. It's over-hated, but I ticked that box and don't need to go back 🤷🏻‍♂️

Hotel California

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 17h

We've had one in the Link's Awakening remake, very much feels like it draws inspiration from this kind of diorama. But it would be neat to see other games pick it up and run with it too.

There's a game called Tunic as well that leans into a little, but not as much as Link's Awakening.

A promo image showing Link's Awakening remake.

A snap from fox adventurer zelda/souls-like hybrid Tunic.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 17h

Yeah! I feel it does too, and does suit the whimsy of Koholint Island.

Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 17h

There's some banger tuneage for each stage, but the actual brawler gameplay is a bit aged for 1992 and feels more in line with Streets of Rage 1 and Golden Axe - especially for 1992 with SoR2/Bare Knuckle 2 out or around the corner.

Another crt tv screenie with Ryu in mind leap and kick across waterfall ledges with brown rocky cliff faces and a green-clad enemy.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 17h

Sega by the Seafront: Ninja Gaiden from 1992 (unreleased).

Kicking around in what feels like a virtually complete playable (and completable!) prototype form, this port of Tecmo's arcade brawler was developed by Opus, who collapsed under bankruptcy just last year.

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The first stage with its side-scrolling gorgeous river front and twinkling city skyline backdrop. Ryu's and a Jason-esque hockey mask enemy sprites are on the screen.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 18h

Ahh, cheers for the tag! Will give it a read and boost. Always happy to learn more about France's geek scenes.

Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 18h

Omg, he does. xD I

Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 18h

For a future thirsty for brutal sports - Speedball! But not the more well-loved sequel, but the original from 1988.

The core elements are here, and it's a bit more fast 'n' furious than I remembered., but yeah, Brutal Deluxe (1990) would polish them up to a fine chrome shine.

(Atari ST ver)

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 19h

The original Speedball has been relatively forgotten in comparison to the stone-cold classic that is Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe. It's got some charm, but even the cover art bursts with the kind of energy that the first game lacks.

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe's comic book style cover with a muscled dude in skin right bodysuit and armour roars as he grabs a metal ball.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 19h

"Look, all I 'ad was a colander from me ol' mum's kitchen cupboard to use as a helmet. I stuck some spikes on it to make it look well 'ard. Leave off, awright?"

The cover for the original Speedball game, with a lanky looking guy looking both shy and sulky in his shiny chrome future sports armour and what looks like a spiky bowl on mod head.

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 21h

Ah, DM, please.