Ready to dust off your nostalgia goggles and dive back into a world where polygons ruled and dinosaurs were definitely easier to defeat than real life? Well, buckle up because Nintendo has a lot of retro goodness in store for its users. From the upcoming Switch 2 to a fresh remaster of Turok, it’s time to fire up your gaming systems, relive some classic moments, and maybe even get a little too comfortable in your blanket burrito while you’re at it. Let’s take a detour back to the good ol’ days, thanks to the classics from Nintendo 64.
Time to bring out Super Mario 64
Nintendo has a gift for all the die-hard N64 fans — Super Mario 64 profile icons! Now you can immortalize your love for the first 3D Mario adventure (released in 1996) through its tiny characters. Here’s the catch: you need the Switch Online + Expansion Pack to access them. You don’t need it to keep the upgrade, though, so it might be worth it just to cop the combo to get your favorite Super Mario 64 character forever.
If you need a little video game history, Super Mario 64 is the first “Super Mario game with 3D gameplay, and one of the best and most important games ever made.”
The Switch Online membership costs $19.99 a year, but if you go all in and get the Expansion Pack, you’ll drop $49.99 annually.
Now, without the Expansion Pack, you can still flex your nostalgia muscles by playing classics from older Nintendo systems like the Game Boy or the original Entertainment System. If you go the Expansion Pack route, you’ll unlock the holy grail of retro gaming: the Nintendo 64, SEGA Genesis, and even some sweet add-ons like the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Users can choose from classic Mario to King Bom-omb if you’re feeling royal — But hurry. These iconic images are only available until March 31st. If you missed them the last time they were available (which, let’s be honest, you probably did), this is your second chance. They’ve been locked away since 2022, so who knows when they’ll return?
‘Turok’ is now bigger and badder
The legendary Turok has just been given a fresh coat of paint with a full remaster, and it’s now available on PS5 and Xbox Series X as of February 28. Get ready to relive the glory of shooting dinosaurs in the face, but with way better graphics.
Time for another video game history lesson: Turok is a first-person shooter based on the comic book character of the same name. Turok himself is a Native American warrior who spends his days battling not only dinosaurs but a whole assortment of prehistoric beasts and nefarious enemies in a world called the Lost Land.
When the original Turok: Dinosaur Hunter hit the Nintendo 64 and PC in 1997, it was a game-changer—praised for its groundbreaking graphics, sprawling 3D environments, and innovative weapons and exploration mechanics. Fast forward to now, and those mechanics have only gotten slicker, because, you know, technology does tend to improve over time.
Turok got a reboot in 2008, this time featuring Joseph Turok, a soldier battling not just dinosaurs but also human enemies, set on a distant planet. It was a new take with a modern story and lots of action.
Now, thanks to Nightdive Studios (the heroes who specialize in resurrecting retro games for today’s high-def world), the original Turok is back and better than ever. Here’s what’s new:
- Smoother game performance
- Better graphics that make the original look like it went through a spa day
- Localized trophies and achievements
- The ability to swap ammo types from Shotgun to Tek Bow
- The Gallery cheat code is back, with animations showing off the different enemies (yay for cheaters!)
- Special attacks like the High Priest’s homing blue magic attack are making a comeback
Nintendo’s not slowing down anytime soon. In fact, they’ve got plenty more up their sleeve, including the highly anticipated Switch 2, which is expected to make its grand debut later this year (and more details are set to drop on April 2nd). In the meantime, though, why not take a step back and indulge in some sweet nostalgia? Trust us, there’s no better way to kill time while waiting for the future of gaming to arrive on your doorstep.
