Released in 1983 by Parker Brothers, Q*bert for the Mattel Intellivision brings the quirky charm of the arcade hit to the home console, focusing on the titular orange creature’s attempts to survive on a precarious pyramid of cubes. The “story” is minimalist, centered on Qbert’s quest to recolor every tile on the 28-cube structure to a target hue while dodging a bizarre gallery of enemies, most notably the bouncing snake Coily and the colour-reverting duo Slick and Sam. Gameplay remains faithful to the original, requiring precise diagonal hops to flip tile colors and utilizing floating discs as a last-second escape to the top of the pyramid. While the Intellivision version was praised for its vibrant colors and relatively high-quality sound effects—including Q*bert’s signature synthesized “swearing” (@!#?@!)—its reception was often tempered by the console’s unique control disc. Critics and players alike found that the 45-degree diagonal movement required by the game was difficult to master on the circular disc, leading to frequent accidental suicides off the edge of the pyramid, though it remains a technically impressive port that captured the arcade’s spirit better than many of its 80s contemporaries.
Released in 1992 and developed by Graftgold, the Sega Game Gear version of Super Off Road is a portable adaptation of the 1989 hit arcade racer. Lacking a traditional narrative, the game centers on the competitive pursuit of a championship season, where players race through various top-down dirt circuits featuring bumps, puddles, and tight turns. The core gameplay revolves around a strategic upgrade system; finishing races earns prize money that can be spent at the “Speed Shop” to improve acceleration, top speed, tires, and shock absorbers, or to purchase additional Nitro boosts for a temporary speed edge. While the Game Gear version is praised for its impressive visuals and faithful recreation of the arcade’s catchy music, it is often noted for its high difficulty and repetitive nature, as the 99-race season loops through a limited number of tracks. Critics generally viewed it as a solid but punishing port, with many highlighting the link cable support for two-player multiplayer as its most redeeming feature.
The Paladone Super Mario Money Box is a vibrant and nostalgic tribute to the classic Nintendo platformer, designed to help fans “level up” their savings. Standing approximately 18cm (7 inches) tall, this arcade-style savings bank features a layered 3D montage effect that recreates an iconic gameplay scene, complete with transparent panels that allow you to watch your coin collection grow. The design is richly decorated with fan-favorite elements, including Mario himself, Goombas, Piranha Plants, and the signature Question Blocks and Super Mushrooms.
Complete
Name/Variant
Paladone Super Mario Money Box
Price
£0 – Gift
Atari CX40+ Pac-Man Wireless Joysticks
The Atari CX40+ Pac-Man Wireless Joysticks are officially licensed, modern recreations of the classic 1977 controller, updated with 2.4GHz wireless technology for lag-free, cable-free gameplay. Released in late 2024 and 2025 to celebrate Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary, these controllers come in five distinct styles: a classic yellow Pac-Man edition and four “Ghost” versions in Red (Blinky), Pink (Pinky), Blue (Inky), and Orange (Clyde). Each joystick maintains the authentic 8-way digital feel and iconic red fire button of the original, while adding a discreet secondary fire button and a glowing LED ring around the base. They offer broad compatibility, including two wireless adapters—a DB9 adapter for original Atari 2600/7800 hardware and the new 2600+ console, and a USB-A dongle for PC, Mac, and modern Atari VCS systems—all powered by an internal rechargeable battery with USB-C charging.
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