Nova Drift takes the classic space-shooter formula, reminiscent of Asteroids, and injects it with a finely-tuned rogue-like structure. The result is an unexpectedly addictive blend of action and strategic depth, where you ascend from a lone spaceship to a cosmic force of evolutionary technology.

The core game-play loop is straightforward: shoot, dodge, and adapt. The difficulty progresses gradually but can feel slow at times. The early game might seem a little tedious, but once upgrades become available, the beauty of the game's design becomes clear.

There's a vast array of unique builds to explore. When upgrades synergise effectively, the feeling of immense power is incredibly satisfying. The game cleverly weaves tactical considerations into its upgrade system, making the search for the optimal build a meditative puzzle. Survive long enough and you'll transform into an unstoppable force, wielding advanced technology and leaving a trail of kaleidoscopic destruction.

Experimentation is rewarded, but overconfidence is punished. Moments of carelessness can derail even the most well-thought-out plan, making mental focus crucial as you battle through increasingly challenging waves. A single poorly chosen upgrade can quickly send your carefully crafted build into an inescapable bullet hell.

At its heart, Nova Drift embodies the concept of "simple to learn, difficult to master." Progress feels genuinely earned, and even in defeat, you'll find yourself wanting just one more go. If you enjoy the thrill of creating ridiculously powerful builds and narrowly escaping self-made disasters, Nova Drift's chaotic laboratory will undoubtedly pull you in.

RetroArch is a retro gaming obsessive's dream, offering absurd amounts of customisation that might scare off casual users. With an admittedly clunky UI, new users might be put off. But those willing to brave the learning curve will discover retro bliss.

While some standalone emulators offer better user experience and overall stability, RetroArch offers a streamlined solution for enjoying classics with modern touches, like snappy filters and accessible control mapping. Spend time with some guides (and a little trial-and-error), and soon you'll master switching between cores and content libraries effortlessly.

But the real draw? It has to be the integration of RetroAchievements - a community labour of love, where unique achievement sets for hundreds of retro titles have been lovingly crafted for both old and new audiences. It's enough to make your inner child weep joyful tears.

For the Steam version, power users may lament the curated cores and hidden settings. But for others with less obsessive-compulsive tendencies, the convenience of Steam launching and cloud saves might justify the trade-off. Additionally, those looking for online versus or co-op action might be better served using the Steam version as you can avoid using RetroArch's frustrating in-built netplay feature by instead using Remote Play Together.

For casual emulator fans happy with standalones, RetroArch might not be worth the hassle. However, If retro gaming curation and preservation pique your interest, give RetroArch a whirl. It's the closest thing available to your own pocket-sized museum of gaming's past, lovingly shared and maintained by an incredibly dedicated community.