Gaming News

We've covered a few side-scrolling action games in the past few weeks. A variety of them report, summer remakes and remasters, while a few were brand-new games altogether. While they didn't really have an overarching theme, they all had the same fun mechanics that involved moving to the right and leaving a trail of violence.

This week, it's all about everyone's favourite vampire who lives in everyone's favorite castle. We can’t deny how much of an influence Castlevania had on gaming through the years and how it's still going strong today. On the chopping block, we have three titles cut from that same blood-soaked cloth and bring the badassery to you.

DOOMED CASTLE

So if you're the proud owner of a Commodore Amiga, an Amiga Mini, or even an emulator, then you'll be happy to know that we'll have an awesome-looking Castlevania fan game in the pipeline called Doomed Castle by MA Soft Team. Some settings are best left, unchanged, and a supernatural castle will always be at the very top.

Doomed Castle is a game that features high-end graphics and an in-depth UI screen. What's more, is a variety of enemies to defeat. The game is still in its development stages, but we know we'll be getting more than 60 colours on the screen, fast RAM for storage and an accelerated Amiga system.

This game was created to ensure a quality title using Blitz Basic 2, Tiled Promotion, Personal Paint, Gimp, Protracker, Renoise, and Octamed 4. So if you're looking forward to this new Castlevania-inspired castle side-scroller, put Doomed Castle on your wishlist. 

GOTHICVANIA

From Castle, we go to Vania. We're getting yet another side-scroller in the same action-horror vein. Thanks to Earok's Scorpion engine, we have a badass-looking Castlevania-inspired demo for GothicVania. Since it's just a demo, there isn't much information. That said, it's a very nice triple parallax tech demo that might become a full game. Fingers crossed.

GothicVania is a passion project created by Toolkitman as a first attempt using Erik's Scorpion Engine, an engine that's been around for a while and has shown some really good results. Given it's a constantly updated piece of software that gives developers the tools to create graphically impressive games. You can expect the development to go smoothly, and we could see a full GothicVania release.

CASTLEVANIA AGA

Of course, again, we can only hope. And speaking of hope, we have one last Castlevania-related news bit that shows much more promise for those who've been waiting ever so patiently. Do you guys remember Castlevania AGA?

Well, you'd be quite pleased and hyped to know it's coming much sooner than you think. Once again, for the Amiga and once again using the awesome Scorpion engine. Dante Retro Dev is looking to bring this version of Castlevania to Life as soon as possible. 

This brand-new tech demo shows a bit more than before. With some of the secrets and hidden items such as bags, food, and other items being revealed when some tiles are hit. You can't deny that aside from killing creatures of the night, those little mechanics were part of what made Castlevania so cool to play. Castlevania AGA aims to be a playable and pure version of the original Castlevania but with an Amiga flavor.

Unlike the more modern ports, this looked to be a more practical rendition of how OG Castlevania would look in 16-bit or 32-bit. While we're in modern times, we can't forget the retro feel. And if that retro feel is what your heart truly desires, then you better keep your eyes peeled for this one. 

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We're capping off the month with some epic action pack reveals involving a few classics we know you've heard of! While the idea of a sequel does cross everyone's mind in the retro gaming sphere, getting a dedicated port, a remake, or even a fan re-imagining is great news. And this week, that's exactly what we got. All three, more or less, you'll see!

GRIND

Going straight to the Amiga, we're getting a fan-made retro creation. This time, we're getting another Doom-like from  John Tsakiris, who aims to bring that same gritty, ultraviolet experience to one of the best retro consoles out there. 

Grind is a Doom-like that draws much inspiration from steampunk and Lovecraftian themes, as well as the classic game Chaos Engine. It's safe to say there's gonna be a lot of supernatural ass-kickings, just like the old game but with a different flavor. So far,  John Tsakiris has been hard at work making sure the game has all the necessary features to bring all the brutality that grind demands. This includes the game's interface, weapons, terrifying enemies, and more.

If your idea of a good time involves portraying a hardened bloodthirsty brute past his prime, who just wants to rid the world of evil, and on the weekend, then you might wanna get on that Grind.

SONIC GX

Now let's look at a new fast-paced port to the Amstrad GX 4000 and Amstrad Plus. When we say fast-paced, we mean really fast. Sonic the Hedgehog was a staple in both the Sega Mega Drive and Sega Master system that featured a blue speed demon that could spin, run, jump and roll around various stages collecting gold rings. It sounds simple enough, but veterans know that wasn't the case. 

Well, the ones who remember and those who are curious can experience that speed in the modern 2020s. Thanks to Sonic GX, the development team of NoRecess are looking to recreate the classic Sonic experience on the new Amstrad consoles, and it's been a work in progress since 2019. Info says the game will feature full-screen gameplay at a full frame rate with approximately 52 colors on screen and a special stage.

All this is set to come out in 2024, so yes, if you have a GX 4000 or Plus, it's about time to go fast yet again with Sonic GX. 

PRINCE OF PERSIA

Lastly, we've caught wind that the all-time classic platformer Prince of Persia may be getting a ColecoVision and MSX port, all thanks to Under4Mhz. There's no info on whether this will be a fully featured experience or just a piece of a bigger puzzle, but the mere idea of such a classic game getting a conversion for more popular retro console nowadays is great news Indeed.

Currently, we have a simple technical demo of the first level of Prince of Persia that runs on the ColecoVision, MSX and SG 1000 consoles. It's worth noting that these consoles never got a port of the title, so the aim was to see if it was possible to implement the game for these platformers and to see if there is any interest in it. That's pretty much of a no-brainer at this point, as the game is well beloved until today.

The demo is bare as can be and doesn't even have any enemies. So you can tell this was Under4Mhz, just testing the waters. Hopefully, more people show interest so this new port could finally get off the ground, and we can all join the Prince on yet another classic journey. 

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June is in full bloom, ladies and gentlemen, and since everything’s in full swing, the retro games keep coming. Of course, this means everyone can get a good helping of quality old-school games that never fail to bring fun, action or otherwise. Whether it’s a port of a classic or something brand new, best believe we got the scoop. So kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

THE TELWYNIUM

If you’re a fan of eighties and nineties epic adventure games like Kings Quest, then you’ll be happy to know that a new Sierra-style game is coming out and looks pretty good. The Telwynium book one, book two, and book three by Powerhoof look to bring the same classic Sierra-style adventure that everyone enjoyed in the nineties.

The Telwynium Book one

The game sees you as the hero, and your party of four, escaped the horrors of the shadow fell, fighting your way to safety. So far, there’s only information on book one, but since this trilogy will likely be rolled out quickly, you can expect more news to drop. Feedback on the game has been positive, especially in the visual design and story departments.

The Telwynium book two

It’s a nostalgia trip that takes you on an exciting, plot-driven journey where every decision can alter your story. If you’re an old-school Kings Quest or Quest of Lori veteran, then Telwynium looks like the next logical step.

The Telwynium book three

HAMULET

There have been a lot, and I mean a whole plethora, of brand spank and new games coming out in the past few months, and June is no different. One of these new upcoming games comes in the form of an impressive-looking demo of Hamulet by Remy Veilleux for the Amiga.

While there isn’t any definite news on when the game will come out, the demo looks pretty good. The top-down dungeon crawler elements, paired with some intense action, look a lot of fun in terms of art style and sound design, you get a nice, cutesy feel from it all, and we’re pretty sure there’s more in store for everyone as the game nears completion. So if you’re thinking retro Stardew Valley, but with more action about as much whimsy and lots of puzzles, then Hamlet might be worth the wait.

MARIO BROS G&W

Do you remember the Game and Watch an absolute classic? Do you remember Mario Bros for the game and watch from 1983? Well, just about 40 years later, we’re getting a demake for the ZX spectrum, and it’s every bit as cool as it is, old-school. Now, this should be a straight-up blast from the past from any G&W fans, but for anyone unfamiliar, this might not be the Mario you’ve come to know and love.

Instead of the usual friendly plumbers, Mario and Luigi work at a bottling plant, prepping packages to load into a truck, and instead of a side-scrolling adventure, it’s a challenging relay of platforming as you make sure those bottles make their way up a few floors and into the truck. Funny enough, this version came out in March of 1983, 3 months before Mario rose for the Arcade.

Now this makes the very first appearance of Luigi and also, in the retro gaming world, his latest. If you have a ZX spectrum lying around and want to relive good old game and watch days, check this one out.

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We're halfway through June, but not even halfway done with the games that have been coming out as of late. Now, it's no secret that action has always been the theme, and we do our best to spice things up with titles that add a bit more to the genre, a bit more adventure, sci-fi, and sometimes more horror. So if you are ready for our weekly ride, make sure to buckle up.

CHOPPER DUEL

First up, we have a two-player game for the Amiga that takes the action to the skies. Our good friend, Izero79 just dropped a DOS to the Commodore Amiga port for the classic game Chopper Duel. This title was originally released for DOS way back in 1993 by Addict and as an early multiplayer game. So best believe it was a lot of fun.

After 30 years, we can finally say there's an Amiga port for good old Chopper Duel. As one would expect it runs smoothly and should work with all Amigas with 512kb RAM or more. It's also worth noting that Chopper Duel was ridden with ASM and has also been tested with various other Amiga consoles, so you don't have to worry about any helicopter crashes anytime soon.

The game features 50 stunning battlefields, 32 color graphics, and, more importantly, joystick and keyboard controls. If you want some old-school aerial action, then check out the Amiga Port of Chopper Duel. 

SKINVADERS

Let's move on to yet another Amiga title that adds a bit more of a twist to the gameplay of a classic we're all familiar with. If you got a hold of 1978 Space Invaders when it first came out, well, hats off to you old timer. Now you get a chance to take that nostalgia trip but with a few modern changes. From the arcades to the Atari 2600, it's making its way to your Amiga as Skinvaders and so far, it looks promising. In terms of gameplay, which you get is identical to the original.

The goal is not only to survive a barrage of projectiles but also to destroy wave after wave of flying enemies. The difference here is there's a bit more color and fresh new sprites. Electric Black Sheep is in charge of development and hard at work. Hopefully, we'll be able to see how skin invaders look soon enough.

We got an action pack sides cooler for the MSX1. Well not as old as the last two. This is still definitely a Nike classic. Turrican has been mentioned through the years on a multitude of consoles, and it's finally coming to life on the MSX1. Thanks to TheGeps. 

The game first came out in 1990 by Rainbow Arts, programmed by Manfred Trenz. It was a gorgeous game, especially for its time, especially with its incredible soundtrack by Chris Huelsbeck. You get intense side-scrolling, shooting action, badass weapons and smooth intuitive gameplay that still holds up today. 

As development continues, TheGeps team added a few things with much effort. Like updates to level music, a new main sprite, collectable gems, a scoreboard panel, and a few changes to player movements. It's safe to say that this updated Turrican for the MSX1 is definitely something to get hyped for. 

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