Gaming News — Amiga

February is chock full of surprises, whether it be new retro games, updates on upcoming retro consoles, or some sweet modern ports for classics from the past. Best believe we've got you covered for all things retro. This time, we’re looking at a fan favorite finally coming back right on time. A modern handheld console with a few new bells and whistles. And lastly, a spiritual successor to a timeless franchise that keeps improving. Stick around. You’re in for a ride.

PHARAOH

First, we got classic city builder Pharaoh, making it surprising yet very welcome come back to the PC. This is all in line with its much-awaited remake Pharaoh: A New Era, brought to us by indie developers Triskell Interactive. Overall, we can’t expect a quality title from the people who brought us Lethis: Path of Progress and Lethis: Daring Discoveries, so get hyped.

The original game came out on PC way back in 1998. Developers’ Impressions Games collaborated with Publishers Sierra Studios to ensure that gamers back then had a solid title that encapsulated Egyptian themes with RTS action. It’s a great nostalgia trip for anyone looking to unwind and relive the simpler times of ancient Egypt.

Pharaoh: New Era was set for release in 2020, but we all know what happened back then. Thankfully, come February 15th, we’ll finally get that sweet title. If you want to check this out, it’s currently on pre-order for PC via Steam.

RETROID POCKET VERTICAL

Do you miss the Game Boy Color? Do you also wish it had a few more knobs and buttons? Well, it’s good that Go Retroid is working on a console that seems to fit that specific description. It’s almost like they were able to read your mind. Now the Retro Handheld Discord channel is always a buzz, and a certain user named Roland just dropped what looks to be some leaked images of the latest retro pocket, handheld, The Vertical. All things considered. Take this with a bit of hype and a huge grain of salt.

The Retro Pocket Vertical shares the same overall shape as a GBC, save for a few added features. Upfront, it’s nearly identical, with a start select buttons and DPad aligned similarly. The differences come in the form of additional action buttons, two conspicuous joysticks up front, and four triggers at the back to accommodate modern titles.

The design isn’t for everyone, but it’s an interesting concept, nonetheless. In addition to the modern GBC overhaul, we peeped a micro HDMI port one, an SD card slot, and two USB C. If this does turn out to be a legitimate go-retro console, then we’ll be seeing some interesting reviews on the horizon. Until then, keep those classic Game Boy colors handy.

MARIA RENARD'S REVENGE

Last but not least, for taking a trip into some vampire-slain territory. We’re getting a scorpion engine-powered Castlevania game for the Amiga, and it follows a younger Maria Renard who made her much Adultier appearance in Symphony of the Night.

The fan-made titled Maria Renard’s Revenge just dropped some sweet new gameplay recently, and it’s something worth getting hyped about, given how much of a classic Castlevania Symphony of the Night was.

The game is still in its early stages, so we’ve still yet to have a release date. We’re looking for charming graphics, a lovely soundtrack, smooth scrolling, multiple parallax layers, and different detailed areas that tug on our nostalgic heartstrings. The same way Simon, Trevor, and Ricktor did with a massive vampire-killing whip. The Beta is out now and runs on the Amiga 1200 with Fast Ram and the A500 Mini.

Check the video here:

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If you've been a follower of our Retro News series, you know we do our best to find the most action-packed, riveting, and awe-inspiring classic titles this side of the retro-sphere. 

This week, of course, is no different. It's how we run things, after all. So, we've got three games that'll pique the interest of possibly any gamer who enjoys a quicker pace in their gameplay. They’re not all run-and-gun, but you won’t sit still for hours. And it’s about time we checked ’em out!

CAIM

Speaking of classics, good ol' Haplo just dropped a sweet Commodore64 port for the brand new game, 'Caim- a top-down action-adventure title that's available to download right now. We get a top-down action-adventure game tailor-made for the Commodore64 It features action, exploration, and puzzles with an intriguing story to boot.

As the main character, you take on the role of an unnamed amnesiac hero who wakes up in a strange place for reasons unknown. It's up to you to explore the facility, avoid danger and uncover the mystery behind your history. Good stuff!

As you learn more about the place, the world, and yourself, you get closer to putting together all the clues and reaching the exit. So, if you want to uncover these mysteries and have a good time while at it, Caim might be worth the time.

Super Bomberman 2 Remix

We're moving on to an explosive classic! Bomberman, or Dynablaster in Europe, is a game first released way back in 1983 by Hudson Soft, which was eventually published by industry juggernaut Konami. In terms of fun and gameplay, it was and still is an awesome title that can still be played on a variety of modern consoles right now.

That being said, it looks like we're getting something new in the Bomberman Universe as Super Bomberman 2 Remix, a remake of the original is coming to the ever-reliable ZX Spectrum 128k. According to Alexey Khaydukov, who’s in charge of the remake, development is nearing its conclusion with a few loose ends to clean up.

A few more things were implemented to keep things interesting but won't take away from the overall feeling of the classic. With music written by the notorious n1k-O and graphics completely redrawn by Joe Vondayl. It's no wonder people are hyped. Friends, rejoice. It looks like we can relive our collection childhood the best way we can, blowing things up just for funsies.

Agonman

Last but not least, we have an Amiga announcement featuring a much-awaited original game, Agonman by Pixorra Games, based on an older game named Agony, which was a clear inspiration. As players were put in the boots of Johnny, an absolute badass who's forced to battle dangerous monsters in a dangerous land, all to protect the earth and find his way home.

Pixorra Games tells us more. Confirming Agonman is a platform game that combines a variety of elements. Graphics, get some more modern touch alongside the gameplay. In terms of system requirements. Make sure you're packing a 68020 and 2MB RAM for the game. Of course, anything more than that would guarantee a better experience.

Agonman needs to find his way home. So if you're the kind of player who can help a man out best to download the game and save the world.

Check the video here:

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The wheels of the hype train stop for no one, especially for the retro gaming folk, as we're constantly treated to game, after game, after game. As you all know, we've been getting a number of remake hacks and brand-new titles in the past year, and it looks like 2023 is gonna be the same, if not a lot more exciting. So sit back, relax, and let's tear through a few titles that might tickle your fancy. 

THE LAST NINJA

Let's take a trip to 1987 where System 3 released one of the greatest action-adventure games ever to be made available for the C64, The Last Ninja. It was a great time for this title since it did make its way onto a variety of other consoles. But finally, in 2023, this legendary title is making its way to the Atari XL/XE. 

You follow the exploit of the Ninja Armakuni on his journey to the palace of the evil shogun, Kunitoki, to assassinate him, avenge his clan, and retrieve the sacred scrolls.

Very anime and very badass. The original game combined adventure, exploration, puzzle solving, and ninja-based combat. So in terms of mechanics, you can expect something familiar with a modern port. This version of Last Ninja is being created for the Atari XL/XE by Jakus Husak and will be a complete port of the BBC Micro version, which is good news all around. So if Slain Baddies from the Shadows is your kind of weekend getaway, then you just might be The Last Ninja.

CREEPING ME OUT HEX NIGHT

Mixel's upcoming Amiga platformer Creeping Me Out Hex Night is looking to be an absolute banger. It's a scorpion engine-created platformer that doesn't just feature complex levels, but it also delivers an intriguing story and a whole lot of action that one would expect from a game of the genre.

The game's creator has just released a new demo, which he says Features much better game performance, and now works smoothly on A1200s without the use of Fast Ram.

If you're interested, imagine a combination of Turrican, Castlevania, and a little bit of Addams family thrown into the mix.

You can expect a variety of playable characters, passwords, save game support, enhanced graphics, and a huge campaign with hours of gameplay, it's a nice, fun, challenging adventure that's worth your time. If you don't mind diving into the weird and quirky.

WIZARD OF WOR

If you're a fan of Pac-Man but aren't really fond of the cutesy roundish aesthetic, then this arcade classic just might pique your interest. The 1980s classic arcade game, Wizard of Wor was quite the hit back in the day and also appeared in other systems like the Atari 8-bit, Atari 2600, and 5200. Bally Astrocade, and of course the C64.

Right now we're looking to get its enhanced edition for the Commodore Plus/4, and it is looking pretty damn good. A lot of care was put into making sure that this release stays as faithful to the original as possible.

The game looks, plays, and sounds like a classic and features all the action-packed two-player monster shooting fund that most retro gaming veterans will remember. Hey, it's never too late to fall in love again, so why not with the Wizard of Wor?

Check the video here:

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New year, new you, and hey, new games! The retro side of gaming will always have a thick dummy treasure trove that offers a lot of titles for everyone's taste. And while 2022 gave us a great offering of platformers, brawlers, and shooters, this year is looking promising from the get-go.

As always, we're starting the year by hitting the ground running action at its finest, just the way you like it. If you were planning to start things slowly, you'll have to wait a bit because this week, we're kicking a lot of ass. Responsibly, of course.

SCORCH

Now, they say there's beauty in simplicity and that's pretty much true. The same applies to games that employ a bit of action. As simple as they come, this new Atari XL/XE release is looking to encourage players to use a bit of imagination while using heavy machinery. Scorch is a very nice Scorched Earth clone developed by Pirx with help from Pecusx and Miker. It isn't just a multiplayer game with up to 6 players, but a battle royale that uses the power of physics.

You wipe out your opponent by working out the correct trajectory of your Baby Missile and making sure it actually hits something. It's a game that requires a bit of strategy, and you'll definitely find yourself, well, SCORCHED, if you decide to run and gun.

GREEN BERET

It's about time we showed our high school science teachers some appreciation. Now, for some side-scrolling action! The game Rush 'n Attack or Green Beret (to avoid a bit of controversy) was an action arcade game released by Konami in 1985. Just like the time, it reflected the Cold War setting while showing a surprising amount of brutality--seeing the player use a knife or even a flamethrower to dispatch enemies.

It was an absolute classic for the arcade and 8-bit ports such as the Amstrad or C64. If you were a fan, you'll be happy to know that Dante Mendes just gave it an update that's perfect for the Amiga. This more modern version doesn't just feature a great rendition of the classic soundtrack, but it also has 2 selectable difficulty levels, minor improvements, and a whole lot more.

So if you wanna go back in time and make that Cold War a bit hotter, then it's time to get your green Beret on the actual soldier, not the hat. 

IMPOSSIBLE MISSION 3

Yes. Impossible Mission 3. I know what you're thinking and no, this has nothing to do with Tom Cruise. Well, maybe.

Regarded as one of the best games for multiple systems, the original Impossible Mission was released in 1984. Dennis Caswell developed and Epyx published. It's a tense platformer where it's a race against time to reassemble and decrypt the password to Atombender's control room, while also avoiding killer robots.

This much-awaited sequel will be available for the Commodore 64 and will likely come with all the nice modern improvements that gamers crave. 

It's also worth noting that this will be an officially licensed sequel through Icon64, and it'll be built completely from scratch, so definitely worth looking out for, especially if you're a fan of action-packed sleuthing retro style. 

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