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WEEKLY DOSE OF GAMING NEWS: Aqua Ippan, Forest of Illusion, and Mega Man: The Sequel Wars

Posted by Write Meow · 5월 30, 2023

It's that time again, as we're wrapping up the month of May with some sweet retro titles. Now we always make sure to keep things just a teensy bit action-packed for everyone while making sure not to go overboard. So life really is all about balance.

Speaking of balance, the three games we got on today's chopping block have equal amounts of action, adventure, and pure nostalgia for everybody. If you were a gamer in the eighties, nineties, or even the ancient days of the two thousand, we're sure you'll get these references. So sit tight for this blast from the past!

AQUA IPPAN

If you love heavy machine guns, laser guns, rocket launchers, and rescuing bearded guys from aliens, then you might be hyped for this homage by Division 六. Aqua Ippan is their love letter to everyone who's ever played or becomes a fan of the legendary Metal Slug franchise. It's side-scrolling, guns-blazing action with all the intensity and explosiveness you've come to know and love.

While it does come in a different art style, the overall aesthetic is just pure ‘90s fun. There's humour, a bit of gore, and all the fun you can get from games like this. Categorized as a shoot 'em up platformer, Aqua Ippan is currently in development and is geared to be a two-player title.

Pretty sure it'll be exciting to see how things pan out. So if you enjoy true arcade classics that pay homage to the Metal Slug with a sleek arm style, detailed animations and jazz fusion music, then it's best to keep your eyes peeled for Aqua Ippan.

FOREST OF ILLUSION

Now for something magical on the Commodore 64 that'll take you back even farther than your usual retro trip. If you played Castle of Illusion, World of Illusion, or Mickey Mania back in the day, then you are gonna be hyped for what Domkid is cooking. Yes, the same DomKid that's working on Castlevania: Maria Renard's Revenge.

Forest of Illusion is a new title courtesy of the Scorpion Engine inspired by the aforementioned Mickey Mouse series. It has a few modern improvements, and things are looking good so far. It's in very early development, so there's not much to show, but there's a bit of info about going around.

Once it does come out, you can expect amazing graphics, parallax backgrounds, cute animations, and multiple enemy types. If you were a Mickey Mouse fan on the Sega Mega Drive, then Forest of Illusion is something to look out for.

MEGA MAN: THE SEQUEL WARS

Last but not least, we're getting a nice remake and tribute to everyone's favorite Blue Bomber. Yes, boys and girls. I'm talking about Mega Man. After crashing into the scene in 1987 for The NES, we've seen a long list of sequels and fan-made games, all of which are great. Mega Man: The Sequel Wars for the Sega Mega Drive aims to continue with the good old tradition, with polished retro visuals and fantastic modern gameplay.

While still in development, what we know so far is this is a homebrew remake of Mega Man 4, 5, and 6 influenced by the officially released Mega Man: The Wily Wars. The goal is a faithful recreation of the classics but with 16 bits and a brand-new soundtrack. So far, we have episode red, a full remake of the Mega Man 4 that features all of the original game content but with a few new features to keep things fresh for modern expectations.

Also, Protoman and Roll are joining in the fun too, so what's not to like? Since we're looking at a trilogy, we'll follow up with everyone once we get more info on the last two. Until then, go and check out Mega Man: The Sequel Wars episode Red on itch.io and show Woodfrog some love.

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WEEKLY DOSE OF GAMING NEWS: Space Cavern Blaster, The Last Defender, Sword and Sorcerer

Posted by Write Meow · 5월 18, 2023

Another week, another set of badass retro games to satisfy your action-packed cravings. It’s like a routine we have here. Going hard or going home when it comes to anything that gets your blood pumping. Best believe no one’s going home just yet.

On today’s news desk, we’re showing the many versions of the Commodore some love, all in the form of epic fantasy, space-age technology, and something in between. Just because it’s old-school gaming doesn’t mean the concepts have to be. It’s all about striking that balance like we always do.

SPACE CAVERN BLASTER

First, we got a potential title for the Amiga 500, Atari SD, C64, Dos, and Sega Mega Drive. Yes, that’s a lot of consoles. Now the game in question is the latest tech demo of Space Cavern Blaster by Dotmos, and it’s pretty badass. The tech demo was an entry for Retro Platform Jam number six and has all the bells and whistles you can ask for in a gritty space-themed platformer.

While it’s still basically a tech demo, we’re looking at some promising mechanics and a nice Chiptune soundtrack to boot. There are plenty of colors to go around in spite of it taking place in space cavern, and that kind of contrast is always nice to see.

The plans for cross-platforming are still underway, and Dotmos is still working on a few bugs, like some music bugs. No sound effects on the C64 and other audio-related glitches one could come across. Still, it’s definitely an action platformer to look out for, especially if you’re into some sci-fi. But enjoy staying on earth like deep inside the Earth.

THE LAST DEFENDER

Now, a little something for the Commodore 64 that involves saving the world just the way you like it. LC Games is bringing out The Last Defender, a game where you not only need to blast away a hostile alien race with a laser rifle but you can also get blasted just as easily. As the player, you’re out to defend what remains of humanity while also keeping an eye on your energy supply. To stay alive, you’ll be avoiding everything from missiles and minds to shots from enemies looking to take you down. Not so easy to shoot everything when you’re the one getting targeted by, well, everything.

While there aren’t too many details about The Last Defender, we do get a bit of plot. Set in the distant year 2073, humanity’s last resistance is on the verge of collapse while in combat with a vastly superior alien force. You assume the rule of Earth’s last great hero tasked with destroying the invaders and saving the human race with a badass laser rifle.

Of course, you have to stay alive first. We’re always on the lookout for badass action games where we save the world before dinnertime, and The Last Defender might just be another adventure to help us live up to that fantasy.

SWORD AND SORCERER

Now let’s take a look at a brand new game for the Commodore Amiga. Think Legend of Zelda meets Dynasty Warriors, but it’s in the eighties. If this sounds like music to your ears, then maybe Sword and Sorcerer, a new Zelda-like by Pixelplop might just tickle your fancy. While it’s a Zelda like it has its own charm.

Instead of sprawling interconnected maps, we get a smaller action-packed stage where we swing our sword and blast a few dozen enemies with magic. Yes, I did say a few dozen because the game won’t wait for you to take a breather. The game is still in its early stages, so we’re bound to get new arenas where we can continue being badasses who like to bring the action.

So far, the number of enemies and verticality of the gameplay makes for an interesting time, no matter how chaotic it can get. We’ll be keeping our eyes on Sword and Sorcerer, so if you’re just as interested as we are, make sure to stay tuned.

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WEEKLY DOSE OF GAMING NEWS: Wrong Way Back, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Duck Hunt

Posted by Write Meow · 12월 13, 2022

We've got another round of titles comin' at you and there's no better way for all the good boys and girls to celebrate the holidays than with some good retro gaming Just like the items under anyone's decked-out holiday decorations, it's all about variety. From beat-em-ups to straight-up old-school horror, we got you covered as always. Sit back, grab some hot cocoa, and boot up the trusty old console as we add a few more toys to that wishlist of yours.

Wrong Way Back by Locked Door Puzzle

Yes, we know it's already December, but horror and suspense are timeless-at least for some people. If that's the kind of vibe that tickles your fancy, then make sure to check out the latest Amiga CD32 release of Wrong Way Back by Locked Door Puzzle. A brand new game brings out the best "retro escape room" feels you can ask for.

It's all about a woman trapped in a strange room, and it's up to you to help her find the way out. No pressure, right? The game was developed using AMOS Professional and was an experiment in Amiga CD32 development. So, you'll need an actual CD to play it on a machine or have it emulated. You'll also need a gamepad with 2 buttons if you have a standard Amiga. While that may be the right way to play Wrong Way Back, it's worth checking out if your holiday season is beginning to look a lot like Halloween.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Nothing like spending the holidays with a bit of green-the badass kind. It's another beat 'em up update for none other than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The absolute classic is coming to the Sega Master System as a port of the original arcade version of TMNT.

However, as of now it's still a work in progress, and whatever you see online will be part of the game's early version, it uses Devkit SMS, and a variety of other tools to guarantee that we can get that familiar, satisfying, and classic beat em' up experience that we all know and love. While we won't be screaming Turtle Power anytime this month, it's good enough of a present just to know that we have something to look forward to in 2023

Duck Hunt by Manha Manha

Last but not least, a classic that either brought you satisfaction or total frustration. So if you’ve been lucky enough to own a NES or Famicom and a light gun, Then we’re happy to report that Mahna Mahna just dropped the perfect nostalgia classic for you. The classic NES Game Duck Hunt is now on the Commodore 64. The game made its surprising return at the Transmission 64 third edition event this year, and everyone's been. Fast forward to today. You can now download it, enjoy it, and maybe even rage quickly when the dog laughs at you for missing some easy shots.

No light gun, no problem. This game version has both gun and mouse support, so you don't have to worry just in case you left that plastic firearm back in your childhood. So if you don't feel like you're spending your downtime just sitting around and maybe wanna practice those old-school shooting skills, then pick up duck hunt for the holidays.

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WEEKLY DOSE OF GAMING NEWS: Submarine Warfare, Tiny Deathmatch, and Castle Escape

Posted by Write Meow · 11월 15, 2022

Whether multiplayer or solo 2D platformers, the retro sidescroller will always be a classic. Now, we've covered our fair share of titles in the genre, but it's always nice when a few good games align, like the planets, and not like the blood moon that we all saw recently. Halloween is done, people. We're all looking forward to Mariah Carey coming back. So, as we wait, let's take a look at a few retro games that could both pass and kill time.

The Commodore64 has some nice new homebrew, thanks to Mirazulado. Submarine Warfare is an arcade game that has you piloting a submarine to destroy everything up top. Kind of like that game that involves a world full of ships used for war. Yeah, that one.

This game feature lots of levels to play through, with the warships up above becoming stronger as you progress. There's also a level of realism as you got to keep an eye on your oxygen supply that starts to drop the longer it takes for you to complete each mission. It's pretty intense and a bit of fun if you're up for the challenge. So if you’re looking for a game that literally blows everything else out of the water, make sure to check out Submarine Warfare!

Something new for everyone! Tiny Deathmatch just dropped its latest downloadable release for the Amstrad CPC, and it's all thanks to Francesc Alcaucer. It's a brand new game where you either fight against other players or the CPU in a multiplayer deathmatch game programmed by Locomotive Basic. It's a four-player game that's apparently inspired by a game called Gorillas, a turn-based artillery game first distributed with MS-DOS 5 and published in 1991 by Microsoft.

It's the perfect retro game for anyone who's gotten tired of going solo and wants to try a bit of old-timey PVP. A very refreshing concept that gamers often leave by the wayside. It doesn't always have to triple-A fragging. You can always assert your dominance in a classic "Tiny Deathmatch" manner

The ZX Spectrum welcomes a new title to their lineup, Castle Escape, by IrataHack has you playing as a Wee Knight, a struggling warrior who's cursed by the weight of his armor.

You make your escape from a haunted Castle, and progress by collecting lots of loot and avoiding dangerous enemies. Yes, this ain't your usual hack-and-slash. It's a challenge of managing your weight and surviving at the same time. Fall damage is a thing, so tread carefully Purple Eggs are the solution to most of your problems, giving you a quick anti-gravity boost to counter your massive weight, in tum, you prolong your life by collecting the hearts so you don't die instantly when you crash to the ground.

This version for the ZX Spectrum Next includes a few enhancements, like better color attributes, more colorful sprites, more sprite animation frames, and of course, more bad guys. It's a good thing, trust me if you're looking for a game that puts the action in the backseat for a while, and puts your platforming skills to the test, then Castle Escape just might be the game for you!

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