Gaming News — indie gaming
The Art of Game Crossovers: How Art Defines Expectations
WEEKLY DOSE OF GAMING NEWS: Chopper Duel, Skinvaders, Turrican
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.
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.
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.
TURRICANWe 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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WEEKLY DOSE OF GAMING NEWS: Pharaoh, Retroid, Maria Renard's Revenge
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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Kickstarter Pixel Art Round Up - Fables of Talumos and Medieval Shopkeeper Simulator
We're bringing everyone some sweet Kickstarter goodness for May!
FABLES OF TALUMOS
Now, the retro game ingenuity keeps getting better every month, and there's always a lot of action and excitement for everyone. The titles over on Kickstarter are no different. This time we're going full-on sword and board, medieval fantasy style, but it's not quite what you'd expect. Fables of Talumos is a top-down retro-style action-adventure game set in a unique fantasy world, complete with magic monsters and a whole lot of exploration.
Dan Beckerton takes inspiration from his experiences with the Zelda franchise, Warcraft III, and, surprise, surprise, Dark Souls. Talomus is a colorful place breathing with life, courtesy of its four distinct races. The Hetonians are your good old human race; the Skogen is a race of deer-like humanoids with a strong affinity for nature; the Forlorn is cursed dragon-born humanoids brought to life by evil sorcery, and the Fallen are the undead hordes that seek revenge on everything that breathes freaky. You'll follow the story of an adventurer named Oskar as he travels through the moonlight realm to save his wife from an ominous disaster.
Really cranking up the “follow your dreams” quote to the extreme now, are we? Fables of Talumos is definitely worth checking out if you're a diehard retro epic fantasy fanatic.
MEDIEVAL SHOPKEEPER SIMULATOR
Adventuring is nice, but there are safer ways to make a living in the old-timey days of yore. Breakfast Studios got you covered with Medieval Shopkeeper Simulator, and no joke, it's literally what the title says. It's all in first-person, and it's up to you to do all the medieval shopkeeping things like crafting, buying and selling, franchising your medieval shops, and dabbling in a little bit of magic. No medieval game would be complete without a bit of arcane now, wouldn't it?
The low-poly style adds a bit of charm to the game's world, and while you won't be venturing far and wide, you won't be stuck behind a shopkeep’s table either. There's a lot to do and very little time in the kingdom, and Medieval Shopkeeper Simulator looks to keep you busy if you're up to the challenge. So which medieval epic adventure do you choose? Go out and save the world? Or chill a bit and let the coin flow? Whatever path you take, just make sure you have fun on your journey!
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