Gaming News

As serious as a heart attack, we have the freshest news regarding retro gaming to satisfy those retrogaming needs. And speaking of blood pressure, we intend to bring action and adventure to your console of choice, regardless of the genre. So sit tight and kick off with some hot and tasty games.

BREAKTHRU by AcidBottle

If you’re into Amiga titles poured straight from the arcade machine, like Flying Shark, Green Beret, and Wonderboy, then we have news for you. AcidBottle is now working on the arcade to Amiga game of Breakthru, an Action-packed 1986 side-scrolling shooter by DataEast. The premise is simple. Drive through enemy territory and rescue your PK 430 aircraft. Easy peasy.

Well, it may not be as bombastic as most titles. It’s an easy score-attack shooter that’s a lot of fun. So far, the game has a few bugs to work out, game mechanics to refine, and a few more things to work out to make sure the port comes out nicely. Still, there is lots of work to be done, but at least progress has been swift for now.

Players can expect many bullets and explosions to go around once the game gets released. So if you’re into big machines with a minimalist yet badass aesthetic, keep your eyes peeled for Breakthru.

LA CULOTTE DE ZELDA by Zisquier

We’ve had our fair share of Zelda Re-releases, clones, and modern reimagining. This time it looks like we have yet another, but with a slight twist, at least by name. This version could be a welcome addition to any Amstrad Plus collection.

La Culotte de Zelda is brought to us by the capable hands of Zisquire with graphics by BDCIron. So while the name may be in a different language, this title looks like a faithful adaptation of the OG Legends of Zelda, which came out on the NES. But based on the current info, it also seems to reference A Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening. Currently, the game is a work in progress at version 3.2 in the past six months.

La Cullote de Zelda not only features graphics made by BDCIron with a wider spectrum of color but also smooth and fast animations with smooth gameplay. With atmospheric sound design and a soundtrack from the classic game, we can look forward to a nice modern version with a name that’s more open for interpretation for the more linguistically inclined. Muy Bien!

DOUBLE DRAGON

Time for an absolute arcade classic that might not be as popular as before but always brings us back to the good old butt-kicking days once it’s mentioned. We’re talking about the 1987 Classic Double Dragon.

If you played it back in the day, especially on the ZX spectrum, you’d be stoked to know that it’s currently available for download as Double Dragon 128K. A 2023 edition with a few tweaks made specifically for the Amstrad CPC, MSX, and C64. There have been a few earlier conversions in ports of this game, but this version has a few more perks, like an intro screen with instructions and scrolling text trader options, AY music from Amstrad CPC and MSX, plus converted music from the C64.

This version also includes an epilogue and game over screen, so you’re guaranteed a more complete experience this time around. Sweet. So if you have your trustees ZX spectrum and want to live an absolute action-packed classic, then make sure to check out a Double Dragon 128K.

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We tone things down a little as you wrap up things this month and start April. Well, we won't be featuring anything too explosive. We're still looking at some pretty dynamic retro games that'll keep you wanting more. And no, we're not slowing things down, don't worry. From Rogue Light to Platformer to Tech Space Adventure, we're covering all our bases this week, so sit tight.

PLANET B

We got the four in one, and anyone looking forward to anything coming out on the Sega Mega Drive. The game Planet B is a 16-bit Roguelike RPG that offers just what any fan would expect, a unique run every time. Fabrice Fernandez, Hieu-Khai Bui-Quang, and Emmanuel Rousseau are leading in developing this title, and things are looking great with randomly generated content; players can explore dungeons, collect items, and go through a story with a different experience every time. Just like any good roguelike.

Currently, there isn't much info on planet B, but given the love for the genre, you can best believe we'll be following up.

CRACKY

Now it's time to look at a new game for the Amstrad C64, Plus4 and ZX Spectrum. Yeah, that's a lot of consoles, but we're looking at an intriguing game. Cracky is an arcade platformer where you collect all the stars while avoiding deadly baddies and other dangers you'll definitely come across. Cracky is a new title with an old-schooled book and feel. Written by a Japanese developer Infuto who habitually releases games on many eight-bit platforms. This one is his 13th release, and we can expect many more by the look of things.

The game objective is simple, clear each level by collecting all the stars without getting killed. As for the reason why it's called Cracky. While some parts on the game's floor literally crack when you walk over, creating holes in the platforms. To make things even more challenging, there's no jumping. So on most levels, you must use the cracks to your advantage or fall from the stars. So if you're in the market for a non-jumper platformer with a quirky twist, then it's time to get Cracky. 

GNOME RANGER & TIME AND MAGIK

Now for an adventure in text, retro style. Developer Csabo, together with Pigmy are doing old-school fans of the genre, a solid by reporting the classic text space adventure games of Gnome Ranger and Time and Magik over to the Commodore Plus4.

For those unfamiliar, Gnome Ranger is a text adventure game designed by Peter Austin and released by Level 9 in 1987, many, many moons ago. A year later, we got a sequel entitled Ingrid's Back, which further explores the series. As for Time in Magik, you got a trilogy of interactive fiction games by the same studio.

Level Nine first released the individual games separately from 1983 to 1986. The trilogy came out in 1988, with all three games revised, expanded, and rereleased together as a compilation by Mandarin Software. When it comes to text Adventures, Level 9 of the Gnome Ranger franchise, we're among the first to popularize the genre. It's nice to see the same games getting more love in 2023. Once the Commodore Plus Port comes out, we'll make sure to let you know. 

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Midway through March, we're looking at yet another action-packed lineup of both retro classics brought back to life and brand-new titles with a more vintage feel. The variety of titles keeps growing, and we're all here for it, whether it be a street fight, a smart dragon, or a sci-fi horror. It looks like we've got you covered this week. 

3D engine for Amiga

Now if you're a fan of all the nineties PlayStation Classics and just so happen to have a Commodore Amiga 1200, then we have some very good news! A tech demo for Spyro The Dragon by Rst7 looks pretty good regarding awesome blasts from the past. So far, there's been a lot of positive feedback from those who've seen the engine, and this version of Spyro looks huge in the Amiga scene.

According to the Creator, it uses a simple 3D engine that takes advantage of the 1200 stock configuration inspired by dread, and it uses high-res ham six to produce 64 colors with two bits per RGB, which is cool. As of now, with still a work in progress. But given how the community's been reacting, it looks like we have yet another modernized classic in the form of good old Spyro.

Hibernaculum

Dungeon crawlers that are timeless., and many modern games, especially on mobile, take a chunk of inspiration from this classic genre. This time we're looking at a new title that uses the old dungeon crawler mechanic and incorporates an old retro first-person grid perspective. We're talking about the sci-fi horror of Hibernaculum. According to developer WormWood Studios, Hibernaculum was initially inspired by pre-1990s science fiction novels.

The idea behind the game is to revisit the dungeon-crawling experience of Eye of the Beholder and Lands of Lore while incorporating the survival horror elements of System Shock and Resident Evil. The main game features detailed character creation, leading players to explore the Hibernaculum with a unique, non-linear gameplay experience.

You can play at your own pace through environmental storytelling and a dark brooding atmosphere as we all did in the eighties and nineties. The game is currently being developed in C++ for PC, Mac, and Linux, with immediate plans for porting to Steam Deck, iOS, and Nintendo Switch. As for when, well, we'll keep our eyes peeled, so if you're into some classic in-your-face horror, it's best to look out for Hibernaculum when it drops. 

SNK vs Capcom

Lastly, we have neither report nor a brand-new title. Considered both a remake and an homage to a fighting game classic. C64 gamers can rejoice as Jon Eggelton and Gianluca Alberico just dropped an ALPHA version of their much-awaited C54, a version of SNK vs Capcom, known as Retro Fighter.

It's been a while since retro fighters have been in development, so it's nice the new 64 versus fighting engine enters the early stages of testing. With new features implemented, like a new UI and color selection for each player, we're even treated to some intro sequences before every battle, just how it should be.

We also have flaming hits, projectiles, special moves, and different battle arenas to choose from. The game also includes music for all the stages, improve game mechanics such as guard breakers and reversal moves, and complete character storylines from intermissions and ending animations. Now, this is definitely a classic feeling fighting game worth looking out for, especially if you're a longtime fan. So whether you're an old timer or an old soul in the fighting game community, then it's best to follow Retro Fighters progress. 

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We’re always out for an adventure, especially the old-school kind. We love a good story. We enjoy a bit of action, and now and then, we like to be challenged by a few puzzles. In that department, nothing beats the classic feeling you get from the 80s' and 90s', and luckily we got a couple of games that fit the bill to a T, so let’s check ’em out.

TOWER OF DAMNATION

Checking back into the MSXDev competition, we got the news in a downloadable version of Tower of Damnation, A challenging Platformer by Marcelo “BigFive” Correia. The game has you exploring several levels as you rescue hostages and kick some criminal. Sounds like my idea of a fun weekend. It’s a pretty straightforward game, downloadable and playable on the MSX1.

That being said, BigFive added a bit of a twist to the game’s mechanics. In this platformer, enemies can disappear for good, like forever. However, these pesky enemies are powered by AI and can provide quite a challenge. Long story short, they won’t go down so easy. Tower of Damnation offers a lot of excitement, giving players the chance to run and jump around, fight some bad guys, and eventually save the day. All for the sake of fun. And if this sounds good to you, then the tower, you must go.

BUBBLE QUEST

Now if you’re in the market for a pretty looking good feeling game for the Amstrad Plus and GX4000, then you might wanna check out Praline Software’s upcoming title of Bubble Quest. It’s a game feast for the eyes and the gamer’s brain. It plays simply enough. Having you guide as a bubble around a maze as you avoid getting popped by just about everything. Make no mistake, though, as this game is picturesque.

From the full-length animated intro to the skillfully crafted maps, getting distracted will be easy. Lucky for us, the game is nearing its completion, and we will all be able to enjoy this beauty. Praline Software is gunning for a physical edition that’ll fit into a cartridge but with much greater capacity. Besides that, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for more. If all goes well, they’re looking at a 2023 release. Sounds good. And hey, it looks even better.

HAUNTED LANDS: BURIAL GROUNDS

We’re moving into more action territory with Alevgor’s Action Platformer, Haunted Lands: Burial Grounds. At first glance, it may seem like a simple PC homage to classic action-packed DOS games, but you’ll soon realize how it cranks up the action and gore just a teensy bit more.

The mission is clear. Survive the night as demons and ghouls try to rip off your face. Thankfully, you won’t be alone. You have the most trustworthy partner around. A powerful shotgun haunted grounds hit the ground running as you blast into the night. Currently, the game features 2 difficulty modes, 4 playable characters, and multiple levels swarming with supernatural horrors, all lining up perfectly with your iron sights.

All this, coupled with a kick-ass soundtrack created that sets the tone throughout the game, and you’ll have the time of your life as you fight for your life. From all the horror and action fans out there, lock and load because this might be your life's longest, most action-packed night.

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