Gaming News

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. 

Check the Weekly Gaming News video here:

Come play and talk with us on Discord and subscribe to our YouTube for more Retro Gaming News!

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. 

Check the Weekly Gaming News video here:

Come play and talk with us on Discord and subscribe to our YouTube for more Retro Gaming News!

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.

Check the Weekly Gaming News video here:

Come play and talk with us on Discord and subscribe to our YouTube for more Retro Gaming News!

We're blazing right through quarter one, and the games just keep on coming. We've covered our fair share of action-packed titles up to the point where the action was pretty much the name of the game.

Now we can't deny how much we love something a bit intense. Something challenging sprinkled with implied or explicit violence, you know what I'm talking about? Whether it's a side-scroller, action-adventure, or first-person shooter, best believe we'll talk about it no matter what console. So let's get to it. 

MIGHTY CASTLE ADVENTURE

We've been talking about a few Castlevania-inspired titles and even some that look to become full-blown spiritual successors. That said, we have another update for a game by yogtze, which looks to keep that running theme alive on the Amstrad CPC. Mighty Castle Adventure just might steal the show in a long line of Castle Crashing Metroidvanias.

It's nice that yogtze knows how huge the franchise has become, so coming up with something in the same vein is a win-win for everyone. We all love our Castlevania, and any game that comes close to capturing the same magic will be something we look forward to. Now this new Amstrad CPC title will hopefully be the next best thing for fans to look forward to.

So far, the gameplay looks pretty good for a side-scrolling action game, and we can only wait and see how things pan out for the Mighty Castle Adventure. 

(Short gameplay contains slight nudity)

GREY

The latest doom light game to take center stage is Grey. A new action-packed title being developed by Piotr Kozka set for release in the near future. While the game is still in early development, we're treated to some map exploration with some areas requiring a door key. As a player, you'll have access to a badass chain gun, lots of ammunition, and med packs to keep you topped up and on the hunt.

It does look like a title worth looking out for, especially if you like to let loose and pop a few shots into some evildoers. 

GELATINO 2

Last but not least, a quick shout out to the MSX community who've had a variety of games to play ever since and are now getting access to something more, well accessible. For those who remember the 2021 Sweet Arcade Game By Physical Dreams, you're in for a treat.

Gelatino 2 can now be played on your browser. Yes, it is indeed Alt Tab-le complete with all its colorful screens and challenging levels as you do your best to rescue 45 different bubbles across the entire game. And in case you're wondering, yes, it has all of the features that the physical edition had upon release.

Colorful graphics, sweet light effects, mysteries, secrets, a banging soundtrack, plus a variety of creature comforts to make sure you're having fun. Quite the deal, especially since all you need now is an internet browser. Something we all need nowadays. So next time you're at work or stressing over those spreadsheets, open up a new tab and taste some delicious Gelatino 2. 

Check the Weekly Gaming News video here:

Come play and talk with us on Discord and subscribe to our YouTube for more Retro Gaming News!