
Retro Awesomeness Galore by Jarrett Williams
So I came across this game at Best Buy and took a risk and picked it up. I had heard a bit of noise about it several months ago but not enough to warrant purchasing it then. Well, after playing this bad boy of a cartridge for several days now I must be frank, it satisfies the retro gamer in me in every way.
No joke, the amount of variety in this package, and how it all ties together, makes for a great gaming on- the- go experience. It’s simplicity is its’ genius. You have been thrown back in time to the 80’s by the evil game lord Arino. The only way you can escape is by beating his epic game challenges based on all the games you loved from back in the day. Shooters, pixelated RPG’s, they’re all present here. The story is a little cheesy, but then again the plot of many games from this period were as well. That’s part of the charm. Playing this game is like dusting of your NES for a day of videogaming with your childhood friends. Go ahead and play this in your long john pj’s and you’ve got an authentic retro experience.
Retro Game Challenge features super easy controls, great sounds, and contains more than enough replay value. As easy as it would’ve been to make the game just another mini-game collection, the developers definitely went all out, and you can tell they genuinely had a blast making this game. The inclusion of challenges, true to the time period magazine reviews, and cheat codes make this is a great effort. If you don’t have it and are a fan of the 80’s gaming scene, you’re truly missing out. A sequel exists but probably won’t come over without more fan support aka sales. But with a price point of around 30 bucks, you won’t regret picking up this gem of a game. Seriously, the DS needs more titles like this one.
Controls: 5 out of 5 -too simple to get confused. Perfect for the DS.
Sound: 4 out of 5- again, the simple beeps and such are tribute to a bi-gone era.
Gameplay: 5 out of 5- Well executed and a solid experience. It’s hard not to get absorbed in this world.
Appeal: 4 out of 5- Definitely made for a niche audience but I appreciate that. You will too if you like this sort of thing.
Fun Factor: 5 out of 5. All I want now is more. Give me a sequel X-Seed!
Replay Value: 5 out of 5. Seriously, Challenges give this game some serious replayage, that’s right kids, replayage. Say that word to your friends and watch them be amazed.
Final Word: You won’t regret picking this up, if anything you’ll hate yourself for having not purchased it earlier. I sure do.
read this: Retro Game Challenge 2 is out there but needs more support to get out!