It seems that, outside of a few very specific outlets, we retro game fans don't get nearly enough love. Sure, most modern franchises will occasionally throw us a bone or a little steaming nugget of fan service, but we're mostly left to our own outdated devices. This is why we should thank our lucky stars (yes, all of them) that companies like XSEED (who I respect for bringing over interesting B-Grade RPGs like Wild Arms 4 and Shadow Hearts: From the New World) recognize our need for attention and seek to remedy this problem with the release of games like Retro Game Challenge--which, if you couldn't tell from the title of this post, is out today. And I would like you to buy it. Please.
The interesting thing about Retro Game Challenge is that shows no guilt about tapping into the purest roots of nostalgia; through the framing device of the game, you're basically re-living a childhood narrative of electronic entertainment. Okay, it's a bit more Japanese than your childhood probably was, but RGC's goal is to capture the innocent wonder we used to feel about video games--which should be the same, regardless of culture. That being said, RGC doesn't just throw a bunch of extremely-playable genre homages in your face; all of the attendant culture is there, from instruction manuals to magazines to pure, unbridled child-hype. Our friends at the 1UP Retro Blog have been covering Retro Game Challenge in extreme detail, so instead of badgering you further with this post, I'm just going to point you in that direction if you still need to be properly hyped.
And just in case you forgot: BUY THIS GAME NOW BUY IT BUY IT
Related Links:
Trailer Review: Retro Game Master
Pole’s Big Adventure: Sega Rides the Retro Train, Takes Advantage of You
Don’t Call It Retro: Mega Man 9 and Design Resurrection