When Canadian developer Brian Provinciano decided to spoof “Grand Theft Auto” (Rockstar Games’ ode to unabashed criminality), he did it in the most retrotastic way possible.
“Retro City Rampage” is an 8-bit open-world adventure in the style of “GTA,” but packed with 80s gaming and pop culture references, like DuckTales, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, “Punch-Out!!” and “Super Mario Bros.” Imagine an arcade game with missions – and power-ups! And, of course, you play the bad guy, as detailed in the game description:
“THE PLAYER is out for a friendly frolic of CRIME CAPERS when suddenly ambushed by EVIL GOOD GUYS. They will stop at nothing to end his RAMPAGE OF DOOM threatening the citizens of Theftropolis City. Are YOU bad enough to defeat the EVIL GOOD GUYS?”
A demo of the game debuted at the PAX 2010 video game conference in September, where it won and was nominated for a number of awards, including Machinima’s Best Indie Title of the Show, and Destructoid’s Game of the Show.
“Retro City Rampage” will debut on Xbox Live Arcade in summer 2011, with a Wiiware version scheduled for fall 2011.
Now, a request for the sequel: an 8-bit retro “Red Dead Redemption,” please!
Tags: Retro City Rampage
Posted in GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
