There is no denying that for many people, video games provide a way to escape the pressure of their daily lives and enter the world that promises so much happiness, and so much challenge. The least controversial of 198X – known only as & # 39; The Kid & # 39; – there is something more than this; video games are a way of dealing with domestic problems and the pain of growing up in an uncharted world. She lives alone with her mother in a small house and is away from her classmates, spending most of her time looking out her bedroom window in this delightful suburban apartment – and when she doesn't, she is in the Arcade Room to pump money in the latest and greatest games of this fictional era.
This one on the basis of 198X, a game about celebrating the arcade season as it is about inventing the growing pains of undocumented youth. It covers things like ownership, broken homes and unfair love, but much of that conflict happens in the background as you blast your way through five completely different games set in five different genres.
First up Heartbeat, a game that was clearly inspired by Sega & # 39; s Poetry of the Rage series (the character's stall has the same location as Axel in the third Poetry of the Rage opt out). This side-effect combat serves as a game introduction and gives the player a basic set of moves – you can bomb, jump planes, face enemy throws, and there are special kicks (made by pressing attacks and jumping at the same time) that are useful for crowd control. You can also take weapons and eat food to make your life better. Like most of the 198X games, Beating Heart is not accepting its approval and before long, you enter the following article, Without Void.
It is influenced by games like Irem Type-Rs and that of Konami Axelay ((especially the final stage version), this horizontal shooter has some of the best visuals and gameplay required, as well as one of the last memorable buses we've ever reached in this type of game. and extreme damage to strong enemies.
Outside of Void there are two good stages, then you get thrown Runaway, Clone of Sega & # 39; s Exit Run which works sadly as a mere extension of the narrative. It is a great look but a unique drive to the well-traveled highways as the opponent talks about his hopes, dreams and current situation, among other things.
The following is a forced release ShinobiSubject-like topic Shadowplay, which is the hardest game included in this pack. Not only does it dispel many risks to you and your limited health stay, but it also requires you to memorize the stage setting to avoid bets, and try to outrun a Japanese demon like character & # 39; No Face & # 39; was Hayao Miyazaki's signature anime movie Winded Away. During your mad dash, you are expected to collect magical blue orbs to complete a rate which, when the total amount, gives access to a solid blade attack.
The fifth and final game takes the form of a Japanese spam pit called Kill Screen – a little more inclusive because these topics should be taken from the hobby. While this controversy may be difficult, the game itself is well presented and is an integral part of the 198X narrative, which provides additional insight into the home state of The Kid. Each monster you encounter is weak in one of your three available attacks, and you have the ability to heal yourself if you do too much damage. Death sends you to the beginning of the stage, but you maintain your level of experience, which means you'll eventually win the pit – even if you fail often.
What we just described may sound like a disconnected choice for a faux-retro experience, but the 198X wears the headlines and the impressive cuts that show a player's character at school, in their room or exploring their old tree house, full of memories the child has so far. The sweet voice over the sound adds to the atmosphere of the opponent, lamenting the destructive nature of the college and the way some kids & # 39; s scattered & # 39; through the education system.
While some of these may seem like overindulgence, by the end of 198X it is clear that there are serious issues to be dealt with here, and while there is still some degree of blur, the game's narrative is very effective at capturing the reasons why people want to escape their worldly anxieties through interactive entertainment – and why would they crave a sense of unity and belonging that is the result of the fun festivals of the 80s and 90s.
Inadvertently, the 198X is a real treat. The footage maintains a detailed, impressive look in every way, boasting a degree of striking similarity when you consider that you get real-world cutscenes rubbing shoulders with shmup sections and the whole game set in feudal Japan. Many games try the same & # 39; melting pot & # 39; it keeps it feeling lonely and ugly, but the 198X avoids that drastic decline, creating a beauty that sticks together despite the unique nature of each mini-game.
The music, too, is fun. Congratulations to the talents of Anton Dromberg, Daniel Rosenqvist, U.F.L. and – most notably – Rage Roads composer Yuzo Koshiro personally, the soundtrack to the 198X is perfectly suited for screen action. Each game has its own unique musical identity, while the cutscenes that link each theme along with the other synth-drenched ambient tracks do a good job of setting the mood.
While there's no denying that some of the 198X games have nothing to do with the depth compared to the inspired titles, the packages are just as impressive as all of them (though we can say we'd like to see developer Hi- Bit Studios catch a full 2D shoot in the same vein as Out Of The Void – maybe that's their highlight every game). Another major problem is longevity; we've been winding up at 198X for almost an hour, and while we may have played every single mini-game once the end credits have passed, there's no reason to go back without strengthening your high school.
However, there is something to be said for quality over quantity; while the game was short, we enjoyed one more second and played it for a second, and threw each arcade title a couple of times as well (they were open to each play after finishing the game). Although we certainly wish we had seen something more here, we're really glad we got the 198X, and it's been on our minds over the past few days – a sure sign that the game has made an impact as you can get. That puts the 198X in the same company with similar titles Sayonara Wild Hearts and Goose's game with no title; shorter and sweeter moments that leave their mark, even though they are much more immediate.
Conclusion
An epic love letter to previous years, 198X celebrates 2D games, illegally played and wraps up with some of the greatest hand drawn art we've seen in years. The soundtrack is also unique, and, by pure presentation, it is very difficult to suspect exactly what is available. The biggest weakness of the 198X is its prominence; you can complete it in about an hour, but the experience will last longer after the credits are threatened. While we're sure many people will consider the game's shortcomings to be a cardinal sin, we would recommend that you try to stay on your own – even if it doesn't last long.
