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10 Modern Games Made for Retro Consoles
MojoPlays
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1 year ago
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00:00
Welcome to Mojo Plays, and today we're looking at some of the best modern games to be made
00:10
for retro consoles.
00:20
Before we begin, we publish new content all week long, so be sure to subscribe and ring
00:24
the bell to get notified about our latest videos.
00:29
Project Blue
00:34
The developers behind this action platformer clearly missed the Mega Man days of old.
00:39
Not only is Project Blue a wonderful homage to those older games, but it was also developed
00:44
for the NES, the Blue Bomber's first console.
00:48
It follows a young boy who escapes from an evil corporation, after being experimented
00:52
on, using his new abilities to bring about justice.
00:56
There are plenty of traps and cleverly placed enemies to act as obstacles, on top of catchy
01:01
chiptunes to make it feel like you're playing a long lost Capcom game.
01:05
Although it was built for the NES, interested players don't necessarily need one.
01:10
Project Blue was well received enough to earn a Switch port in 2023.
01:18
Sydney Hunter and the Caverns of Death
01:21
Admittedly, the first version of Sydney Hunter and the Caverns of Death was a flash game,
01:30
but it wasn't long before it branched out to retro platforms.
01:33
Sydney Hunter is an Indiana Jones-esque character, exploring 10 dangerous caverns in a search
01:39
for glory and treasure.
01:40
And it was released on several retro systems, the NES, the Super Nintendo, and even the
01:46
ColecoVision.
01:48
The platforming and exploration can easily get you hooked to keep searching, and the
01:52
game is filled with fun puzzles.
01:54
Playing it can reach into your memory and flood you with nostalgia, no matter the system.
01:59
However, the soundtrack of the SNES version is particularly lovely.
02:08
Pier Solar and the Great Architects
02:15
These days, there are plenty of retro-inspired RPGs to choose from, but in 2010, Pier Solar
02:22
and the Great Architects was a bit of an outlier.
02:25
Originally developed for the Sega Genesis, it followed three friends who set out on an
02:29
adventure in order to save the life of one of their fathers.
02:32
Of course, being a fantasy RPG, things don't stay so simple.
02:36
Developer Watermelon did a solid job of capturing its inspiration, loading the game up with
02:41
secrets, interesting NPCs, and a fun battle system.
02:45
And it truly understood the platform, even using the Sega CD add-on, if you had one,
02:51
to amplify the sound design.
02:52
The game has since moved to modern platforms, as well as an additional retro one, the Sega
02:58
Dreamcast.
03:02
Blazing Rangers
03:09
Blazing Rangers is just the type of addictive, third-party, arcadey experience that populated
03:14
much of the NES's library.
03:16
So it makes sense that its developers sought it out as the platform of choice.
03:20
Like a cousin to Dig Dug or Bubble Bobble, it puts you in the shoes of a firefighter,
03:25
with every level a burning building with citizens in need of rescue.
03:28
Enemies can spawn from fires you don't put out, level layouts get more complex as you
03:33
progress, and most of what's thrown at you is procedurally generated.
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The more citizens you try to rescue at once can earn you more points, but slow you down.
03:42
Plus, the inclusion of two-player adds another level of enjoyment.
03:51
Briley Witch Chronicles
03:58
Indie developer Sarah Jane Avery turned several of her own books into a Japanese-inspired
04:03
RPG, which would be impressive in its own right.
04:07
But she also chose to make Briley Witch Chronicles for the Commodore 64.
04:11
It follows Briley after she's transported to a mystical land, where she learns she's
04:15
a witch and must use her newfound abilities to survive.
04:19
Though the turn-based combat is all well and good, the game's true greatness lies in its
04:23
story and characters, one of which is your companion, a curmudgeon of a cat named Smokey.
04:29
Most of Briley Witch Chronicles is pleasant and charming thanks to its setting, and thankfully,
04:34
Avery followed it up with a sequel in 2023.
04:43
Battle Kid Fortress of Peril
04:51
One of the first big games to gain attention for releasing on a retro console was Battle
04:56
Kid Fortress of Peril.
04:58
Inspired by the freeware game, I Wanna Be the Guy, and action classics like Mega Man,
05:03
it was developed for the NES by CIVAC Games.
05:06
As Battle Kid, your job is to infiltrate a base and stop a group from building a super
05:11
mech that could threaten the world.
05:13
Just like the games it drew inspiration from and completely befitting of the Fortress of
05:17
Peril name, the game gets pretty tough.
05:20
But therein lies its draw, for you to conquer its many traps, enemies, and bosses.
05:25
The game was so fun that it received a sequel two years later and was ported to the Switch
05:30
and Xbox One.
05:35
Xenocrisis
05:42
Most of these types of games launch on a handful of retro platforms at most, but Xenocrisis
05:47
has hit a ton of them.
05:49
The top-down twin-stick shooter puts you in the classic role of a space marine fighting
05:54
against hordes of aliens, with plenty of weapons and upgrades to earn along the way.
05:59
Whether by yourself or with a friend, the constant action and simple yet satisfying
06:03
gameplay hook can keep you glued to the controller.
06:07
It was originally developed for the Sega Genesis, but has since been ported to a variety of
06:12
platforms.
06:13
In addition to modern ones, you can also find it on Super Nintendo, Neo Geo, Sega Dreamcast,
06:19
N64, and the Gamecube, with versions for the GBA and PlayStation currently in development.
06:26
Micro Mages
06:36
In this fantasy action platformer, you'll take a wizard through a fortress, destroying
06:40
any monsters in your path in a search for treasure, and of course, points.
06:45
Levels can be just the right amount of hectic, scrolling upwards instead of sideways, with
06:50
more enemies and hazards appearing as you continue the climb.
06:53
You can also play with others, making the entire track even more fun.
06:57
MorphCat Games specifically wanted to develop Micro Mages for the NES, even limiting themselves
07:03
to smaller cartridge space from when the system was first released.
07:07
It's a great addition to the system's library, but for those who don't have one, Micro Mages
07:11
was added to Steam not long after release.
07:19
Gunlord
07:26
Inspired by 16-bit shooters like Turrican with a bit of Super Metroid DNA mixed in,
07:32
NGDev's Gunlord is a fast-paced title that action fans should not miss.
07:37
Thankfully, it has since been updated as Gunlord X, which was released on Switch and PS4 in
07:43
2019, but its original iteration could only be found on the Sega Dreamcast and the Neo
07:48
Geo.
07:49
You play as Gordian Gaiden, out to save his universe from a villainous force known as
07:54
the Master, who plans to make slaves out of the human race.
07:57
The old-school visuals are fantastically recreated, and it's a great deal of fun using your varied
08:03
weaponry and abilities against the throngs of enemies.
08:12
Deduce
08:18
The Game Boy didn't have much in terms of horror.
08:21
Maybe Yzma, the developer behind Deduce, took that as a challenge.
08:25
Regardless, it manages to do a whole lot with its limited format.
08:29
In the game, you play as a boy trying to save the people of his town from the destruction
08:34
of an ancient god named Deduce, which will happen in three days.
08:39
Despite simplistic visuals, the game nails its creepy atmosphere.
08:43
Not only that, but how you go about stopping your town's destruction is surprisingly varied.
08:48
There are 11 different endings to the story, which are impacted by what NPCs you talk to
08:54
and what tasks you complete in your small window of time.
08:57
It's certainly unlike anything else the original Game Boy had to offer.
09:01
Have you played any of these modern callbacks to the old days?
09:11
Which is your favorite?
09:12
Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to Mojo Plays for more great
09:15
gaming videos every day.
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