PAX 2010: Retro City Rampage Preview

Let's say that you're a fan of modern day games like GTA IV but also have a soft spot for the old school 8-bit experience.  Sure you can play a bit of each, but it can be such hassle to switch out game consoles just to play a little Super Mario World when you're filled up on killing hookers.  There's got to be a better way!

Well now there is!

Retro City Rampage is the lovechild of Brian Provinciano of VBLANK Entertainment Inc.. It incorporates open world Grand Theft Auto gameplay with 8-bit visuals, a hearty dose of  nostalgia, and infuses it with a metric-ton of old-school gaming references.  Believe me, it plays just as awesome as it sounds.

During my playthrough I controlled an 8-bit character through an isometric GTA 1 perspective, stole cars, used phones to get missions, and robbed a bank while getting a smattering of Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Metal Gear, and Frogger.  And this was just in my short time with the game.  For example, my character was able to pick up enemies and throw them like Super Mario, the inside of the casino had the matching and slots game from Super Mario World, a traffic dodging sequence was reminiscent of Frogger...you get the idea.

Amazingly, it doesn't stop there.  Retro City Rampage is like a nostalgia sponge that you squeeze into your mouth until it pours over your body like sweat in the hot Alabama sun.  80's and early 90's movie references are strewn about as well. Batman, Who framed Roger Rabbit, and Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure were all accounted for.

The game, however, is anything but a one trick pony. Underneath the nostalgia is a fully envisioned game with cut scenes, complex mission objectives, numerous vehicles to drive and a huge world with a myriad of things to do.  Much like a lot of open world games, I was having fun just navigating (causing destruction) in the open world before I remembered that there were missions I could complete.

I was just having so much fun with the game that the only thing that made me put it down was the line beginning to form behind me.  A few seconds longer and I would have said "FUCK THEM!", poofed up my hair, turned on The Power of Love, picked them up over my head and thrown them into a mushroom just before blowing them up with an Ikari Warriors grenade, only to go home and anger-fuck Rob the Robot.

Yeah. Its like that bitches.

Retro City Rampage comes out on Wii-Ware this fall with other consoles to be announced.

Check below for trailer and more screenshots.

Trailer 2010

Additional Screenshots

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