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I’m of an age where retro gaming is cool and filled with nostalgia. Being a 40-something-year-old gamer, I’ve seen some incredible evolution throughout the years. However, no matter how realistic and remarkable modern games are, I always love to revisit old-school classics. This is where SUNSOFT is Back Retro Game Selection comes to the fore. This trilogy collection of games has never been released in the West. Accordingly, I was excited to get my hands on a copy and see what I had missed.
This retro arcade experience was developed by SUNSOFT and published by Red Art Games. Furthermore, it is both single-player and locally cooperative. As such, you can enjoy this with a like-minded friend. The Japanese 8-bit games took some getting used to. But once I got my head around the blocky graphics and cumbersome controls, I fell for their dated charms.
SUNSOFT is Back Retro Game Selection delivers 3 cracking titles.
I’ll admit that I had never heard of the following titles until I installed this game. The Wing of Madoola, Firework Thrower Kantaro’s 53 Stations of the Tokaido, and Ripple Island are the 3 cracking games that need to be defeated. Each one retains its original story and core concepts, but they have been reworked for a modern audience.
This reworking ensures that SUNSOFT is Back Retro Game Selection is more fun and palatable. The challenging action would have been horrible without this genius touch. Yet, though I enjoyed these particularly dated games, they will only appeal to a niche audience. The clunky gameplay, basic stories, and simple imagery won’t wow you. But if you can look past this, you’ll enjoy every ounce of the dated 8-bit magic.
Reworked magic.
The inclusion of a CRT filter, multiple aspect ratios and borders, and some quality-life features helps to enhance the dated titles. Moreover, the action is more forgiving because of the rewind and save state features. Consequently, you can be more aggressive without worrying about losing your progress.
These features worked well with the platforming titles. However, it wasn’t so essential when I played the RPG. This classic title was captivating but the rudimentary design took some getting used to. Once I undid my modern brain and reset it to my childhood SEGA mindset, I adored the simple approach. The same can be said for the platform titles. The clunky hitboxes should have been more accurate, but it mattered not. With a little practice, I could work my way through the stages and enjoy the vivid colour palette.
SUNSOFT is Back Retro Game Selection is brilliantly pixelated.
It didn’t matter which game I picked, the level of detail was grim. This isn’t a complaint, just an observation. After all, how much detail can you expect from a decades-old computer game? Alongside this, the level designs are straightforward and you shouldn’t expect any surprises. The simplicity of this trio of games won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I loved the trip down memory lane.
The audio is just as rough. Shrill soundtracks and crass sound effects dominate the soundscape. The basic and chunky thuds will make you laugh. Yet, it works surprisingly well, especially when you play the RPG. The sense of drama was impressive and it was easy to lose yourself in the atmosphere.
Clumsy controls.
Unsurprisingly, the controls aren’t great. The 4 directional D-Pad is clumsy and it feels alien whenever you use an analogue stick. This was to be expected but modern gamers may struggle to undo years of muscle memory. Other than this, the UI is great and rewinding the action or saving the game is a piece of cake.
If you love retro gaming, SUNSOFT is Back Retro Game Selection will keep you coming back for more. The never-before-released games will make fans of Japanese titles salivate. There is something special about the gameplay and the artistry. However, they haven’t aged particularly well and it takes a forgiving mindset to overlook the clunky nature of each core element.
SUNSOFT is Back Retro Game Selection will make a niche audience happy.
Though this won’t fly off the shelves, SUNSOFT is Back Retro Game Selection will make a niche audience happy. The blend of genres and the faithful recreation of the Japanese games is great. Yet, I can’t help but think that it’s a little late to bring these back to life. Accordingly, I hesitantly recommend buying it here! Will you master each of these titles? Pick your favourite, learn the fundamentals, and enjoy every dated moment.
