If I needed to suggest a single indie launch this 12 months, it’d most likely be Mossmouth’s UFO 50, primarily as a result of it is a retro sport anthology that truly feels prefer it might’ve been made again within the NES period (for essentially the most half) whereas providing a recent package deal.
Amidst the same old onslaught of big releases in the direction of the top of the 12 months, it is arduous to make time for smaller titles when you’re on this line of labor. Hell, I spend like half of my work hours consuming and writing about different stuff, but video video games are the medium that requires extra time and a focus. It is easy to get burned out, which is why smaller and breezier video games are virtually as necessary as the massive ones to remain wholesome.
For the previous couple of weeks, UFO 50 (solely obtainable on Steam for now) has been my ‘sport to play whereas having one thing on within the background’ and I could not be extra impressed with what Derek Yu and the gifted builders behind Downwell, Air Land & Sea, Skorpulac, Catacomb Children, and Madhouse have put collectively over 9 flippin’ years (try this report on the gathering that VG247 printed… again in 2017).
In fact, virtually everybody has had extra initiatives within the works in the meantime. Chief amongst them was Spelunky 2, which Yu lastly unleashed in 2020. In the meantime, UFO 50 continued to evolve in silence, and this final September it dropped with out making a lot noise till the press acquired on high of it. After spending a while (lower than I might like) with it myself, I am pleased to report people had been not exaggerating. This factor whips and must be within the GOTY conversations developing.
Positive, loads of solo builders and indie studios have completely nailed the NES-era aesthetic and overarching design philosophies through the years (I simply will not cease right here to call numerous examples), but a recurring feeling I’ve is that the majority of these both really feel a tad too trendy regardless of every part else or simply previous within the worst attainable means (rusty and never very enjoyable to play). UFO 50, in the meantime, whereas not a whole house run (I imply, it actually packs 50 fully-featured, old-ass titles), utterly looks like a kind of bootleg cartridges stuffed with no matter.
I am not gonna lie: I noped the f**ok out of a handful of the video games I’ve performed to date, primarily as a result of I wasn’t within the temper to determine obtuse mechanics or excellent timings, however virtually no title on this fictional assortment has felt bland or uninspired. There is a clear intent and imaginative and prescient behind all of them, and even when many do not click on with me, I can see another person having fun with the crap outta them. In any case, they cowl all types of genres and even attempt to replicate the ‘evolution’ of a fictional sport firm throughout the Nineteen Eighties. In fact, this has led gamers to find a meta layer that solely makes the package deal even nuttier.
Controls are stored fairly easy normally too, which positively helps the accessibility issue that permeates the entire thing. I might think about many of the video games included ‘arduous’ by at the moment’s requirements, however normally, all of it comes right down to the distinctive sport design and the builders going ‘look, you gotta grasp this s**t like again within the day, no excuses’ (which rocks). This additionally applies to titles that embrace a multiplayer possibility or are straight-up designed as native social gathering video games; they’re meant to be simple to choose up and simply play in fast classes.
This ain’t a assessment, so I will not faux to have performed the total assortment nor I am going to get into specifics. It is a tremendous juicy bundle of pleasure that I will be taking part in for a very long time, and I am taking my time with it. It shines brighter when performed between bigger gaming classes or throughout lunch breaks, and I strongly imagine it does not profit from brain-rotting, sweaty marathons higher fitted to trendy video video games. That is the message I am attempting to get throughout; I need you to find what it has to supply for your self.
This additionally means it is form of the proper sport to play in your Steam Deck; I might be shocked if it does not attain the Change sooner quite than later. As an alternative of “yet another spherical,” you may be saying “yet another sport,” as you by no means know what you may come throughout subsequent. It is okay when you by no means beat them, because the expertise alone of booting them up and fumbling round is magical and enriching sufficient. In a means, UFO 50 brings again that magic of historic video games you booted up time and again however not often managed to beat. Achievements await true sickos although.
Okay, perhaps I am going to let you could have a few of my private suggestions to date earlier than I depart: Mortol, Velgress, Attactics, Bushido Ball, Camouflage, Campanella, Warptank (this one is genuinely unbelievable), and Porgy. Attempt to not look them up earlier than leaping in, belief me. This wild trip should not be spoiled by our trendy mannequin of consumption. Your checklist of favorites would possibly look very completely different, and that is the complete level of this journey down a reminiscence lane that does not fairly exist.