Games Happy

In 2012, rumblings a few recreation known as Spelunky for Xbox 360 made their method to me, and I ended up making an attempt out the traditional free model of the roguelike platformer on PC to see what the hype was about. I fell in love with it, and I ended up shopping for the remake for Xbox 360 as nicely. This was one in all my first indie recreation obsessions. 

The 2013 remake of Spelunky from Mossmouth is one in all my favourite video games ever throughout its many ports now. I really ended up shopping for a PlayStation Vita primarily to have moveable Spelunky and Hotline Miami again within the day. I’ve a nasty behavior of desirous to personal a recreation I really like on each platform, and Spelunky suits into my routine nicely for its “yet one more run” really feel, incredible soundtrack, and recreation design. 

At that time, I knew I’d purchase something Mossmouth releases, however the developer’s subsequent undertaking regarded a bit too formidable for its personal good. It was UFO 50, a group of fifty video games by the creators of Spelunky, Downwell, and extra. Initially scheduled to launch in 2018, UFO 50 was lastly launched on Steam final month. I have been obsessive about it ever since I bought it on Steam Deck, and the wait was greater than value it. The truth is, I am having a tough time deciding the place it sits in my high 5 video games of the 12 months. I’ve not even completed each recreation within the bundle but, and have but to attempt six of them.

UFO 50 is delivered as a bundle of fifty video games made for a fictional console (the LX) by a fictional developer, UFO Smooth. These video games goal to copy the texture of the 80s with the primary recreation being developed and launched (fictional) in 1982 main as much as 1989 for the fiftieth recreation on the choice display. These should not simply demos or throwaway video games, however full-fledged video games of various sizes and genres that completely seize the issue, aesthetic, and gameplay you’ll count on from that interval. There are even sequels showcasing how know-how would evolve over time and secrets and techniques I’ve not come near discovering.

UFO 50 all the time regarded very formidable, however lastly diving into it final month, I really feel like I’ve simply scratched the floor of UFO 50. Out of the 50 video games, solely two are role-playing video games, and I thought of writing about simply these two for this web site, however I saved getting shocked on the high quality and care put into every recreation I attempted, resulting in wanting to jot down about the entire bundle. This brings us to RPG Website’s latest Branching Path, UFO 50. I promise the intro main as much as this wasn’t meant to be a reference to the event time of UFO 50, however I wanted to offer context to why this launch is vital.

Booting up UFO 50 for the primary time felt daunting. I used to be offered with a display of fifty cartridges coated in mud and cobwebs and will choose any recreation and simply begin taking part in. Nothing needed to be unlocked right here. I made a decision to deal with this like how I used to take care of shareware CDs or journal demo discs, solely this time, with full video games. 

I began scrolling by way of studying the names and in search of golf video games. Why golf you would possibly ask? I often spend a ton of time taking part in golf and fishing mini-games. I misclicked and landed on Paint Chase. Paint Chase felt like an old-school mix of a racer and Splatoon. This was not like something I anticipated, and having gone into this launch chilly, nearly each recreation is a shock. 

I then regarded for one thing meatier and landed up on Grimstone, UFO 50’s huge Wild West turn-based RPG. This floored me with the way it felt like a difficult and initially unbalanced RPG from that period. Grimstone is likely one of the bigger video games if not the biggest one on this total bundle. The second RPG is Divers, one other difficult recreation within the assortment. 

I didn’t look after Divers as a lot as Grimstone, however my favourite video games to this point are positively Pingolf (pinball meets golf), Golfaria (a golf journey recreation), Mini & Max (journey platformer), Get together Home (technique), Star Waspir (shoot ’em up), Warptank (a VVVVV-style recreation) and Onion Supply (arcade). 

As somebody who adores retro collections like Taito Milestones and even buys a number of Hamster-published Arcade Archives releases on Swap each month, UFO 50 appears like a recreation laser-focused on my style. 

Loads of video games in UFO 50 really feel like they completely replicate the problem, aesthetic, and audio (to some extent) for the years they fictionally launched in, however what actually makes them stand out is how they’ve some fashionable mechanics or style components we by no means actually noticed in video games launched within the 80s.

UFO 50 is not only one of the spectacular video games (assortment of video games?) I’ve performed this 12 months, however it appears like a once-in-a-lifetime launch that nobody will actually try once more given the sheer worth (50 video games for $25) and high quality delivered after practically a decade of improvement throughout a number of video games. 

Whereas I nonetheless must beat most of the video games and even play a few of them for the primary time in UFO 50, the secrets and techniques have me hoping we see a correct official guidebook launched that may focus on all the things in a number of years. Till then, I am having fun with discussing and taking part in UFO 50 alongside pals who’re all chipping away at ending the various video games included.

One space I assumed UFO 50 got here a bit in need of is the shortage of any form of faux guide scans, idea artwork, or recreation field renders as we see in different retro collections from SNK or Capcom. I felt like this may have added to the expertise, however it’s not a trivial quantity of labor. Hopefully, we do see one thing like that added in some kind afterward. I would not even thoughts shopping for it as a supporter DLC or bonus digital artbook. The historical past tab is a pleasant addition although with what it provides to the fictional historical past of the developer.

The dearth of manuals or any form of information made among the video games a lot tougher initially, however it dawned on me that this was precisely what they have been going for. Once I had these shareware CDs or demo discs again within the day, I had no booklets. Studying by way of discovery and expertise actually makes you’re feeling such as you’ve unearthed a long-lost console with a treasure trove of video games which have one thing for nearly everybody, together with high quality multiplayer experiences. 

One last factor of the bundle I wish to spotlight is the soundtrack. With over 300 tracks, UFO 50’s sound design from Eirik Suhrke may be their greatest work but with how various the songs get throughout genres.

I foolishly thought the standard of RPGs launched earlier this 12 months meant I had my high 4 or 5 video games of the 12 months on lock, however 2024 has simply delivered continuous catering to my style at each nook. I do not know the place issues shall be in December, however UFO 50 simply retains getting higher as I play extra of the video games included. Similar to James’ emotions about 9 Sols, it’s primed to make an excellent larger splash when it inevitably hits consoles. Till then, I salute UFO Smooth and Mossmouth for taking me again to my childhood shareware recreation days with this magnificent bundle of retro gaming brilliance.