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Sméagol

New game for NES: Micro Mages

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I was considering a general thread about new games for Retro consoles (40 Winks for N64 is also getting a release for example), and I still might, but I'd have to create it in the general gaming forum since it would cover more than Nintendo. But for now I wanted to especially highlight this one.

I think it looks great, and if I didn't just have an expensive month, I would have pre-ordered already. I will next month probably, as I am kind of excited to buy a new NES game after all these years.

Pre-orders: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/micro-mages-a-new-game-for-the-nes#/

Official site: http://morphcat.de/micromages/

Original Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/morphcat-games/micro-mages-a-new-game-for-the-nes

And here's a little making-of video:

 

Edited by Sméagol
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This is pretty cool. It reminds me of how Brazillian companies kept making games for the Master System decades after its supposed shelf life ended.

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Small bump, but I ordered my copy.

My first NES game in several years, and my first new one in over 20. :bouncy:

EgfHYF8.gif

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While I have to wait for the cartridge, they gave out links to roms and steam codes to all backers yesterday.

While I want the full experience on NES, I did want to get a taste of the game, so I connected my broken Xbox controller, and played the first 2 worlds on Steam. Good thing that as a NES game it doesn't need triggers. :rolleyes:

Anyway! I am pleased to say the game is as fun as it looks. It's amazing for a NES game! There's so much charm in those tiny sprites. They only used 8 by 8 pixel sprites for the playable mages (and most enemies) as a way to optimize the game (see the making of video above), but they're so damn well animated, it doesn't matter. Press down and they do a dance micro_mage_outline.gif that does absolutely nothing for gameplay. :laughing: The game totally doesn't look like something that has the same size limitation as SMB 1. The movement and combat are smooth and controls are tight. In that way, it actually feels like a modern game. You can wall jump, which is as smooth as modern indie games like Meatboy, and unlike Ninja Gaiden for example. You can shoot in all directions. Love the music as well. The only thing that makes the size limitation obvious is the fact there are only 4 worlds, although the hard mode apparently is different enough from normal mode that they're considered addtional worlds, but I do not know this from experience. Apparently they did more than simply make enemies tougher, they remixed the layouts of levels a bit, and enemies have other behaviours as well. Also I don't think there is a lot of music, though I love the music that's there. Despite the challenge of creating a game using only 40KB, the game looks, sounds, and feels like it could have been a major commercial retail release back in the day. It's that good.

Anyway, I quit after the second boss, and I'll await my new NES copy. I'll also really try to get some oldschool multiplayer party going, because I really want to experience the 4 player mode! I'll go buy a Four Score somewhere!

At the moment they ended the Indiegogo campaign, since they almost sold out on their run of NES copies. It seems they may make more, but at the moment you can only buy a digital version. The game is on Steam and Itch.io, and all versions include a ROM file for use with emulators or flash carts.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1065020/Micro_Mages/

https://morphcatgames.itch.io/micromages

Edited by Sméagol
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