New Releases for Classic Systems
(Image credit: Morphcat)
Since so many modern games are getting delays, I decided to bust out some of my older systems and fire them up for nostalgia. After scouring the internet, I discovered there are indie developers producing titles compatible with my old NES or even my original Gameboy. While not officially licensed by the original manufacturers, these developers spend hours creating classic-looking cartridges which should play on systems that are long past any manufacturer warranty. Also, most of the creators have PC playable editions, with one even making it to the Steam store. The Load Screen covers several currently available titles, including a few releasing later this year.
Indie developers have been at it for years painstakingly porting their titles to the classic systems. Even though they are not officially recognized by Nintendo, the games should be playable on the intended platform as well as several other models. Some are also available for PC from the Steam store or as a downloadable ROM designed for emulators. While other ROMs may have questionable legality, any purchased with a receipt proves valid ownership, and any purchased through a digital store like Steam is validated every time the user logs into the app.
(Image credit: Optavania)
Some of these die-hard fans of the classics even set restrictions beyond simply making a title playable on systems like the NES. Developer Morphcat has made their title Micro Mages to the 40 kb specifications of the original Super Mario Brothers. Just like the classic, the new title is a 2D Platformer with eight full worlds. It also packs in a 4-person multiplayer and a hard mode option somehow. On the Morphcat Micro Mages website, they have a full documentary of the tricks needed to compact so much content into such a limited size. Pictures on our website take up way more room, so it is crazy to think that a full game can fit in less space. Micro Mages is one of the few titles available on Steam directly.
Other indie creators specify platforms that are hard to program for both the classic system and modern PCs, without using an emulator. Older programming styles and timing make it tough for some smaller teams to produce their title on all platforms. It would require completely coding the game several times over, taking any team months of work. In fact, modern games struggle to port across platforms including Horizon Zero Dawn, see the Guerilla Games Hotfix 1.10 page for some recent issues they have fixed since the Guerilla Quick Update regarding Player Reports on Steam last August.
Rollie by Optvania is one such title and is only available in cartridge or ROM form. According to the Rollie website, the game was kickstarted a few years ago and is now available for purchase. It is a 2D side scroller where the player controls two raccoons with different abilities. The gameplay and more are similar to Dullahan Software’s 2018 Nebs ’n Debs according to the Nebs n Debs website. It too was started as a Kickstarter project and is also only available as a ROM or cartridge. Most new titles available for the classic systems begin as passion projects by hardcore programmers looking for a challenge who are fans of the old systems.
(Image credit: Dullahan Software)
One such solo developer is Greenboy Games who focus on developing games compatible with the original Gameboy. Dana has made 7 games with wide-ranging concepts despite a 4 color palette, a screen size of only 160x144 pixels, and a storage of 32 kb to 1Mb. The restrictions are listed on the Greenboy about page and the developer lists several other titles in the coming soon section. Now I must find my old Game Boy, or maybe my Game Boy Advance. Greenboy Games only produces a limited number of cartridges for each project. Most modern PCs and systems would make the parameters including the screen less enjoyable than intended, but most of the developer’s titles are available in a ROM version.
There is a small market for new games on classic consoles, and several indie developers create content for systems I long thought dormant. These titles are not officially certified by the systems for which they are intended, but neither are the systems still under any usable warranty. Also, none of the publishers make any claims about licensing on the final product. Most of the classic game creators have made their work available on PC in various ways, for those without the original equipment. The list of retro titles continues to grow out of fan-backed websites like Kickstarter and more. If I were to do this article again next year, there would be a surprising number of games to add to the list.
