A whole 30 years after its initial release, the humble Mega Drive/Sega Genesis is getting a new game. That's right, in 2018, British indie studio Bitmap Bureau will be bringing, Xeno Crisis, an arena-style shooter with procedural generated maps and rooms, to Sega's old school hardware.
Backers will be able to chose either simply the ROM file that runs on all competent emulators or a complete in-the-box physical cartridge edition (both western or Japanese versions). An actual cartridge that works on any variant from the Mega Drive family (both European, US and Japanese models). Not only that, you'll also get the soundtrack (composed by indie chiptune artist Savage Regime) by October 2018 (assuming the project's Kickstarter completes successfully).
Features include:
- Intense arena-based combat where the player must constantly be on their toes, prioritising which enemies to engage next, and ensuring they don't run out of ammo.
- Procedurally generated maps and rooms, so you never know what's coming up, and you have to adapt your tactics on a room-by-room basis.
- Five diverse areas to explore, each with their own obstacles and hazards, and secrets, including The Outpost and The Nest.
- Upgrade system which allows you to adapt the game to your style of play - are you a cautious player or more gung-ho?
- An arsenal of nine different weapons to switch things up and turn the tables in your favour.
- Five intimidating bosses, each of which will demand you to learn a different strategy to defeat them.
- Two modes of play; once you've completed the Arcade mode you can try your hand at the Infinite mode, where even veteran players will find a challenge.
- Two difficulty levels; 'Rookie' and 'Hardcorps'. Playing on Rookie will mean easier progress, but you won't be able to see the "good" ending!
Among the team is veteran pixel artist Henk Nieborg who previously worked on Lionheart, Adventures Of Lomax, Contra 4 and Shantae among others. That means the nostalgic '90's 16-bit sprite and tile work is already in place.
Looks like a serious upcoming treat for any Blast Processing fans out there.Will you back this one?
Tell us in the comments what are some your favorite arena shooters of hardware generations past.
[source kickstarter.com]
Comments 45
Get in my belly.
Nice to see that some devs still know how to create games for weaker harware rather than blaming their incompétence on the hardware (looking at you Tequila Works)
Hope they break trough the goal and add 2 player mode.
This looks genuinely cool.
And notice how unlike modern games of this type, it's not over-designed and you can actually very clearly see your player amidst that action at all times, without even the need for a fugly energy bar or direction indicator or whatever floating above their head.
More modern designers need to take note of some of the good practices of classic games like this.
@crackafreeze I was wondering who would be the first to write something like that...
This is smash tv with different characters and looks suspiciously like a snes game rather than a megadrive game
@Gs69 Sadly it will not allow for dual joystick input, which i show "Smash TV" works so you will still have to face where you're shooting, making for a neat risk-reward mechanic (with the roll option on the table when you mess it up).
@crackafreeze how do I get to the parallel universe where a SegaLife would make any sense??
I lost some interest at "procedurally generated", I prefer a set, designed structure.
Still a big one for Mega Drive collectors as this will likely become quite the collector's piece.
That is if its:
1) Funded
2) Actually made
3) Up to scratch
@Shiryu We did consider allowing players to use 2 pads (rather like Smash TV), but in the end opted for a lock mechanic like the one used in Granada and Shock Troopers, which allows you to strafe whilst shooting. And yes, the roll can get you out of tricky situations and even be used to squash some enemies!
On Kickstarter does not equal "is getting." There's a lot of risk involved with backing KS projects.
British 90's developer, creators of Megadrive game Xenon 2 = Bitmap Brothers
British indie developer, creators of Megadrive game Xeno Crisis = Bitmap Bureau
I wonder who they're influenced by? Seriously though this looks brilliant. Makes me wish the Bitmap Brothers actually did make an arena shooter back in the day because if they did it would likely be one of my all time favourites along with Speedball 2.Now how about making a new online Speedball game, Bitmap Bureau and bring it to Switch.
@BitmapBureau Thanks for popping in. Any chance of this coming to consoles, namely the Switch?
@OorWullie This. This!
@OorWullie I was a big fan of the Bitmap Brothers in my youth - they made some great games, with Speedball 2 being my favourite of theirs. And yes, I was thinking about the similarity with "Xenon" just the other day too! I guess the closest thing the Bitmap Brothers did to an arena shooter is Chaos Engine, which wasn't bad at all.
@BitmapBureau Ain't much to look at after you scrape them off your boot.
Shiryusly folks... we need a new "Speedball". Someone call up Jon Hare (he still has the publish rights, right?) the Switch is hot, hot, caliente and we need Ice cream, I scream.
Amazing graphics and animations tbh. Judging by the short clip they sure are squeezing MD.
Call me when it hits Switch.
What would be even better was if Sega got off their butts and started posting retro Genesis games in the Switch eshop!!
@BitmapBureau Yep I had Chaos Engine, it was good but I recall it being very difficult. One thing I loved about the Bitmap Brothers was the unique art style their games had. I can see that style in Xeno Crisis too. I wish your team the best of luck with your project and if you ever do consider bringing it to Switch you've got a guaranteed sale from me.
Looks cool but I won't back it, will only buy it if it ever got to release, if not tough luck.
I really like it but the rom pledge is somewhat expensive.
@Shiryu Yep, a new Speedball is my number 1 gaming wish. It's important though that whoever makes it, doesn't change too much. The game rules are perfect as is. Keep everything on the pitch where it is, no tampering. All it needs to be perfect is sharper graphics,better crunching metal on metal sound effects, some camera options (a 90's Madden view would possibly work for single player) ,a more extensive single player career and online multiplayer. For me that will be one of the best games ever made.
@OorWullie Team and uniform editor and I am good to go.
@impurekind haha yeah, I see so many indie games claiming to be 8 or 16 bit style but look nothing like those games or have very cluttered screens. Having more power to play with doesn't mean better games.
This though looks pretty cool, shame they're not doing it for the SNES where they could replicate the controls of the still excellent Smash TV
I think I might be interested. I always appreciate someone that goes back and builds with the limitations of an old console (and provides ROM file access).
Wow...that's pretty awesome. Still have the old Genesis....it's even still connected to the TV that doesn't work!
@Damo Will you guys have a Yooka Laylee review out before the 14th?
Looks fantastic; if only I had money.
My .02. I LOVE this idea. That said. I personally do not participate in kickstarter anymore (I got majorly burned by Mighty No. 9). But for folks that are still into it. I feel that developers looking to get folks to offer cash (help cover the risk) with no claim/benefit to the projects success, should frame request in at least one way:
Forget about stretch goals: Meaning, when you offer them up and the people fund them, it makes the dev time LONGER! Maybe put up the kickstarter with a set goal that is realistic to time to release. and then maybe do a kickstarter to do the DLC...? Just my rambling thought....
for a second there i thought bitmap bros changed their name...i love soldiers of fortune though
@carlos82 I had exactly the same thought about it being on the SNES and it totally fitting perfectly with that classic four button controller--it really does work brilliantly with this type of game. It will be very interesting to see how they've handled this on the Genesis/Mega Drive for me, specifically how it feels in actual play, because I really think this could make or break the game.
@impurekind That was something that concerned me from the start, but I remember the 'lock' method in Granada (and Smash TV for that matter) working really nicely. It also turned out that Shock Troopers uses this method too, as well as the roll move, so that gave me a lot more confidence that we were going down the right route. Smash TV was obviously designed as a twin-stick shooter, but we've designed the game to use the lock method from the outset and it works great. I also added the ability to alter your shot angle by 45 degrees by pushing 'A' or 'C' whilst firing - weirdly, Skeleton Krew uses this system too.
@BitmapBureau Well I wish you all the best with the game because it's looking great so far and it looks like you've put a lot of time, effort and thought into it.
That is pretty cool. Kinda wish it were in an eshop on the Switch as well though. Not quite sure why, but I don't like playing on emulators on a PC.
Could the the physical release of course. But I'd need to dig out an old CRT TV and... I don't have time for that. lol
Already backed!
Yesssssssssssssssssss immediately yesssssssssssss
"only" 6K to go!
@FX102A We can assure you that the game will be made, and we pride ourselves on producing quality games - having grown up with the Mega Drive, I'm really keen to do the system justice and produce something that pushes the system to its limits.
@Shiryu Yep, we had no idea the project was going to be so well received! Consequently we're going to be making some announcements over the next day or two...
@Shiryu SIX BUTTON PAD WILL FIX THAT
@BitmapBureau I'm not denying any of that, although Kickstarters have taken a bit of a knock after several high profile failures / scams / disappointments. Its pushed me to a point where I will only back projects with relatively small amounts as I've lost enough in the past (or left money in limbo).
I do wish you the best of luck though and hope something great is created.
I'm a real fan of Savage Regime's work! I've featured him several times on the Nerd Noise Radio social media outlets, and one track of his will actually even be appearing on the podcast itself in May.
I'd love to hear his works coming straight from my VA6 Mobo equipped Model 1 US Sega Genesis!
Of course, I would imagine this is designed around 50hz PAL clock rather than 60hz NTSC clock, so the music will probably play too fast, I'd suspect.
The rest of the game looks and sounds good too! Depending on the price, I may well end up backing this!
Cheers!
As one of 5 people that own a Sega Nomad (portable Genny) I might just have to get this if it ever makes it to market.
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