Following its Kickstarter success last year, Hi-Bit Studios' arcade mash up 198X was announced to be coming to all platforms and the release trailer above shows a promising blend of classic arcade genres. Celebrating the style and influence of such games as Out Run and Shinobi, the trailer really nails the aesthetic of those classics and has us rather excited.
Self-described as 'over-the-top arcade action meets coming-of-age drama', it's coming to PC and PS4 on 20th June. The developer finishes the trailer off with the tantalising if vague 'coming soon' to Nintendo Switch (and Xbox One, too, if you've got one of those). As you probably know, we like a little retro-flavoured action and it seems that Hi-Bit are delivering if only in the visual department. Just take a look at some of these shots:
From an audio perspective, let's not forget that legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro is providing a number of tracks for the game, too. We don't know about you, but that alone is reason enough to keep a very close eye on this one. We'll have to wait and see if it can do justice to the classics.
Are you all drained of enthusiasm for '80s nostalgia or do you still have a few drops left in the tank? There's a Top Gun sequel coming, you know, so better find some reserves! Let us know what you think of this in the usual place.
Comments 27
It almost seems like yesterday that I talked about 198X, and now it's almost here. While still not much on details, we got a bit more info on how the story side will kinda play out from this faux-game collection. I'm keeping a close eye on this one.
Looks awesome, amazing!!!! It has everything I've loved since I was a kid in terms of gaming. Let's wait for gameplay
This game has my interest...I need to see gameplay of how this unfolds.
I like. It ticks ALL my 80s childhood sensibilities. I'm telling my age lol, but I will never get tired of retro games; Not because I'm stuck in the past as I do just fine with modern gaming, but there's a simple pleasure to the decade that made videogames an undeniable phenomenon the world wasn't ready for-- From the arcade, to the NES, to the Genesis. I hope this game is good.
Ha, forgot all about this one, but now that I've been reminded of its existence, it's back on the watch list, because this does indeed look like something that'll tick all the boxes for classic arcade game fans, so I hope this will become as good as this FAR too short trailer seems to promise.
They've certainly got the art style down, so fingers crossed...
Woah, they’ve got that style dead on. It’s looking great so I hope it all comes together.
Yep, so long as the narrative binds the disparate gameplay elements into one cohesive whole, I’m all in on 198X.
Hopefully E3 shows gameplay, because otherwise I’m in. Gameplay will make or break this one for me. Here’s hoping it’s good. I like what I see.
Looks phenomenal! Even pixel art is a bit overused, there are games that stand above the rest. If this is one of them, I'm all up for it!
I hope it's like Retro Game Challenge, where once you beat the story, you can access the complete games at any time. I just don't want it to feel like a compilation of game fragments.
Looks pretty great! Awesome pixel art and I'm intrigued by the story potential. I definitely want to see more.
I think it looks interesting. I will wait to see what the price is and a read a proper review.
Never get enough of the 80's I lived the dream first hand. This looks really really promising.
This looks cool! I didn't hear about it at the time, so this is the first I see, and I like it.
Been looking forward to this for a while. Looks brilliant!
I'll wait for the sequel, 199X.
Day 1 purchase for me
It's def got my attention.
So weird, I was just thinking about this game yesterday. I was wondering, "Is this going to be vaporware??? I really liked what they put out there!!!" I hope it turns out well.
I like most of what they showed off but some sections seemed like an auto-runner stuff. Still, looking forward to what folks have to say!
OMG I need this. It's gotta be deep, immersive and with these mini games an essential part of the storyline and not tacked on and not very good. Setting my expectations to high!
There's no limit to my 80's nostalgia...bring it on!
Make it a cart my memory card just can't keep going Digital.
I am this game’s demographic. I hesitated on backing it, but glad to see it’s shaping up well. The arcade brat in me definitely wants to see more of this one!
@NintendoFan4Lyf
"The developer certainly isn't shy about which arcade games they are trying to represent"
I honestly have mixed feelings about this. If you take all those other people's hard work out of this new "game", what is left?
UNLESS the dev is properly giving credit to the originals AND paying for them. Then that is fair business.
This has a definite “Ready Player One” vibe to it. Can’t wait!
So is there another element of gameplay we're not seeing that acts as the main bulk between these sections? Or is it just like 5 games pasted together? So, obviously the games are Out Run, Streets of Rage, (maybe a loose) Shinobi, Thunderforce IV and Lufia and the Fortress of Doom?
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