Microids has revealed that Joe & Mac will soon be making their grand return with a full remake of the original game destined for modern systems next year.
This arcade platformer was originally released in Japanese arcades back in the early '90s before hitting the SNES, NES, Game Boy and Mega Drive shortly afterwards. Of course, you might remember that we recently embarked on a return to its prehistoric era thanks to its inclusion in Nintendo Switch Online's SNES collection – feel free to read our full review if you're interested in checking that out.
As for this upcoming remake? Well, Microids says it's actually "more than a remake". Titled Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja, the new release will not only include the game we already know, but will also feature "a handful" of new features, including an original adventure mode that contains brand new levels.
No consoles have been announced just yet, but with the game's ties to Nintendo platforms, we're hopeful that Switch will be a top priority.
Tosuke Matsuoka of G-MODE Corporation says, "We have full confidence in Microids and [developer] Mr. Nutz Studio's capability to develop this remake of Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja. It's a real pleasure to see these iconic video game characters revived with today's technology. It's been a long time since we've seen these two characters, and their return will delight old fans and new players alike.”
Do you have fond memories of the original? Have you checked it out on Switch Online? Let us know in the usual place.
Comments 55
Graphically looks very easy on the eye. Never played this one. I always remember playing chuck rock and dying.... Alot.
Played it alot in the 90s. Will most likely buy this when its released 😊
Hopefully that mr nutz remake is up next.
Really glad to see these finally getting finished!
Day one purchase easily
I’m not a fan of these cartoon style graphics, I prefer pixels.
Microids was largely responsible for the Toki remake in 2018, which was a fantastic update to the original. This one looks like it will be just as good.
This is great news! Looking forward to it!
«but with the game's ties to Nintendo platforms»
Just like the Disney Afternoon Collection and the 8-Bit Adventure Anthology: Volume One…
The T-Rex boss in the first stage is one of the first times I witnessed the power of the SNES when I was a kid. The sprite was so big.
The char design isn’t grabbing me, hate to say
Classic, lol... Wouldn't go that far. Even in the 90s it was the game I rented from the video shop when everything else was out.
Sounds awesome, but I'm not sure if I'll be in the market after already getting the original game twice on Switch itself (NSO SNES app and the separate arcade version). Let's see what this adventure mode will be like, though.
That’s an uphill sell on the Switch, with the original being free on NSO….
Day 1 buy for me
Would be great if this time around they DO include the original ROM as an unlockable, a missed opportunity in Toki. But I'd settle for a Mega Drive version, which is known as the superior one apart from the arcade original.
@Moroboshi876 That'd be neat, would be kinda like some mario games that include the original Mario Bros.
I'm very surprised to see the amount of positive sentiment... The original game is pretty average and I don't remember it being particularly highly regarded or popular when it was released (not compared to Chuck Rock at least). Hope it's good anyway!
Loved Joe and Mac though I haven't played the NSO release (kind of forgot it was there). I'll probably support it day one only if the price is fair (and it reviews well).
Yes!! love the originals 😍
Oh I’m excited for this. Definitely gonna buy it.
I always preferred Joe and Mac 2, I played the hell out of that game as a kid. You could buy a wife!
Hopefully they’ll fix the difficulty on the last level! It was definitely a coin muncher in the arcades
Well this is exciting!
Looks good. I’ll definitely keep an eye on this
I crammed so many tokens into Caveman Ninja back in the day in between slices of pizza and Pepsi. Can’t wait for this release.
Looks a lot like the Toki remake, which is great.
If this, Smurfs and Marsupilami are as good as they look, Microids will have had a better 2021 than Nintendo.
Platform games are my favorite genre and the snes ones are very mediocre at best. Not bad games but not good games either, maybe this remake can fix that.
But will it be as unintentionally hilarious as the Game Boy version, where the girls straight up ignore Joe and Mac at the end of a level?
Got this Game a few Years ago with the Rerelease as a Collection on the SNES, was quita suprised how much Fun i have with it.
I would have loved that Game as Kid.
Great Sprite Art and Dinosaurs
Like the Snes Version more than the Arcade where you constantly lose Life, it is just a Design Choice to get more Coins out of you and doesn't belongs to a Home Release.
I looking forwand into this Remake, looks great.
Lets see how the Gameplay will be.
I enjoyed the original and it's sequel for the SNES back in the day. Probably gonna get the remake once it's out and play the older titles again on NSO too.
I was inches away from getting the Arcade Archives version a few weeks ago, now I'm glad that I didn't. I prefer the pixel look of the original, but the art style of the remake isn't totally off-putting. Like others said, hopefully they find away to throw in the ROM of at least one of the SNES, Genesis or Arcade versions.
I loved the original when it came out in the arcade and SNES. I didn’t realize there was a demand for a new one. Must be due to the IP and license being so dirt cheap.
It looks like a mobile game with the graphic style.
If they had it where you could unlock the pixel style for game play similar to Wonder Boy, that would be neat. The Switch already has SNES and arcade versions available so no need to load those onto it. Price it at $14.99, that’s fair.
I hope they remake the sequel as well, I liked that one
If it's priced sensibly, then day one for me a long with TMNT Shredders Revenge next year!! Can't beat a good old fashioned side scrolling platformer IMO
Nice, now I wonder if this was going to be originally coming exclusively for the Intellivision Amico but was pull cause the Amico got delay. At the Amico Wikipedia page, Cavemen Ninja was one of the retro remake listed and planned for the system. If this was suppose to be that game then it maybe no longer be an Amico exclusive as the console launch date has been lost in limbo.
I'll probably buy this one on a dale.
I hope it's the SNES version and not the arcade.
Day 1 for me as I have fond memories of the original. I will say that I'm not a fan of the flash-like graphics...
Love the graphical style, will buy it day one.
@Gwynbleidd Yeah, never found the flash animated style appealing. Might give Ghosts n Goblins a chance, but... just... don’t try to hype up these remakes as “HD” or somehow better looking. Give me enhanced pixel art like Pocky and Rocky Reshrined. Cotton Reboot was a solid effort as well, even with the less awesome cut scenes... overall still a great buy.
@BlubberWhale These doesn't look like flash graphics though. They look more hand drawns to me and the art style doesn't look cheaply made.
I LOVE hand drawn graphics. This looks so good! Might have to check this one out as well...
Is it based on Joe and Mac? Or Caveman Ninja? They’re pretty different games, right down to the final boss.
The "updated" graphics don't resemble the feel of the original at all.
JonTron anyone?
Definitely love the graphics in the screen shots. Hopeful they look just as good in motion.
The original is actually on Switch twice it's in Nintendo Switch Online's SNES collection and on the eShop for $7.99
Personally I like the graphics. I'm an old school gamer from the early eightys and grew up with pixalated graphics but honestly I prefer the look of 2D games with HD graphics. Games like this, Monster Boy, Hollow Kinght, Dragons Trap, SoR 4 etc, look better to me then pixal art remakes like Alex Kidd for example. It's just my opinion though. And while they are not without their charm, I had my fill of pixalated graphics a long time ago.
Who asked for this? LMAO
@Specter_of-the_OLED Flash cartoons can also be hand drawn. I guess if it’s animated right I would like it, but if it’s like a flat image with arms and legs animated like a paper doll... that’s the look I don’t like. If it’s real frame by frame animation like Cuphead, then sure, that looks pretty good.
This is great news- another lost game intended for the PS3/360 finally getting finished up. The Toki remake was great so I have faith this will also be pretty good. Hopefully they'll look into doing the psuedo-sequel Congo's Caper at some point, as it's even more obscure/forgotten than Caveman Ninja.
Also...I don't know why people always associate hand drawn graphics with cheap flash animations (or mobile games). Looks perfectly fine to me- there are about a trillion other games with pixel art on the Eshop.
@Chamver has more right to exist than two whole ass Bubsy games in this generation
@Slain I agree- hand drawn art honestly looks better when it's done right. Besides, there are so many games with sprites and pixel art available right now that it's honestly a breath of fresh air.
@burninmylight I wouldn't expect it. They didn't do it for Toki, anyways. (Which they should have as a comparison, even if they couldn't do the whole retro/modern graphics toggle like Dragon's Trap but oh well)
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