this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2024

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UFO 50 is a retro gamer's dream - I highly recommend it (self.retrogaming)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by The_Picard_Maneuver to c/retrogaming

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I know this might be an unusual post, since this is a new game, but hear me out!

I just picked up UFO 50 this week, and I can't recommend this enough to anyone who loves retro gaming. The premise is that this is a collection of 50 games from a fictional 8-bit console in the 1980s, with a little info card for each one providing its release date, developers, and some trivia. The game selection screen shows 50 cartridges to choose from:

These are all full games like you might have seen during the era - not minigames or demos, and the ones I've booted up feel pretty authentically 8-bit (with some modern QoL things thrown in). There are all sorts of cool ideas and game types: platformers, a point and click adventure, bullet hells, at least one full JRPG, etc.

Some examples:

It looks like as you browse through the chronological library, you see a sequel or two of previous titles. This was made by the team that created Spelunky, and it wasn't even on my radar until I fortunately saw a video a few days ago of one of the individual games (followed by some confusion when I couldn't figure out where to buy that game by itself). If any of this appeals to you at all, I highly recommend checking it out.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I have been obsessed with this game since it came out. I've already put in 60 hours and got 14 games cherried (which means 100%ing them, getting a true ending, or beating a difficult challenge).

I'm writing an incredibly long blog post where I review every single game in the pack. Excited to finish & share it once I'm done playing through everything.

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Holy wow.

Where are you posting this? I'd be very interested in reading! I've only just gotten started, but I can already feel that I'm going to sink a ton of time into this game.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

I'll post it on Lemmy once it's done. I'm still not entirely sure which gaming communities would be most suitable but it'll definitely be in [email protected] :)

That said, UFO 50 is truly massive, so it'll be some time before I finish this thing. One of the games I haven't started yet is apparently a 20+ hour JRPG, so that'll be fun.

[–] Sludgehammer 14 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I'm holding off on buying this until I clear some stuff in my backlog (and hopefully getting the game at a deeper discount).

However from the videos I've watched my only criticism is that some of the games look rather complex and would benefit from supplying more information than a small blurb and a controls page. I wish UFO 50 had taken a page from Retro Game Challenge and had some in-universe game manuals and magazines. Still, since I'm planning on buying it at some point obviously not a deal breaker.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 months ago

I think this is very deliberate. Having played at least a chunk of all 50 games, there are only two or three that I think would have benefitted greatly from more instructions or tutorialization. Figuring out how each game works and being surprised when you find a new way to use the very simple controls is part of the experience.

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I have been confused by some at first. However, that was also my experience playing games like this back in the day, so in a weird way it has added to the authenticity for me. Lol

If I can't figure some of them out (looking at you, Barbuta), I'll have to look up some stuff.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

However, that was also my experience playing games like this back in the day

Exactly my experience as well. It's very reminiscent of that time when I was given a GBA emulator with a bunch of US and JP roms without any explanation. I didn't know what an emulator is, or that there were game consoles other than the GBC. I didn't knew my way around English either and Japanese looked like some sort of bug to me.

There's just something stumbling through a big library and slowly making inroads in your favorite titles.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Seconded. The (50!) games in this collection are lovingly authentically retro in style and difficulty. But smooth and modern in gameplay. Even games which copy a well known genre still have their own twist to them. A joy to play.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 4 months ago

The (50!) games

50! presumably referring to the number of different orderings in which you could play them?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Dunkey made a video on it. Looks fun.

https://youtu.be/NaNM3biswfA

[–] CrayonRosary 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Mortol is the game of the year. I got gold and cherry at the same time. I replayed each level 10-50 times to try to get the best runs I could. Ended the game with 150 lives. Played it for about 8 hours. I would have paid $10 for that game alone!

And I still have Mortol 2 to play!

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver 2 points 4 months ago

This was the one that I saw a video about before I knew what UFO 50 was! I tried searching for Mortol on steam, to no results. Lol

What a creative idea for a platformer.

[–] Usually_Lurker 3 points 4 months ago

Available on steam for $25

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1147860/UFO_50/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I have been completely hooked on this game. Night manor so far has been my favorite and I cherried that on. But Bushido blade has been great too. Lately I have been bashing my head against star waspir, and it is so much fun.

Vainger is also really cool.

So far everything I have played on this game has been great.

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver 1 points 4 months ago

I've barely dipped my toes into the games so far because I keep coming back to Ninpek and (I forget the name) the one where you keep jumping upward and try not to fall.