RetroRealms Arcade Hands-On Preview: A Fun Horror Throwback

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RetroRealms Arcade Hands-On Preview: A Fun Horror Throwback

As a seasoned gamer who has survived countless virtual apocalypses, slain dragons in mystical realms, and even saved the galaxy from an alien invasion, I must say that October 2024 has brought forth a fresh wave of adrenaline-pumping horror titles that have left me spellbound. Among these chilling offerings, RetroRealms Arcade stands out as a unique, spine-tingling experience that harkens back to the golden age of gaming while still managing to deliver a modern twist on classic horror franchises.

This October, we’re right smack in the middle of the spooky season, and gamers are on the hunt for some brand new chilling titles to play. The year 2024 won’t disappoint horror enthusiasts as it offers a plethora of games to explore, one of which stands out with its distinctiveness: RetroRealms Arcade. This game is essentially a central hub that brings together 16-bit style 2D platformers inspired by timeless horror franchises.

RetroRealms Arcade, created by WayForward and published by Boss Team Games, serves as a central hub offering two distinct platformer games for enthusiasts to explore. One is inspired by John Carpenter’s iconic slasher film, Halloween, while the other draws themes from the Evil Dead franchise, focusing on the TV series, Ash vs. Evil Dead.

Upon launching RetroRealms Arcade for the first time, gamers encounter a spooky, seemingly deserted arcade that they can traverse from a first-person angle. At first glance, there isn’t much to take in; a room off to one side holds bonus videos to watch, but the entrance leading deeper into the structure is barricaded. Apart from the videos and the arcade machines for Ash vs. Evil Dead and Halloween set up in the corridor, there are no interactive elements at the outset of the game.

RetroRealms: Halloween and Ash vs. Evil Dead Impressions

As a diehard fan of the Halloween franchise, I’ve always found it gripping compared to Evil Dead. So, when given the chance, I instinctively opted to explore the arcade cabinet dedicated to Halloween first. The game commences with the sinister Overlord awakening Michael Myers from his confinement in the psychiatric ward, setting him free on a bloody rampage. Armed with just a knife, Michael is lethally efficient, dispatching most victims with a single strike. However, certain adversaries require multiple hits to be defeated, usually the non-human enemies that manifest as demonic creatures. These entities fire projectiles and dart about the screen in much the same way as the Medusa heads from Castlevania.

In simpler terms, RetroRealms converts the characters and settings from the Halloween movie series into a 2D side-scrolling action game that resembles games for the Super Nintendo. The game can feel quite simple at times, but it offers unique elements such as switching between real world and demonic realms to solve puzzles and find hidden collectibles. Additionally, there’s a shop where you can use the collected currency to upgrade Michael Myers’ abilities, enhancing his stats and unlocking new moves.

The updated game system offers an enhanced replay experience compared to traditional 16-bit games, as it introduces new features such as progression systems. This allows players to seek out and gather every item within a level for increased rewards, making the game more engaging. Additionally, if players find themselves struggling with boss fights, they can return to previously conquered stages to earn extra cash, level up, and tackle the challenges again. I didn’t find the boss battles in the Halloween arcade version particularly tough, but having the option to revisit earlier levels is still a welcome addition.

The “Evil Dead” arcade game shares the same gameplay mechanics as the “Halloween” one. While the latter features Michael Myers with his iconic knife, the former spotlights Ash Williams wielding a chainsaw instead. Essentially, both games require players to navigate through minor platforming levels, eliminate numerous enemies, and search diligently for hidden collectibles.

The two characters, Michael and Ash, have distinct plots and settings. While Michael is being manipulated by the Overlord in the Halloween storyline with the prospect of retrieving his dead sister’s gravestone, Ash is driven to combat an evil entity and recover the Necronomicon. Meanwhile, Michael is engaged in killing innocent people across Haddonfield and its surroundings, whereas Ash confronts demons in locations that will be recognizable to those who have watched the Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series.

RetroRealms Arcade Has Potential to Be a Great Horror Hub

In a unique twist, RetroRealms allows for the blending of two game franchises. This enables players to opt for Michael Myers over Ash Williams when entering the Evil Dead machine, should they wish. While the narrative alters with this choice, the core gameplay remains largely unchanged. It’s a bit of a letdown that progress from one cabinet doesn’t carry over to the others, requiring players to start anew each time. Nevertheless, the ability to switch characters is enjoyable and could become a major attraction for RetroRealms Arcade if additional cabinets are introduced in the future.

In addition to Michael Myers and Ash Williams, the DLC characters Kelly Williams and Laurie Strode are now playable. I didn’t get a chance to test either during the preview, but there seems to be a lot of potential for expanding the roster with more horror character additions in the future. RetroRealms Arcade could potentially transform into an arena hosting side-scrolling versions of iconic horror series, though this will largely hinge on how well these initial two cabinets perform.

Developer WayForward boasts a rich background in creating top-tier side-scrolling games, and it appears that RetroRealms Arcade may well be another accolade added to its impressive collection. I’ve had the chance to explore the first two realms of each machine so far, but my anticipation is growing as I look forward to delving deeper into the game and uncovering what hidden treasures it holds.

The RetroRealms Arcade game is set to release on October 18th. This includes versions for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. For the purpose of this preview, Game Rant was given a code to play the PC version.

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2024-10-03 16:03