Pushing retro the point of being perhaps even less sophisticated-looking than the Atari 2600 games that it’s inspired by to the point that it can be considered a de-make of a retro title, if you could imagine such a thing. “Retrocade: DataStream Y2K600” nonetheless provides lots of games and options that together produce a tremendous amount of play value for 80 Microsoft Points.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. The games take place in, as the title suggests, a stream of data. Any similarities to actual games take some imagination, such as the “Flow Rider” mode which could be compared to Frogger. These remind me of games that might have been played by the beings living in the computer in Tron; reminiscent of something in our world, but only bare. For example, there’s “Glitcher” which you might associate with Frogger. But then there’s “FLow Rider”, which is like a version of Frogger where you have to get across the screen, plant a virus, and then escape back to your start point while the virus begins to wreak havoc on the system. “Waypoint” is a variant that has you “hacking” your way across the system against the clock, and being wary of sections of the screen periodically becoming inaccessible due to security sweeps. “Corruption” has you taking on the role of the virus, and is perhaps the best mode of all. All in all, it’s a really interesting and value-packed package, but whether you purchase it or not will rest heavily on whether you like the idea of a de-make of an already retro title or not. If so, then go buy it. If you compare pixel-by-pixel comparisons of multiplatform games to see which one is best, this game might not be for you. However, with fantastic and period appropriate chiptunes music created by Xbox Live Indie Games personality Master Blud, this is an interesting and experimental game that’s worth a download.
Here’s what the developer (QuimbyRBG) has to say about the game:
“Hours of entertainment lies ahead of you as the arcade genre comes back with a vengeance! DataStream Y2K600 takes no prisoners on its way to resurrecting the pure unadulterated game play that the entire industry was built upon. No fancy graphics, no social media BS, and no silly advertising tie ins; Just rock solid retro fun. A MUST PLAY GAMING EXPERIENCE!”
Writings of Mass Deduction 