Retro City Rampage Discussion Thread

*Ecto Jedi* · 09-24-2010, 07:33 PM

Pandering? Really? I don't get that vibe. I just get into dizzy fanboy mode seeing all those '80s game and pop culture references. It's my one failing.

Peanut · 09-24-2010, 09:07 PM

It's pandering. Not to the degree of something like Scott Pilgrim vs The World or the new Mega Man sequels, but it's pandering. It's the new fad in not only indie, but downloadable game design as a whole.

Makes tons of old pop culture and game references, mix it together with faux 8-bit graphics and a chip tune soundtrack, then sprinkle it with just enough old school jank to make it nostalgic in that "blowing in carts" kind of way.

This kind of thing has worn out its welcome on me, but I can at least see some love in this game. One f*cking dude made it, so you know it wasn't shat out during some office meeting about how to drag in the nostalgic game crowd who can't seem to move the f*ck on.

*Ecto Jedi* · 09-24-2010, 09:52 PM

Ahhh. It's good to be back.

*Dr. Doom* · 09-24-2010, 11:31 PM

With Scott Pilgrim it was kinda of the appropriate thing to do though, because it fit the tone of the books. That and it's a wonderful game with an awesome soundtrack. I'm sure the Mega Man games have great soundtracks too.

I guess if you'd say the same thing about the books, then it doesn't really matter, but I think they're incredible, so that's just where I am.

Peanut · 09-24-2010, 11:39 PM

It's super fitting and the game is insanely fun, but that doesn't negate the fact that that kind of stuff is pandering to a very specific crowd. They put 8-bit graphical glitches in the Subspace Highway. Pandering.

I'm not saying some of that stuff isn't great, I'm just saying that it's a viable tactic that publishers are using to pull in a very specific crowd of people.

**ThirdMarioBro** · 09-25-2010, 01:57 AM

Well, I happen to be in that crowd and also be a total whore for this kind of stuff, so the more the merrier.

Peanut · 09-25-2010, 02:53 AM

I also love that kind of thing, but don't you think it's been getting steadily out of control? It's nice to have those retro throwbacks every so often, but does every other downloadable title need to have some kind of retro twist to it?

It's like retro has become the new dual-stick shooter.

09-24-2010, 11:31 PM	#4
Dr. Doom Allons-y! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Castle Doom Posts: 4,535	With Scott Pilgrim it was kinda of the appropriate thing to do though, because it fit the tone of the books. That and it's a wonderful game with an awesome soundtrack. I'm sure the Mega Man games have great soundtracks too. I guess if you'd say the same thing about the books, then it doesn't really matter, but I think they're incredible, so that's just where I am. __________________ I love you, Pickle.

09-25-2010, 01:57 AM	#6
ThirdMarioBro Tea Time! Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 8,905	Well, I happen to be in that crowd and also be a total whore for this kind of stuff, so the more the merrier. __________________

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09-24-2010, 07:33 PM	#1
Ecto Jedi Denki Wo Kitte Kudasai Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,439	Pandering? Really? I don't get that vibe. I just get into dizzy fanboy mode seeing all those '80s game and pop culture references. It's my one failing.

09-24-2010, 09:07 PM	#2
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	It's pandering. Not to the degree of something like Scott Pilgrim vs The World or the new Mega Man sequels, but it's pandering. It's the new fad in not only indie, but downloadable game design as a whole. Makes tons of old pop culture and game references, mix it together with faux 8-bit graphics and a chip tune soundtrack, then sprinkle it with just enough old school jank to make it nostalgic in that "blowing in carts" kind of way. This kind of thing has worn out its welcome on me, but I can at least see some love in this game. One fcking dude made it, so you know it wasn't shat out during some office meeting about how to drag in the nostalgic game crowd who can't seem to move the fck on.

09-24-2010, 09:52 PM	#3
Ecto Jedi Denki Wo Kitte Kudasai Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,439	Ahhh. It's good to be back.

09-24-2010, 11:39 PM	#5
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	It's super fitting and the game is insanely fun, but that doesn't negate the fact that that kind of stuff is pandering to a very specific crowd. They put 8-bit graphical glitches in the Subspace Highway. Pandering. I'm not saying some of that stuff isn't great, I'm just saying that it's a viable tactic that publishers are using to pull in a very specific crowd of people.

09-25-2010, 02:53 AM	#7
Peanut Second Gear Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The New World Posts: 15,422	I also love that kind of thing, but don't you think it's been getting steadily out of control? It's nice to have those retro throwbacks every so often, but does every other downloadable title need to have some kind of retro twist to it? It's like retro has become the new dual-stick shooter.