ModRetro Chromatic Release Titles Bundle Impressions
ModRetro did not stop at releasing its first handheld the Chromatic, the excellent Game Boy Color remake, but has also been publishing cartridges of new and old games. To accompany the launch of its handheld, the company published 6 games, namely Dragonyhm, Patchy Matchy, Toki Tori Ultimate Edition, Tales of Monsterland DX, In the Dark 2 and Traumatarium Peniten. They can be bought individually (prices vary per game) or together as the $200 Release Titles Bundle.
Each game comes with the respective game box, instruction manual, a Chromatic charm and, of course, the Chromatic and GBC-compatible cartridge. It’s worth noting that the latter is FRAM-based, where game saves do not rely on an internal battery backup, which is a welcome upgrade over classic, battery-reliant cartridges. However, the carts do not come in a box which is not optimal for easy storage.
I did appreciate that each cartridge is unique-looking. Some share the colour palette of the game, while others are transparent and, in the case of In the Dark 2, the cartridge glows in the dark! These are nice touches to make each game cartridge pack an original look, and we’ll take a look at them here.
Dragonyhm
Developed by Spacebot Interactive and ModRetro, Dragonyhm is an epic fantasy RPG for the small screen. It is set in the Kingdom of Archend where signs of disruption to its era of peace started, beginning with the disappearance of the Yhmszindr, or the protector of the kingdom. You take on the role of Kurtis, his son, who is tasked to find the Yhmszindr. This quest leads him to venture across the kingdom, learn more about its rich history and face the evil that threatens the peace of the land.
While the Game Boy-era Dragon Quest, Zelda and Pokemon flairs are apparent in Dragonyhm, it merges these inspirations to deliver something new and original. The instruction manual delves into the lore and the story, although mostly linear and plays on some tropes, is interesting. Its mix of open-ended exploration, puzzle-solving and turn-based combat makes for an engaging experience; and fans of retro JRPG will definitely find it appealing.
However, this appeal to fans of RPGs from yesteryear is double-edged as Dragonyhm carries the need to grind, especially early on. Some puzzles rely on trial and error, but at least you can avoid overworld enemies. There is also a learning curve to the combat as some strategy is involved, requiring the player to pay attention to the magic types and attack combos that are most effective against certain enemies.
Dragonhym is among my favourite titles in this bundle as it isn’t shy from immersing the player in a 10 hour+ RPG adventure on the Chromatic and I hope the developers work on other games set in this universe. It is available for $45 via ModRetro’s online store.
Patchy Matchy
This one is a relatively casual puzzle game developed by Malamute. You’ll have to line up four of the same sea creature tiles (vertically or horizontally) to clear them from the screen to help Patchy the Surfer ride his waves unobstructed.
Patchy Matchy’s main goal is to get as many matches and get the best score in a round. So you’ll want to stack up combos to get higher scores and unlock the achievements.
While the gameplay is simple, allowing you to freely choose tiles to move around, you'll have to keep up your reflexes as the game introduces occasional obstacles in the form of bubbles. You'll have to pop them by setting a match right next to them or else you won't be able to swap tiles. It's an interesting challenge that sets it apart.
While I find its $30 price tag to be on the higher end based on what it has to offer, it can be a fun puzzler for some casual playtime.
Toki Tori Ultimate Edition
Right after hatching from his egg, Toki Tori witnesses the kidnapping of the rest of the farm’s eggs. While no ideal situation for a newborn chick, our protagonist isn’t fazed and ventures forth to save his siblings who have been scattered across four magical worlds.
To help Toki Tori in his quest, you’ll have to progress through each world’s 15 levels to collect the eggs within. The process isn’t as easy as it sounds as the puzzle-platformer gameplay can get quite challenging with monsters, obstacles and dead-ends. You’ll have to plan Toki Tori’s journey and make use of his tools and weapons to successfully clear levels. This can involve quite some trial-and-error - with the accompanying frustrations - but there is a layer of addiction that comes with the satisfaction of completing a level.
Toki Tori – Ultimate Edition is actually a re-release of a classic title and includes some improvements such as faster movement and navigation, auto-jump and no timer. It’s a challenging but fun game with lots of replay value and is available for $45.
Tales of Monsterland DX
Tales of Monsterland DX is the full-colour version of Tales of Monsterland, which was initially developed for the Game Boy by Joel J Games. In it, you wake up in a strange land filled with monsters and need to find a way to get back home.
It draws inspiration from classics such as Kirby and Wonderboy and adopts a similar action-platformer gameplay. You’ll get to explore the mysterious land by jumping around and even taking new forms. There’s also a fair amount of combat (or dodging enemies) involved to keep you engaged.
Joel J Games perfectly captures the retro action-platformer feel with Tales of Monsterland DX. Even if it’s a rather short experience, it is a charming one that serves as an apt love letter to its inspirations. Tales of Monsterland DX is available for $40 via ModRetro.
In the Dark 2
An unknown terrorist is threatening to cripple intergalactic travel Galactic Federations by infecting its Chief Neural Core with a noxious digital virus. Ikalo Pann, Captain of the Starship Leviathan, has been tasked to identify the source of the virus and bring the culprit to justice. With only a set of galactic coordinates and a mysterious message as leads, Captain Pann will have to explore planets and solve puzzles to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Retailing for $40 on ModRetro’s website, In the Dark 2 is one of the most technically impressive games in this bundle. Developers Gumpy Function & Pearacidic Games did a commendable job with the sci-fi mystery presentation, mixing pixelated yet detailed cutscenes, 2D exploration, arcade-style shoot'em up, grid-based puzzles, and an atmospheric soundtrack.
However, the focus is on the puzzles, with 200 to solve of increasing difficulty in 4x4 and 5x5 grids. To complete a puzzle, you will have to switch off all lights in the grid. You can do so by selecting the light and switching its state, but doing so will also alter the state of the surrounding lights in a cross pattern. The main challenge is to figure out the way to switch off all lights with as few moves as possible. The difficulty increases as you progress through levels, especially with larger grids, and can involve considerable trial and error. A hint system could have eased things and made the experience more accessible.
In the Dark 2 does include attempts at varying the gameplay, but these are limited. There are three planets you can take the Leviathan to and exploration is linear, restricted to the starship and the location of the Puzzle Terminal. In the starship, you can use the Flight Training Sim to engage in a side Shmup game that chronicles Ikalo Pann’s previous missions. There is no real consequence to this side game and it feels like a missed opportunity to deliver a more engaging experience.
The gameplay could mix more extended periods of exploration, intersperse planetary travels with shoot ’em-up sequences, and throw the puzzles once landed. The game would definitely benefit from fleshing out the other gameplay aspects and would make the barrage of puzzles less tedious.
Traumatarium Penitent
The Order Penitent and the Ebon Legion: these are the two factions of the kingdom's knights and they are at odds in their motives. The former has sworn to pay back their sins in defence of the kingdom, while the latter aims to resurrect the evil force that once plagued the land. Following recent disturbances on an island, the Order has dispatched one of its faithful Penitents to investigate. It turns out that the Ebon Legion is at the source, leading to a fight to save the kingdom from their evil uprising.
Going by the presentation alone, Traumatarium Penitent is, by far, my favourite title in this bundle. Developer Eligos Games fleshed out its dark fantasy universe with detailed environments and intricate character depictions, accompanied by mood-setting soundtracks. While animated sprites and environmental elements would further boost the immersiveness, the game already feels like it is pushing the hardware limitations of the Chromatic.
In terms of gameplay, Traumatarium Penitent is a dungeon-crawler with a decent amount of exploration, resource management and a steady focus on combat. The latter can be quite challenging but fair, as you need to balance your attack, defence and health status. While there are only three dungeons to clear and the game lasts a couple of hours, you’ll likely get used to being defeated. Furthermore, moving tires you and decreases your vitality. You’ll have to keep an eye on that gauge or you will start losing health points while out exploring.
It’s best to tackle this game in a bite-sized fashion and the progression mechanic is designed with this approach in mind. There’s also a fun password system when you rest and recover to allow you to resume your progress. I’ve jotted down my password in the instruction booklet and this aspect adds another retro feeling to the experience. Despite its relatively short duration, Traumatarium Penitent delivers one of the most unique experiences among Chromatic’s launch lineup, and it’s worth the $40 tag.
Overall, the ModRetro Chromatic Release Titles Bundle offers a decent variety of games from RPGs to puzzlers. While my personal favourites are Dragonyhm and Traumatarium Penitent, there is something to suit a range of preferences. It’s also encouraging to see that ModRetro is supporting its handheld ecosystem with new games and more are on their way.
