Release Date: June 20, 2019
Atypical production, which is a kind of tribute to the old automatic games and combines several different genres, such as races, shooters or beat'em ups. The Swedish independent developer Hi-Bit Studios is responsible for creating this title.
198X is an independent retro game, which combines several different genres from the 1980s, such as beat'em ups, shooters, racing games and RPGs. The title is a tribute to the "golden age of arcade games", featuring a plot referring to this period. The game was developed by the Swedish company Hi-Bit Studios and is its debut project.
The main character is Kid, an adolescent boy who one day discovers that unusual things are happening in a local arcade, resulting in a blurring of the border between the real world and video games.
198X's gameplay is very varied - it depends on the level at which we are at the moment. There are several different genres here, characterized by drastically different mechanics and the way the action is presented - sometimes we have a side view (side-scrolling perspective), in case of racing the camera moves behind the vehicle (TPP), and in RPG fragments we observe the world from the eyes of the hero (FPP).
The main premise of the game does not differ from what we know from the old arcade games - our task is usually to complete a given level, which requires defeating or shooting all opponents, winning a race or conquering a dangerous dungeon. All of this is joined together by the story - discovering it is also part of the fun.
198Xcan only be played solo. The game offers a story campaign, in which we experience different genres and game modes.
198X features very nice, two-dimensional graphics. The visuals are styled to resemble what we know from games from the 80's (pixel art style), but despite appearances it has a quite high level of detail. The locations, animated pictures and cut-scenes, through which the plot of the game is told, are particularly impressive - they are colorful and nicely animated.
Platforms:
PC Windows June 20, 2019
PlayStation 4 July 16, 2019
Xbox One cancelled
Nintendo Switch January 23, 2020
Developer: Hi-Bit Studios
Publisher: Hi-Bit Studios
Age restrictions: 12+
Similar Games:
System Requirements for 198X Video Game:
PC / Windows
Minimum System Requirements:
Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 4 GB HDD, Windows 8.
Game Ratings for 198X Video Game.
Nintendo Enthusiast: 8 / 10 by Dominick Ashtear
Short as it was, I enjoyed 198X immensely. It does exactly what it sets out to do — provide a nostalgic '80s story with retro-inspired minigames — with an incredible level of polish. With the retro style, the remembered nostalgia, and the actual memories, it was a bittersweet experience from beginning to end. I'll be keeping an eye out for part two, as I want to experience the rest of Kid's story. After all, it reminded me so much of my own story, and those of so many other geeks of a certain age.
NintendoWorldReport: 9 / 10 by Jordan Rudek
Understanding the experimental and purposeful design of 198X goes a long way toward appreciating it. Rather than a fun, traditional game experience, it's best viewed as a bold and thought-provoking work that reminds us of a time before wireless controllers and console wars. Back when all you really needed was a quarter and some courage.
Game Informer: 7 / 10 by Joe Juba
198X is exciting as a stroll down memory lane, but its simplicity and abbreviated story leave it short on substance
Average score from votes.
![[1:49] launch trailer](https://cdn.gracza.pl/galeria/filmy/640x360/182894687.jpg)
