Horror is the one genre that I always find myself looking back on for nostalgia. It may be the number of iconic villains or takes on danger and gore, but whatever the reason, RetroRealms taps into horror nostalgia in a groovy way. With a 16-bit art style and attention to arcade detail, RetroRealms offers two versions: Halloween and Ash Vs the Evil Dead. The duo of games are developed by Boss Team Games and published by WayForward Technologies.
RetroRealms: Halloween is inspired by the original 1979 film and adapts the characters and circumstances to an arcade-style game with Metroidvania platforming and action. Here, you can play as Michael Myers or Laurie Strode if you purchase the DLC. The exciting element about switching between the two is having two very different player experiences. Laurie is quicker than Michael and also less powerful. Her enemies are also demons brought to life by RetroRealms baddie, who wants to steal the Necronomicon and Michael to become more powerful. However, as Michael, in the base version of the game, you work your way through a hospital slaying orderlies as you progress.
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On the Evil Dead side of things, you have the option in RetroRealms: Ash Vs Evil Dead to play as Ash. That being said, while the Necronomicon does make its appearance, this game is purely drawing influence from the events of the STARZ series, Ash Vs The Evil Dead, and not the entire franchise as a whole. While this does constrain some of the elements that you can include, you don’t really miss anything, at least in the levels that I played through.
RetroRealms pays homage to the iconic sidescrolling arcade games of the past and the characters that horror fans have come to love. Both versions of the game offer ways to collect items that spur replaying each level even as you clear them. Additionally, you can pick up arcade tickets to unveil pieces and displays in your museum or unlock new power-ups to enhance Michael and Ash’s abilities and find all-new ways to play.
The best mechanic on display from both a combat and platforming perspective is the ability to switch between two different planes. One is a gross squishy body horror-inspired hell called the Dark Realm, and the other is just the regular world. By shifting between the two worlds, you can solve puzzles and platforms in different ways than if you were on the other side. This allows the game to feature a complexity that keeps you engaged.
On the replayability side of things, like any traditional arcade, RetroRealms will also feature a leaderboard. With leaderboards, you can see how you stack up against your friends, your platform, and other RetroRealms players globally—adding even more incentives for players with a competitive streak.
One of the key questions I had going into my demo was how the two ultimately connect. With the Collector’s Edition, players can access both RetroRealms versions and the DLC characters. When you have both of the games, you can play Ash in Halloween and Michael in Ash Vs Evil Dead, too. It’s a fun little crossover that allows the team behind RetroRealms to build consistency between each game but also drives you to try each level with the other playstyles specific to the different characters.
While each game is sold separately, Boss Team Games has also created an in-game Arcade environment where both titles are housed, allowing you to move between them. That said, there also isn’t any penalty for buying one and then the other, though the Collector’s Edition may be the way to go if you already know you’re all-in on 16-bit horror platformers.
Overall, RetroRealms is speaking directly to players looking for a horror experience that immediately conjures up the past. Nostalgia may be key, but the dynamic platforming and thoughtful adaptation make both RetroRealms: Halloween and RetroRealms: Ash Vs. Evil Dead is a fun time.
