Reviews:
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A very ambitious retro-styled Metroidvania experience that works pretty well within the confines of classic expectations
There’s absolutely a bit of a retro Renaissance going on right now in the indie space, and whether they be authentically 8-bit style through and through titles or very retro feel games honoring that era there’s plenty to be excited about out there for enthusiasts for that era. Prison City sort of straddles the line, not limiting itself to the purist 8-bit look and feel, but absolutely channeling that vibe with its more simplified looks and its overall style of play (think challenging and sometimes even frustrating). That said, it does feature some more modern features, like a map which can at least be a bit helpful (though not terribly, it’s better than nothing) and its control scheme is a bit less rigidly implemented than your typical old-school NES title. I think more than anything whether you enjoy this relies on you truly loving games from that era down to their sometimes unfair edge, not really being designed with you beating them in mind so much as throwing challenges at you that people either dug or got tired of. If you keep that aspect in mind though, this has a great feel from that era but with a few value added elements that are a nice touch.
Justin Nation, Score:Good [7.9]