198X

 Switch
198X Image
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

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  • Summary: Welcome to Suburbia, just outside the City, sometime in 198X. This is the journey of Kid, a teenager stuck between the limitations of innocent youth and the obligations of inevitable adulthood. The story unfolds when Kid discovers the local arcade – finding new worlds, and new meaning, inWelcome to Suburbia, just outside the City, sometime in 198X. This is the journey of Kid, a teenager stuck between the limitations of innocent youth and the obligations of inevitable adulthood. The story unfolds when Kid discovers the local arcade – finding new worlds, and new meaning, in video games…… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. NintendoWorldReport
    Jan 23, 2020
    90
    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.
  2. Nintendo Life
    Jan 20, 2020
    80
    A passionate love letter to a bygone age, 198X celebrates 2D, arcade-based gaming brilliantly and wraps it up in some of the best hand-drawn art we've seen in years. The soundtrack is also exceptional, and, in terms of pure presentation, it's really hard to fault what's on offer here. 198X's biggest weakness is its brevity; you can finish it in around an hour, but the experience will remain with you for long after the credits have rolled. While we're sure many people will consider the game's shortness a cardinal sin, we'd still recommend you give it a try if you're a fan of '80s and '90s gaming, appreciate lush 2D artwork and desire an experience which firmly lodges itself in your consciousness – even if it doesn't last all that long.
  3. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Jan 27, 2020
    80
    198X is an arcade epic, a coming-of-age story told through multiple games and genres, worlds, and characters. Experience the thrill of shooting, driving, jumping, fighting and role-playing – combined with emotional, cinematic storytelling. This is a love letter to the golden age of arcade games – yet with a scope that was never possible in the actual 1980s.
  4. Nintendo Insider
    Jan 27, 2020
    60
    Personally, I would love to see The Kid competing against top dogs in arcades across the city, turning his or her newfound passion into something to be proud of. For now, though, these desires are merely wishful thinking for something that clearly has the potential to manifest into something much more interesting and thought-provoking than the dreary narrative that binds some genuinely clever ideas together.
  5. Vooks
    Jan 28, 2020
    60
    Ultimately, I did enjoy my time with 198X. Much like my own youthful trips to the arcade, it dazzled me briefly but cuts itself short before delivering a substantial experience. What it does succeed at, though, is decorating itself in a pastiche of ‘80s arcade hits, with a brilliant aesthetic and authentic retro remakes. The $15 price isn’t outrageous, but the short runtime might be enough to convince you to wait for a sale before pumping those hard-earned coins.
  6. Gaming Age
    Mar 24, 2020
    58
    As I said, if you have an emotional connection to the era, 198X may be exactly what you need in your life. But if you don’t pine for the ‘80s and arcades as a stand-in for your lost youth, then 198X probably isn’t something you need to play.
  7. Metro GameCentral
    Jan 28, 2020
    50
    A mawkish attempt to glorify the 80s that features some gorgeous visuals and music but offers no real insight into the era’s culture or games.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 5 out of 14
  1. Kiibxaiim
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    Este videojuego está hecho con mucho amor, pasión y dedicación, deberían darle otra oportunidad para puntuarlo, creo que muchos ni lo hanEste videojuego está hecho con mucho amor, pasión y dedicación, deberían darle otra oportunidad para puntuarlo, creo que muchos ni lo han jugado para poder puntuar.. no es justo.
    Pd : es un pequeño gran videojuego    … Expand
  2. BADWOLF28
    Jun 1, 2020
    10
    A poignant coming of age game that uses an impactful storyline accompanied by an incredible 80s synth score to tell a meta story of how gamesA poignant coming of age game that uses an impactful storyline accompanied by an incredible 80s synth score to tell a meta story of how games (arcade games) can shape a persons perception and provide meaning for the grim life of a teenager. The music through this was enough to make it a masterpiece!… Expand
  4. Lessjake333
    Jun 19, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a great game! Or set of games? 198x plays like a cinematic visual novel at some points and like an arcade classic (several actually) at others. They really hit you in the feels a few times. What starts out a a simple Double Dragon clone soon pans up to the city and story beyond and leaves plenty of mysteries for the next installment (really hoping it gets made). Pacing can be a bit slow at times, but it all seems intentional and pays off in fuller immersion.… Expand
  5. Kokomadida
    Feb 16, 2020
    8
    An enjoyable trip through games of the 80s. Told against the backdrop of teenage angst and some gorgeous pixel art. The story has some reallyAn enjoyable trip through games of the 80s. Told against the backdrop of teenage angst and some gorgeous pixel art. The story has some really impactful moments, following "The Kid" and their dreams of escaping suburbia, small town life and finding excitement and themselves.

    The game is split down into levels consisting of nods back to games of the 80s. Each beautifully realised and well designed. Each level is a allegory to The Kid's ongoing story and fits the theme really well.

    As mentioned by others,.the game is short and the story has more to explore. But as a concept that's fun to play, I can't fault it.

    I'd recommend exploring it's delights. Especially if you're a fan of games of this era.    … Expand
  6. JJtheTexan
    May 1, 2023
    7
    What I liked:
    - Short and sweet
    - Good variety - Nice pixel art - The mini-games are reasonably fun What I didn't like: - The story    What I liked:
    - Short and sweet
    - Good variety
    - Nice pixel art
    - The mini-games are reasonably fun

    What I didn't like:
    - The story about an angsty teen, growing up in the 1980s and complaining about how miserable they are while using all the cliches from a YA novel
    - The seemingly unresolved ending

    I had high hopes for this one, because it sounded like something I would really enjoy. I came away slightly disappointed. Hard to recommend, but worth a shot if you can pick it up on sale.    … Expand
  7. BoolKidd
    Feb 5, 2020
    4
    I backed this game on Kickstarter. I've been waiting for this to release for about 2 years. It has even been pushed back once. All that beingI backed this game on Kickstarter. I've been waiting for this to release for about 2 years. It has even been pushed back once. All that being said I was under the impression that it would be a much longer and more intense package due to the backer updates I received. However, all we got was roughly an hour and a half of gameplay. You play as "Kid", as she plays one level of some arcade games as she narrates her life. There are so many questions that aren't answered, Like why her family split, where are her friends, what happens to this girl she mentions in school, and so much more. Yet after about an hour, all we get is a "To Be Continued...". Suffice to say... I'm highly disappointed. It Game could have been great. Maybe in the Top indie game of the year discussion but I guess not. Please don't buy...… Expand
  8. Lord_AdGnalDiv
    Jun 20, 2020
    2
    This game is so disappointingly bad it makes me angry. The visual presentation and soundtrack may be good, amazing even - hence the 2/10This game is so disappointingly bad it makes me angry. The visual presentation and soundtrack may be good, amazing even - hence the 2/10 rather than a 0/10 rating - but this "game" and its "story" falls entirely short of its own ambitions.
    Frustratingly, this game managed to do the precise opposite of "Show, don't tell" by only telling you the "story" without showing you anything of note. Nothing interesting ever happens to the main character, it's all just told to you.
    The gameplay and story are entirely disconnected and none of the gameplay sections are polished enough to be fun on their own. At best, this game can be considered a visual novel with bare-bones gameplay sections. At worst, this is a lazy excuse for an artsy indie game that has nothing to say, nothing to show and nothing to offer.    … Expand

See all 14 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

93
#93 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

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