198X

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.

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.

198X is a nostalgic but incomplete-feeling tribute to Eighties games and their influence. Each of the five genres included is unique and equally stunning, as are the cut-scenes. The problem is that it ends quickly and without exploring each style to the fullest.

While by no means a bad game, 198X is a bit like ordering a pie and finding out it has no filling.

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.

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.

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.

198X is a true love letter to the old arcade genre : through a retro trip of five different mini games, Hi-Bit's celebration only manages to copy and paste tiny bits of classic ones. Thanks to a cliché narration, 198X does nothing but tell how good the past used to be, and how much the present suck. If you still possess the original, there is not much need to play this wanabee experience.