Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
“retro” only for the most superficial reasons. In a sense, these are classic games with classic
gameplay, that don't necessarily need to have a retro aesthetic.
At the same time, there still is a very healthy community for actual retro gaming: playing games
on old systems and emulators or writing games specifically for old hardware. This truly is a retro
activity and should be treated as such.
However, a new game design movement is emerging that is very difficult to describe with the
current set of accepted game genres (e.g., casual, core, retro, viral, and mobile). The new
movement consists of new concepts, presented in retro fashion but is not made up of classic retro
games. These are not remixes, arrangements, remakes of old games with new graphics, or retro
collections. Nor are they home-brew games made to run on retro consoles. These games are
something entirely different and compose a genre we like to call “post-retro.”
Defining post-retro
Post-retro
games are games that utilize a retro aesthetic mixed with both retro and modern
gameplay elements to create a wholly new experience. The term “post-retro” relates to
“postmodern” in that these games have “moved beyond” the pure nostalgia element of the retro
game era and instead use retro as a platform for new ideas.
Exploring the features of post-retro games
Post-retro games can, and have been, implemented in a variety of ways, making the boundaries
of this genre a bit undefined at this point. However, there are some general features that many of
these games contain. Not all games in this genre contain all of what is listed here, but they
contain enough of them so that they are identifiable as part of the genre:
Plays retro and modern
: These are games with play that feels retro but also feels not
retro at the same time (a paradox!). There is a sense that the game could have been
made in a prior era but was not ever made, possibly because game design concepts
have evolved over time .
Retro aesthetic
: Typically, these games utilize a retro graphical look (usually 8-bit,
16-bit, or vector) and sound effects that match.
Modern music
: Music is one interesting factor that sets these games apart from retro
remakes and straight retro games. Most games from the original golden age consoles
had little or no music (some computer games did, but that is a different story). While
many of these games retain the 8- or 16-bit look of older games, they replace the
relative background silence with music that is usually trippy and/or hypnotic. Sound
effects are still in place, but the sound mix puts them in the back behind the music,
instead of in front. Sound effects usually match the retro look of the game.
Hypnotic state
: Another feature that many of these games have is sped-up, almost
flowing gameplay. In most games, lives and scores are still important, but you get many
more lives than you would have received in a traditional retro game. In a sense, these
games are more about experiencing a state of post-retro gameplay than about strictly
being retro-inspired games.
