Considering that Capcom doesn’t have another new Mega Man game in the mix to our knowledge, the next best thing for us are the homebrew games inspired by the formula. We were already introduced to Trophy a little while ago, which provided a twist to the storyline. Now we have Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril from the same publishers, 8-Bit Legit, with its own share of shooting thrills. While it doesn’t hold back showing its age (or for that matter, its gnashing teeth), it’s still fun for fans of the genre.
The game originally came out over a decade ago as an NES cartridge when homebrew games were just starting to heat up on the market. Now, as a digital release, Battle Kid has the opportunity to be introduced to a new audience, and, if anyone out there pumped out their Mega Man skills as a kid, you should be part of that audience.
When It Comes To the Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril, We Mean Timmy
The game focuses on a young kid named Timmy, who takes part in a combat training program for the people at the Disch Corporation. They’re trying to move things forward in a positive light, but not everyone sees it that way. Chester, acting as the Nedry of the group (Jurassic Park?), decides to mess up the program for his own benefit, in the hopes of building a piece of high-tech destruction. That leaves Timmy no choice but to don a battle suit and go after him.
When it comes to recapturing the mantra of classic Mega Man games, Battle Kid truly nails it. It plays just like those classic games, with a lot of run and gun action, along with level exploration and occasional boss battles.
With it, however, comes high difficulty. You’re going to die a few times in this game, so it’s best to just accept it like the Mega Man games before it; however, you’ll learn to get better. This is why Battle Kid works so lovingly well as a tribute title. It strikes its own chord while keeping in mind exactly why gamers love this sort of thing. Having tight, responsive controls doesn’t hurt either.
Finally, there’s an old-school password system that’s icing on the cake. It’s pretty cool and a nice throwback to the days of old. You still have an old notepad, right? Blow the dust off of it and make proper use of it!
That Retro Presentation
To go along with its challenging yet entertaining gameplay, Battle Kid also has the right stuff with old-school design. The visuals are charming to a fault. Although it’s not quite as polished as Mega Man games, they still look lovely, and the way the screen shifts to each new part of the level is rather cool. It may be a little too aged for some, but we’re certainly fine with it.
Going along with that, there is a fun 8-bit style soundtrack that’s just as listenable as the Mega Man tunes of old. The composers really know their stuff here, right down to the little ditties that play during boss fights. The other sound effects are pretty good too, recapturing the classic era of run and gun. More, please.
Gear Up For Battle Kid
Getting to the end of Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril will take some effort, as it’s one tough cookie. However, the journey is just as enjoyable as the destination here. There’s a fun rhythm to this game; and, once you get adjusted to the difficulty, you’ll have an absolute blast with it. Not to mention, the visuals and audio are sheer 8-bit style through and through. If you love games like this, pick up Battle Kid without hesitation. You’ll be glad you did.
VIBE RATING: 7.5/10
Need more 8-bit gaming goodness? Check out our review of Trophy!
