Summary
RetroRealms Arcadeis an exciting new game from developer WayForward. Although, ‘game’ might not be the best word for it. It’s a digital plaza filled with old arcade machines that you can unlock through separate DLC packs,the first two being Halloween and Ash vs. Evil Dead.
It’s exciting because it’s a complete shift from how gaming has handled legacy horror IP in the wake ofDead by Daylight. Rather than cramming characters into the same sandbox,it gives them room to breathe in their own games, while still being able to crossover into each other’s worlds. And in the spirit of horror bringing people together, here’s TheGamer’sLead News Editor George Fosterto talk all things RetroRealms with me,Executive Editor James Troughton.
George Foster:While some like to think that horror is all about the thrills and gore, the glass-half-full-of-blood optimist in me has always thought it was more about sharing scares. RetroRealms feels like a good time to reflect on that since it’s made up of two spooky legends that you and I both have a lot of love for - Halloween and Evil Dead.
I’m a huge Evil Dead fan myself and would go as far as saying it’s my favourite horror series of all time - what about you and Michael Myers?
James Troughton:That honour goes to Scream (hence the giant Ghostface tat on my arm), but I’ve always had a lot of love for Halloween. It’s the birthplace of slashers as we know them, taking the foundation laid by Black Christmas, Psycho, and Peeping Tom and giving it a distinct personality. You can feel the spirit of Michael Myers in every single slasher from 1979 to today, so it was always weird to me that it never got a true video game adaptation. RetroRealms is definitely a worthy first step.
Evil Dead on the other hand has had quite a few, but never an arcade-y 2D platformer. Do you think it fits?
Evil Dead: The Game was so much better than its reception would indicate and we wish it was still being properly supported now.
GF: I think my and everyone else’s reaction to Evil Dead being turned into a 2D platformer was one of surprise, even though there have been a lot of strange games based on Ash Williams already. I think it works, especially since it’s based on the more tongue-in-cheek and action-packed Ash vs. Evil Dead than the creepy earlier entries.
I think out of the two, Halloween is the weirder pick to be adapted like this since it’s so focused on a slower-paced and less bombastic villain. Once you get over the initial hurdle of seeing pixel versions of Myers and Ash hopping around, it works since WayForward has done such a good job translating these characters and worlds in a unique way that fits the vibe of each series.
Jumping Into Ash And Michael’s Blood-Stained Boots
JT:Absolutely, the big risk with taking a slow bruiser like Myers and slapping him in a platformer is that the movement won’t feel fluid. He’s not agile whatsoever, Myers is a tank with a kitchen knife.
I think they nailed that feeling — you’re constantly marching towards enemies, ready to spill their pixelated guts, and it’s always satisfying. It really does feel like you’re in that original movie, just in sprite form, but I do think the platforming is a little clunky and it never strikes that balance between Myers’ brute force and the satisfying, crisp movement you’d expect from a platformer. Even trying to make rolling work with his aesthetic just ended up messy, since he awkwardly teleports forward instead.
GF:From what I played of Myers (having mainly focused on Ash), I’d have to agree that he does feel a little too slow for a platformer, even if they have represented him perfectly. On the other (chainsaw) hand, Ash feels spot-on in his campaign and is much more fluid and satisfying to control than Myers is. Special shout-out to the Ducktales-esque chainsaw bounce, which Myers has a less useful variant of.
Ash is a lot faster and more agile, and I think all of his moves feel better to use than Myers, which is funny when you bring him into the Halloween levels and end up just having a much better time overall. Out of the two, I think the Ash vs. Evil Dead cabinet is a much better and less frustrating time, but I’m wondering what the Halloween head thinks of that and if I’m just massively biased (I am).
JT:I started with Halloween (because it’s Halloween, c’mon), but Myers’ sluggish movement and the more frustrating segments really soured me on the cabinet. It has a far better finale (discounting the boss), but everything leading up to it pales in comparison to the Ash vs. Evil Dead levels.
I mentioned this in my preview, but even with the updates to the review build, the conveyor belts across the Halloween cabinet shined a spotlight on how fiddly the platforming really is. It was impossible to move fluidly when you could never land a jump right, and there’s nothing worse than a platformer with janky controls out of your hands. Ash vs. Evil Dead is what really made RetroRealms click for me, which was a nice surprise, since the middle-aged demon slayer is weirdly far more capable.
Two Horror Icons Collide
GF:As someone who loves classic old-school platformers, I didn’t mind the difficulty spikes so much, but both cabinets have some really frustrating final levels, especially when it comes to their bosses. I couldn’t stop gushing about RetroRealms in its first few levels, but I also ended up being a little soured by the end of both playthroughs.
That in turn put me off a little from going all-out with the character-swapping mechanic, which lets you bring Ash into the Halloween world or Michael into Evil Dead. It’s a neat thought and I really enjoyed playing as Ash more, but I couldn’t imagine putting more time into Michael.
Beyond Ash and Michael, you can also play as Kelly Maxwell from Ash vs. Evil Dead and Laurie Strode from Halloween.
JT:Bringing characters into other cabinets is a really novel idea — it even changes the story. But it’s an arcade game. There’s not much meat to the narrative other than ‘big scary demon is being a big scary demon’, so I can only really see myself using the feature like you would in a fighting game, ie playing as your favourite character in everything.
What really hooked me was the Nightmare Realm feature, which is where you use an item to swap between two versions of the same level. But honestly, it was disappointing. The other realm is just a gank-fest of respawning enemies, and it never adds that much depth to the platforming. At most, it’s a way to hide secret paths and collectibles, but putting those in another realm makes finding them incredibly easy. It was never that rewarding to tap a button and watch a wall vanish.
Who’s Next For RetroRealms?
GF:While the character-swapping feels like something I just didn’t do enough of to get the full experience, I agree on the Nightmare Realm and think it’s harmless but underused at best and a total pain in the neck at worst. It feels like a hat on a hat, which I think applies to a lot of RetroRealms and is a shame since the first hat it’s wearing is one I love.
Overall, though, I think RetroRealms is a good start for what is clearly meant to be an anthology series and it’s one I want to keep an eye on. Hopefully some of the feedback is taken on board and the Evil Dead and Halloween ones were just a somewhat uneven beginning - speaking of, what series do you want to be added next? I’m guessing you’ll say some obscure indie horror that will make me roll my eyes.
JT:Oh yeah, this little known horror, really only a handful of people ever saw it. Ever heard of Scream?
I agree that it’s a solid enough foundation that could be brought to even higher heights with all of the feedback taken on board, and simplifying things is the best way to do that. What better than a guy in a Halloween costume with a knife? There’s nothing supernatural or larger-than-life about any of the Ghostfaces, they’re (mostly) just teenage serial killers.
It’s also another horror icon that hasn’t really had its time in the sun when it comes to video games outside of crossovers, and that’s what I’d love to see more of especially. I Know What You Did Last Summer, Candyman, Hellraiser, Slumber Party Massacre, Nightmare on Elm Street, Prom Night — there are a bunch to choose from that could finally be given their dues. I’m guessing you’ll pick some hyper modern zoomer horrors, eh? And don’t say Evil Dead Rise.
GF:Okay, okay, I don’t know how I didn’t see that coming considering you’re the Scream nerd and literally mentioned it in this piece, but I think Scream is actually the perfect choice.Just look at Mortal Kombat 1 and it becomes clear that there’s a bit more of a push for Ghostfacein gaming and I can see RetroRealms following suit.
I’m going to be really boring and say that I’d love to see an It cabinet. I can already picture a pixel-art Pennywise roaming around sewers and the Neibolt House and just having a totally weird playstyle that makes him stand out from the rest. Failing that, I think a Terrifier cabinet would work really well with the specific vibes that RetroRealms is going for. Art’s a total industry plant horror icon, so don’t tell me you can’t see it too.
JT:Firstly, I’d like to apologise on behalf of TheGamer to everyone with taste at the mere mention of Terrifier in this article. It though? Banger of a choice. Hell, I’d love to see them tackle The Shining - that hotel in the pixel art style RetroRealms does so well would be amazing.
Since George picked two clowns, let’s throw in Killer Klowns for good measure.
RetroRealms is pretty good overall. The combat is slick, the characters are wonderfully authentic to their live-action counterparts, and there’s a loving attention-to-detail that is well worth highlighting. It’s just a shame that the Nightmare Realm, platforming, and boss fights let it down. But looking forward, there’s limitless potential for RetroRealms’ future, making this a game that all horror fans should be keeping a careful eye on.
RetroRealms Arcade
WHERE TO PLAY
Enter the RetroRealms™ and take control of iconic horror characters in two separate games filled with over-the-top arcade action!Step into a 16-bit Pixel Art world filled with gory good fun as horror legends Michael Myers and Ash Williams! Slice and shoot your way across multiple levels of terrifying platformer action filled with familiar sights and sounds from the original “Halloween” film and the STARZ television series “Ash vs Evil Dead!” Test your skill, use your weapons, and confront twisted and fiendish versions of iconic characters in two separate games that can be connected for even more fun. (Each game sold separately.) Engage in epic, heart-pounding encounters to overcome the ultimate evil in this sprawling adventure filled with over-the-top terror!RetroRealms Arcade:RetroRealms includes access to the RetroRealms Arcade that connects select RetroRealms games with other titles in the series that you own (games and DLC sold separately) to unlock new access and abilities and create the ultimate mash-up of horror legends!Retro Aesthetic:Immerse yourself in Pixel Art-styled 16-bit visuals and a hauntingly nostalgic horror soundtrack. RetroRealms pays homage to classic side-scrollers while delivering a fresh take on retro gameplay.Secrets, Upgrades, and Unlockables:Discover hidden relics and collectibles. Unlock new power-ups and abilities to enhance your character’s skills, and discover all-new ways play.See where you Stand:With leaderboards for both “Halloween” and “Ash vs Evil Dead” you can see how you stack up against other RetroRealms players. Do you have skills to get your name on the high score list?It’s the ultimate arcade experience with iconic legends of horror! Cross into the RetroRealms and see if you have what it takes to make it out alive!
