Currently going through the certification process, Retro City Rampage is well on its way to coming to both XBLA and Nintendo's WiiWare. It's also close to a launch on PSN Europe as well.
Soon enough, everyone will know the pure joy of this simple game.
The PlayStation Blog describes the game as an "an open-world action game parody of the popular crime city genre...designed to represent a classic NES game with a level of carnage and chaos never imagined in the '80s," but it's so much more.
What started out as a de-make of Grand Theft Auto called Grand Theftendo by game programmer Brian Provinciano, would go on to become far too big to be just a GTA parody, exploding with homages to Provinciano's favorite selections of the 8-bit era.
The game is a true love letter to 80's pop-culture, containing a multitude of tongue in cheek references to just about every popular old-school game under the sun, Duck Hunt, Wizards and Warriors, Skate or Die, Mega Man, Super Mario Bros., Pro Wrestling, Metal Gear, Super Meat Boy, Frogger, the list goes on and on.
Hell, the game's entire opening is the introduction of Nolan's "Dark Knight" interrupted by "Back to the Future" with some "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" thrown in for good measure. You're even chased by Ninja Turtles.
As it's a de-make, and a parody, don't expect to be blown away by the graphics or story. Anyone whose seen enough 80's movies, or played the original NES, they've seen everything Retro City Rampage has to offer all before. But if you count those nostalgic experiences as some of your fonder memories, give the game a try.
An official release date hasn't been given, but Provinciano mentioned on Twitter that the game will "hopefully" be out this month on WiiWare. No date has yet been mentioned for XBLA.
