Winter is coming, but the new season of "Game of Thrones" isn't set to air until sometime next year, and Rapture could arrive long before George R.R. Martin finishes the final book. But to sate your cravings for dragons and white walkers, there is a cutesy, free to download game that serves up Game of Thrones in a retro style.
At only 4 levels, you'll be done with the game long before the year is out, but at least it's something.
The game is the work of indie coder and engineer Abel Alves. He's had limited experience at making games before, but this one seems to have really taken off. He told WIRED in an e-mail, "I've tried to make some videogames before, but I was not very happy with the result."
"This time, I spent more time and effort thinking about reaching a larger public. I knew I had to use a franchise that is known, and Game of Thrones has a universe very easily adaptable to a platform game: Mythical creatures, great heroes, terrible battles. So the decision was easy."
"My favorite characters are all Lannisters and Starks (I love Arya, Tyrion, and the Kingslayer), but I had to choose characters that have some action in the series," Alves said. "As much as I like Sansa, for example, I think it could not make a stage for her.
"I never imagined [it would] be so successful," he says. "I guess from now on I'll come at this with a little more intensity, maybe even find a career opportunity in this world. I love the idea of transforming current products into retro games, so I may follow that path."
Players start off the game controlling no-nothing John Snow, fighting off miscreants while climbing The Wall. In addition to slicing up wildlings (at least I think they're wildlings, it's hard to be sure) with his sword, he can also sic his dire wolf Ghost on enemies too.
As players progress, they'll control a new character for each level, four in all. Later levels have players controlling Daenerys Targaryen, who has her pet dragon perched on her shoulder to attack enemies by breathing fire. Other playables include Davos Seaworth and master manipulator Tyrion Lannister.
Overall, the game is probably the only way to get kids interested in the series, as there's considerably less nudity and limb chopping. None, actually, which is a shame. Actually, in all seriousness, it's short but sweet and more fun than a Dothraki wedding. Plus, it's a free download, so you don't need the wealth of a Lannister to play. Have you had enough references for one article?
You can download the game for free from the designer's web site here, and be sure to check out the mini trailer below.
