#super icon

[goldjao]

jão icons

[miloscat]

[Review] Super Life of Pixel (NS)

After the mock-retro game collections, here’s a game with a similar premise.

Pixel is a green pixel who breaks free of his screen and travels across various game consoles. This is the framing for a journey through the 8 and 16-bit eras of gaming (plus a little 32), a mostly consistent platforming gameplay experience that effectively mimics the graphical styles of 19 different game systems (along with a sweet chiptune track for each in their respective styles).

Having explored a lot of these systems through my streams, I was impressed by how they matched up (aside from the resolution and aspect ratio, naturally). Being based in the UK, Super Icon brought their British perspective to game history, with systems like the Spectrum and BBC Micro as well as the Game Boy, Apple II, etc., and going as far as the Saturn (as a bonus extra). There’s 13 systems with 8 levels each, plus 6 more with 2 levels each (additions for the “Super” rerelease).

It’s not just the graphics that advance as you progress through history; the levels themselves get bigger and more complex (from single screens to large, scrolling areas with multiple rooms and teleporters), and there’s the occasional new mechanic introduced. You get the double jump early on thankfully, but there’s also powerups or rideable vehicles every now and then as a novelty, and the EGA PC levels introduce keycards as a nod to games like Commander Keen. The structure is still the same all the way through though: get all the gems to open the exit, and along the way find a secret or two.

This formula stays engaging for the most part, depending on the level design. But later on, and especially in the extra levels, the scope can get overwhelming. Individual levels are just too long sometimes, and with the difficulty increasing it can be tedious/intensely frustrating to lose minutes of progress to one mistake (Pixel can take a hit from an enemy before dying, but most hazards bypass this; the retracting spikes in particular can sod right off). For a “many deaths, quick respawning” game (like Super Meat Boy, etc., etc.) the balance seems off with the sheer size the levels grow to that need to be memorised and mastered in one attempt with no checkpoints.

There’s a little bit of jank to things too, although to be (facetiously) honest that just makes it feel more authentic to the European gaming experience that it’s replicating (the credits and cutscenes also display text in charming demoscene style). The novelty of seeing the enemies and collectibles continually reinterpreted faithfully in so many nostalgic looks continues to be a novelty over the whole game, and there’s some lovely backgrounds throughout. Not to mention the constantly changing tilesets, even within systems, many of which homage specific games from that system’s catalogue. To cap it all off, each new set of levels gives you a little spec sheet and history lesson about the real-life system that inspired it. It’s a real love letter to the 80s and 90s in gaming, and I couldn’t help but be charmed by it all. By the way, my final stats were about 10 hours and 600 deaths, although I only finished two of the extra levels before deciding they were beyond my limits of patience.

[vita-player]

Long running indie developer Super Icon closes its doors

Long running indie developer Super Icon closes its doors

In a shock announcement on Twitter yesterday, indie developer Super Icon, announced that they were closing down. The small company, responsible for the stunning retro platformer Super Life Of Pixelhad been struggling for some time. Company head Richard Hill-Whittall posted on Tumblr with an emotional and honest update about the history and future of the company. In it he discussed past projects,…

View On WordPress

[operationrainfall]

PlataGO! Super Platform Game Maker - Now Available

PlataGO! Super Platform Game Maker – Now Available

PQube and Super Icon (the developer) have just announced that PlataGO! Super Platform Game Maker is now officially out. The game maker is available for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. In PlataGO!you’ll be given what you need to design your own creations. Also included when you purchase this are various creations you’ll be able to play, from winners of the Steam Early Access Community Contest…

View On WordPress

[vita-player]

Game Review: Super Life Of Pixel (PS Vita)

Game Review: Super Life Of Pixel (PS Vita)

Life Of Pixel started it’s life as a title for the ill-fated PlayStation Mobile service way back in 2013. A native PS Vita version was announced, scheduled for release in 2015 but nothing more happened. I’d actually started to think that I was going to have more luck winning a fortune on online gambling sitesthat seeing this appear! Despite updated versions of the game arriving on other formats…

View On WordPress

[frikigamersworld-blog]

#SuperIcon apuesta por realidad virtual en la próxima #Xbox Un estudio apuesta por realidad virtual en la próxima Xbox Piensan que, de hecho, habrá más soporte generalizado para las tecnologías VR.

[operationrainfall]

Last Pixel Store Launches March 30th

Last Pixel Store Launches March 30th

Last Pixel is a new online store devoted to the selling of pixel art apparel and merchandise. The store contains everything from pillows, to T-Shirts, to bags, and even phone cases. Every design in the store is original and takes inspiration from classic arcade games, as well as early horror titles. The store will feature designs from Super Icon’s own Richard Hill-Whittall, who stated  that “Last…

View On WordPress

[endworldgaming]

Hey there everybody, here’s video number 2 for today!

In this video I’m continuing my playthrough of the story mode in Vektor Wars by Super Icon and Plug In Digital!

The video showcases the second mission in the game which takes place in a more open and mountainous area. The area also introduces some new enemies and the ones you face here like to dodge your attacks quite often (Especially rockets so you have to get fairly close to them to take them down).

Thanks a lot for taking the time to watch the video folks and if you enjoyed the video, be sure to subscribe to our channel for future videos and reviews!

Also, feel free to leave a like, comment or share the video if you enjoyed it as well. It’s always greatly appreciated. We’re also always looking for feedback on how to improve our videos as well so if you see something we could improve, just let us know!

Happy gaming folks! - Shaun Meyers (Kyo Akiara) out!