And in a flash, half of 2022 has passed into…the past (it is way too hot for me to be clever, okay?) We've got a number of print projects lined up this month, including a look back at a very important game for its 25th anniversary as well as a comic reboot of a cult-favorite beat-em-up.
As always, we have no insider information or financial interest in any of these projects, and no one at Retronauts has been compensated for including anything on this page. Also, in light of the ongoing pandemic, we recommend only backing crowdfunding campaigns if you feel comfortable with your own security and stability.
Sass vs Fash: Girlballs of Steel (ends July 2 estimated reward date April 2023)
Part Wolfenstein, part Doom, Sass vs Fash is a retro FPS that takes place in an alternate future where the Fourth Reich rises and World War III threatens all of humanity. The hero's goal is quite simple: kill the new Fuhrer and end their aggression. There's a demo if you're in the mood to kill nazis right away.
Ninja Baseball Spirits #1 (ends July 3 estimated reward date November 2022)
In 1993, Irem created one of the weirder beat-em-up concepts: Ninja Baseball Batman, a four-player arcade original with bat-wielding protagonists and enemies made of other types of sports equipment, including anthropomorphic baseballs with arms and legs. The game didn't find much success but its strangeness made an impression on those who saw it, hence this project to further explore the world of ninja baseballs in comic book form.
50 Years of Text Games (ends July 7 estimated reward date January 2023)
The title says it all: this book will summarize a half-century of text-based games by covering one game released each year from 1971 through 2020. Considering that visual novels, Twine games, and other text-heavy experiences remain popular to this day, any history of the medium absolutely needs to highlight these kinds of stories.
The Making of GoldenEye 007 (ends July 8 estimated reward date July 2022!)
Guess what turns 25 years old this summer? Well, a lot of things actually, but the most relevant one right this second is GoldenEye 007. Not the movie (that's even older), the video game for the Nintendo 64. Just in time for that anniversary, Boss Fight Books will publish a retrospective on the landmark first-person shooter, one that includes interviews with people who made the game, and experts who know a thing or two about the medium's history.
A Frog's Tale (ends July 11 estimated reward date February 2023)
This cute-as-a-button retro RPG "may remind you of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Kingdom Hearts, or Tales of Symphonia," according to its Kickstarter page, because it uses a rhythm-based combat system. Also, because the hero is a frog, he totally jumps on enemies, just like Mario and Luigi!
Unithor (ends July 21 estimated reward date December 2022)
Between emulation and the ever-increasing move to port console games to Steam, I think everyone's playing more games on PC these days, right? It has its ups and downs, but for an older person like me, one "down" is that all my controllers are just console controllers. When I was a teenager, PC games required special joysticks, ones that gave you a proper grip and big, red fire buttons. Well the folks behind Unithor must agree with me because they're making a brand-new joystick that looks like a classic stick from 30 years ago, one that includes both modern USB support and traditional connectors for older computers. The sticks also have suction cups!