KoboDeluxe
Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux
Based a decade-plus old arcade game called XKobo by Akira Higuchi, KoboDeluxe from Olofson Arcade is an updated and enhanced version of the original arcade shooter, porting the concept and gameplay over to modern platforms while introducing better animations, high resolution visuals, additional control options, a difficulty selector, and more. Whether you want a nostalgic arcade fix or are looking for a sturdy action challenge, KoboDeluxe will absolutely satisfy your craving.
KoboDeluxe plays like a classic arcade shooting game, only instead of fighting swarms of enemies as you travel through space, your goal is to take out maze-like pipe structures by blasting their central node. You can't just swoop in and fire, though, as there are winding walls and nodes protecting each core. Clear layers of walls by destroying nodes, all while avoiding weapons fire coming from each node as well as roving enemies and objects that are looking to end your day. It's intense, but in a (barely) manageable, highly enjoyable kind of way!
Your ship fires from forward and rear guns simultaneously, meaning you can either take out targets above and below you or, if you turn to the side, to your left and right. This creates a great dynamic in which you must work a strategy into your attacks, weaving in and out of danger as you position yourself for precise strikes. Most of the time, you can clear sections of wall by lining up several nodes in your sights. Other times, it's up to your skills as a pilot to pick off individual enemies as you work your way to the core.
Several levels of difficulty in KoboDeluxe allow you to customize the punishment to suit your mood/skill level. Start with something easy, allowing you to absorb a few hits before you die, then move on to the more difficult (and classic) modes to get a real feel for what the game can offer. KoboDeluxe is a fantastic game, and a very faithful port of the original. It's the sort of title you have to learn to master, and when you do, your hours of fun have just begun.
Windows:
Download the free full version
Mac OS X:
Download the free full version
Linux:
Download the free full version
I am surprised that nobody's commented on this gem of a classic retro shooter yet. I've played this game through Stage 50 at least, and it's still giving me as big a challenge as it was in its XWindow days. The new graphics and slick sound effects give new life to an old classic, and I really appreciate the fact that you guys covered this.
It's actually a very intelligent game, and I was surprised at how well the update/port was handled. The same developer also released Kobo II, which I fully plan on playing until my keyboard dies.
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