Our story begins in mesmerizing style.
A subway train crawls across a flickering switchboard cityscape. The train pulls into a station, a gaunt figure in jeans alights, and suddenly we are playing Streets Of Rage, or something close to it, crushing punks with our fists and feet. A half visual novel and half retro compilation, 198X tell the tale of a moody ’80s teen through five snazzy homages to classic arcade genres. Each component game models a moment of personal growth – such as a high school crush or a family row – using cherished vintage design elements and motifs. It’s an engrossing premise, a life refracted through the amber chambers of software. If only the Kid’s story were as worthwhile as the ways their story is told.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of Edge.
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This story is from the September 2019 edition of Edge.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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