The retro scene is more alive than ever, and in recent years we’ve been witnessing a plethora of releases arriving on our old consoles despite being officially discontinued for years. Just this month, we published an article previewing the release of a title for the Game Boy Advance after 22 years in limbo.
Recently, it was announced that the successful retro-style arena shooter released in 2019, Xeno Crisis, will also arrive on the GBA, both digitally as a ROM and in physical format with its corresponding box, cartridge, and manual. This game is available on a multitude of systems, following its debut on PC via Steam and GOG and on consoles like the Mega Drive, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It was later ported to the Dreamcast and PS Vita the following year and to the Neo Geo (AES and MVS) and Neo Geo CD in 2021. Last year, versions for Nintendo’s home consoles—including the SNES, Nintendo 64, and GameCube—were also released. Now, it’s the turn of Nintendo’s legendary handheld, as announced on Twitter along with a video showcasing gameplay footage of this version.
Xeno Crisis on Game Boy Advance Features and Price
This excellent 16-bit arena shooter, developed by the independent studio Bitmap Bureau, is a feast of action, pixelated graphics, and a thunderous soundtrack, exuding quality in every aspect. With mechanics inspired by the 1990 classic run-and-gun Super Smash T.V. executed flawlessly, superb pixel art by Henk Nieborg and Catherine Menabde, Xeno Crisis offers us an unmissable experience that takes us back to the golden era of arcades. The original formula has been modernized with a progression system that allows us to customize the attributes of our characters to suit our playstyle, which is particularly handy given the game’s tight difficulty curve. While very challenging, it never feels unfair.
The game includes the following features:
- Three gameplay modes: Arcade, Infinite, and Boss Rush
- Two difficulty levels
- Seven distinct environments, each with its own enemies
- An arsenal of 10 weapons to master
- Over 40 types of enemies to face
- A progression system that lets you play your way
- Superb pixel art by Henk Nieborg and Catherine Menabde
- An intense soundtrack by Savaged Regime
- A complimentary ROM download is also included
The physical version is scheduled for the last quarter of 2024 and is already available for pre-order on the official website in both NTSC (USA and Japan) and PAL versions. The price is €60, and although it hasn’t been confirmed yet, it’s very likely that the ROM will also be available for purchase at a reduced price. This option has been offered for the other consoles released so far, allowing buyers to enjoy the game on original hardware through flashcards or play it on their preferred emulator. This is a very consumer-friendly practice that other distributors could certainly take as an example.
