Quick Look: Retro City Rampage

I have been playing this game for awhile and I was kinda scared it would be boring, but I like it a lot. It feels a lot like old-school Grand Theft Auto which I spent many many hours of my life playing.

@charlie_victor_bravo said:

Boring! Yes, I remember the pixelated graphics, dot matrix displays and the Turtles game on the NES, but all that was like over 20 years ago. Can we move on to new and better things?!

Better in your eyes, perhaps. Plenty of people appreciate this, it's not like this guy would be developing a modern FPS. You didn't "lose" a modern game by this existing.

Oh my goodness. They got the menu sound effects PERFECT.

The guy on the top left knows that Inglip has been summoned.

Well I've filled my reference quota for the rest of the year... and next year.

@bobafettjm said:

Oh my god I need to get this game. This is the kind of game I have been wanting out of the trend of new retro games.

It has been in development since 2002. I'm pretty sure RCR isn't part of a "trend".

@Cloneslayer said:

Anyone else notice when he died in the car with his future self he lost 2 lives. very funny

I didn't catch that, but now it's my favorite joke in the quick look.

Makes me kind of think about getting a vita. This would definitely be something well-suited to a handheld.

I've been looking forward to this game despite it going overboard, for me, with the references. That all changed when I found out Destructoid staff member faces were unlockable for customization. Sorry, not giving anything money that involves that site.

I love that the distance to targets is given in pixels.

@Phished0ne said:

Wait..i just watched this again and i realized something, the owner of that bar is named Milky. I wonder if even that is a reference ? Or maybe to This?

When I was playing earlier, I instantly assumed the milk would be laced with drugs and that I'd be able to order a drencrom or a synthemesc, even though so far there's been nothing to indicate it's a reference to A Clockwork Orange.

So do I get this for PC or for PS3/Vita? D:

@CuervoJoe said:

@Phished0ne said:

Wait..i just watched this again and i realized something, the owner of that bar is named Milky. I wonder if even that is a reference ? Or maybe to This?

When I was playing earlier, I instantly assumed the milk would be laced with drugs and that I'd be able to order a drencrom or a synthemesc, even though so far there's been nothing to indicate it's a reference to A Clockwork Orange.

It could be an A-Team reference, drugging Mr T's milk was the only way to get him on a plane.

Also, a lot of games back in the day had bars turned into "cafes" when they were localized and alcohol was not-so-discreetly changed to other, less intoxicating things. My guess is that's what they're going for there.

@CornBREDX: Yeah, looking at those screenshots I still think this game looks better graphically. Granted it's more of a style thing, but I'm standing by my original statement.

Zack's burger is a reference to the hangout from Saved by the Bell. I was hoping Ryan would give Will Smith a shout out to Flesh Prints. I really like the music in this game.

@melodiousj said:

Also, a lot of games back in the day had bars turned into "cafes" when they were localized and alcohol was not-so-discreetly changed to other, less intoxicating things. My guess is that's what they're going for there.

yeah. I got that part of it, but the character being called "Milky" stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Because I personally thought "what, is his first name James?" Probably just a coincidence though.

@CakeBomb said:

@Brad said:

@CakeBomb said:

It's funny that RCR's obvious references are okay whereas Duke Nukem Forever's aren't. Hipsterism at it's finest. The game looks okay, not that I play much GTA but the video modes are awesome, ZX Spectrum's mode must be cool since I don't have any NES nostalgia whatsoever.

Because all references are created equal, right? Just like all QuickTime Events, all camera systems, all talent trees...

It's possible to do a bad job implementing a potentially good feature, you know.

I don't think DNF's references are great either, just as I don't think most RCR's are as well. It's about how people complained how obvious they were back then and are fine with this one's. It's totally more appropriate and in context but it doesn't diminish it's laziness in my opinion, it's like if I saw a Sigourney Weaver poster in Dead Space or something.Both games are guilty, even if Retro City is less so because it's in line with the theme.

They didn't complain about the "obviousness" of references in Duke Nukem Forever - they complained about how shitty and lame the references were, like references to tired old internet memes, and bullshit like "America! Fuck yeah!"

Borderlands 2 has some similarly awful references to played out internet jokes, and they criticized those as being unfunny too.

RCR's references are clever, thematically consistent, and funny. DNF's were largely not.

References! I am still digging this though.

Okay. I love these sound effects and the music. And the graphics are cute. And the gameplay seems solid. And it seems funny.

The fact I can take Destructoid's Jonathan Holmes on a bloodthirsty rampage is ancillary to these factors in my wanting to purchase this game, okaaaay?

@dvorak said:

@Taku128 said:

REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE REFERENCE GET IT IT'S LIKE THAT THING YOU KNOW HOW FUNNY

The thing about it is, it's almost making fun of making references. There's some sort of meta aspect to how references are constantly flying.

I played the demo on PSN and I agree with you. Unlike something like Family Guy where they usually spend 2 minutes on one single reference (REMEMBER GI JOE? WE REMEMBER GI JOE TOO! LOOK AT HOW FUNNY WE ARE!), RCR is more like FROGGER! THEDARKKNIGHT! MARIOBROS! NINJATURTLES! MEGAMAN! BIONICCOMMANDO! ROBOCOP! BACKTOTHEFUTURE! BILLANDTED!

They fly out so quickly you can't really stop to enjoy them, but then that's what kinda makes it hilarious. There's just so many of them, and they cram an impressive amount of different ones into such a short span of gameplay. I'm curious if they can keep it up for an entire game.

@GiveUpNed: I didn't mean to say that this game was part of that trend, but I have wanted what this game is out of the games that are a part of the trend.

Man, this game just doesn't look all that fun to me. I'm sure I'll play it eventually (probably on a Steam sale) but it seems like it's just references upon references without much else to keep it interesting. Maybe not though, I'll have to see how it plays.

@Phished0ne: I am thinking it was a Leisure Suit Larry 1 reference.

I will pick this up once it hits XBLA. Maybe before, based on this quick look.

IMO the most tired trend in the industry.

wierd old school game references packed into an open world game made to look like a nes game......my kind of game :P

I'm with Ryan on this one, Ernest Goes to Camp is the best Ernest movie.

@fazzle: nah.

The demo did not excite me at all.

The Family Guy of video games. Pretttty lame.

liking the references in this game, it fun to watch them play it.

it just doesn't look that much fun to play

@Brad said:

@CakeBomb said:

It's funny that RCR's obvious references are okay whereas Duke Nukem Forever's aren't. Hipsterism at it's finest. The game looks okay, not that I play much GTA but the video modes are awesome, ZX Spectrum's mode must be cool since I don't have any NES nostalgia whatsoever.

Because all references are created equal, right? Just like all QuickTime Events, all camera systems, all talent trees...

It's possible to do a bad job implementing a potentially good feature, you know.

QuickTime Events: Join the crowd.

http://www.apple.com/apple-events/

Game looks great and you can tell a ton of work went into it, but I think asking £12 on the UK Steam store is a bit steep, especially since you just know this is gonna go on sale for next to nothing soon enough. Maybe it was out of dev's control, but if you put this up next to FTL, which is £7, on a sheer value proposition, comes up pretty short.

Also, I never owned a NES or SNES so don't understand a lot of the references.

@FrenchFriedFool said:

Game looks great and you can tell a ton of work went into it, but I think asking £12 on the UK Steam store is a bit steep, especially since you just know this is gonna go on sale for next to nothing soon enough. Maybe it was out of dev's control, but if you put this up next to FTL, which is £7, on a sheer value proposition, comes up pretty short.

Also, I never owned a NES or SNES so don't understand a lot of the references.

They don't just refence old games ... one of the first missions is a reference to the intro scene of the Batman Dark Knight movie complete with a henchman killing school bus there's Doctor who , Back to the future , Inception... I think they broke a record.

This looks pretty fun. I like the way the driving seems to be in that you don't have to worry about making turns and stuff like that. I never watched the whole thing did they mention the price? If this came out for 10 bucks on XBLA I'd pick it up.

@edeo said:

The demo did not excite me at all.

The Family Guy of video games. Pretttty lame.

Not even close. References in Family Guy are all just "HEY YOU KNOW THAT THING YEAH WELL WE'RE REFERENCING IT SO IT'S FUNNY YEAH THAT THING YOU KNOW" while this actually implements the references into the world, story, dialogue and gameplay perfectly and none of the references feel like they're just hammered in there.

I'm actually buying this game halfway through the Quick Look. Something I've never done before. This is EXACLY what I'm looking for at the moment and I support every designdecision I've seen throughout the video so far. Wow.

This doesn't look very fun to me.

I feel asleep!!

Really like the look of this, though I know most references will go over my head.

Patrick is in the game at 28:58

I need to buy this!

@AngelN7 said:

@FrenchFriedFool said:

Game looks great and you can tell a ton of work went into it, but I think asking £12 on the UK Steam store is a bit steep, especially since you just know this is gonna go on sale for next to nothing soon enough. Maybe it was out of dev's control, but if you put this up next to FTL, which is £7, on a sheer value proposition, comes up pretty short.

Also, I never owned a NES or SNES so don't understand a lot of the references.

They don't just refence old games ... one of the first missions is a reference to the intro scene of the Batman Dark Knight movie complete with a henchman killing school bus there's Doctor who , Back to the future , Inception... I think they broke a record.

was there a Doctor Who reference that early? Do you mean when Player first goes back in time? If so, thats a Bill & Ted reference, not Doctor Who (although it could be a double reference, who knows!)

Ah patrick and ryan. My least favorite combo.

Patrick overanalyzing about stuff and Ryans constant attempts to be nonstop funny just makes the Quicklook a mess.

@BLipp18 said:

@AngelN7 said:

@FrenchFriedFool said:

Game looks great and you can tell a ton of work went into it, but I think asking £12 on the UK Steam store is a bit steep, especially since you just know this is gonna go on sale for next to nothing soon enough. Maybe it was out of dev's control, but if you put this up next to FTL, which is £7, on a sheer value proposition, comes up pretty short.

Also, I never owned a NES or SNES so don't understand a lot of the references.

They don't just refence old games ... one of the first missions is a reference to the intro scene of the Batman Dark Knight movie complete with a henchman killing school bus there's Doctor who , Back to the future , Inception... I think they broke a record.

was there a Doctor Who reference that early? Do you mean when Player first goes back in time? If so, thats a Bill & Ted reference, not Doctor Who (although it could be a double reference, who knows!)

Hmm I don't know what Bill & Ted is so I just asumed it was Doctor Who since it involved the phone booth thing.

I love the fact that this exists.

This game references stuff like an excited 10 year old would after playing a bunch of stuff at friends´ houses back in the late 80s/early 90s. And I´m a sucker for that kind of frenetic stuff. Also, all the screen filters. Holy shit.

Oh man.. The CGA mode brings me back.. I was young once.. And it was wonderful.

@AngelN7 said:

@BLipp18 said:

@AngelN7 said:

@FrenchFriedFool said:

Game looks great and you can tell a ton of work went into it, but I think asking £12 on the UK Steam store is a bit steep, especially since you just know this is gonna go on sale for next to nothing soon enough. Maybe it was out of dev's control, but if you put this up next to FTL, which is £7, on a sheer value proposition, comes up pretty short.

Also, I never owned a NES or SNES so don't understand a lot of the references.

They don't just refence old games ... one of the first missions is a reference to the intro scene of the Batman Dark Knight movie complete with a henchman killing school bus there's Doctor who , Back to the future , Inception... I think they broke a record.

was there a Doctor Who reference that early? Do you mean when Player first goes back in time? If so, thats a Bill & Ted reference, not Doctor Who (although it could be a double reference, who knows!)

Hmm I don't know what Bill & Ted is so I just asumed it was Doctor Who since it involved the phone booth thing.

Wow you just made me feel like an old man. Bill & Ted is what made Keanu Reeves in the early 90s.

@JFiveJ5 said:

@AngelN7 said:

@BLipp18 said:

@AngelN7 said:

@FrenchFriedFool said:

Game looks great and you can tell a ton of work went into it, but I think asking £12 on the UK Steam store is a bit steep, especially since you just know this is gonna go on sale for next to nothing soon enough. Maybe it was out of dev's control, but if you put this up next to FTL, which is £7, on a sheer value proposition, comes up pretty short.

Also, I never owned a NES or SNES so don't understand a lot of the references.

They don't just refence old games ... one of the first missions is a reference to the intro scene of the Batman Dark Knight movie complete with a henchman killing school bus there's Doctor who , Back to the future , Inception... I think they broke a record.

was there a Doctor Who reference that early? Do you mean when Player first goes back in time? If so, thats a Bill & Ted reference, not Doctor Who (although it could be a double reference, who knows!)

Hmm I don't know what Bill & Ted is so I just asumed it was Doctor Who since it involved the phone booth thing.

Wow you just made me feel like an old man. Bill & Ted is what made Keanu Reeves in the early 90s.

1989, actually. I just made you feel that much older.