Chantey
This title from solo developer Gortyn Code is set in an alternate version of the Golden Age of piracy. Sure there are sea-faring adventurers on quests for riches and glory, but they do so to the tune of pirate metal music! You play as a freshly-minted pirate embroiled in a pirate vendetta. Using your musical skills, you will help your crewmates charge into battles across the seas as you embark on a quest to revive the Nightingale Pirate's heavy metal legacy.
Chantey’s gameplay is essentially the answer to: what if we mixed retro Zelda’s exploration and Guitar Hero rhythm controls? Indeed, this title ambitiously combines open-ended exploration with rhythm-based combat. As unlikely as this combo sounds, it is a well-executed one. You’ll need to get used to using the D-pad and A/B buttons to the beat of the catchy, 8-bit renditions of sea chanteys (including classics like "Drunken Sailor" and "Bully In The Alley"!), but this offers a welcome challenge.
In addition to the rhythm-based combat, you’ll also have ample exploration to do across the seas and in Caribbean islands. The non-linear gameplay lends itself well to the adventure, and you can even discover hidden locations while out exploring.
I really enjoyed Chantey for its originality and presentation. On top of the new pirate metal compositions, the animation is well crafted, especially with the conversation aspect. The quirky, lighthearted story is also a welcome change and feels at home on the Chromatic. It’s one of my favourite ModRetro-published games so far and it’s worth checking out at least the free demo if you’re curious.
Hermano
Winner of the 2023 GB Compo game jam, Hermano is a 2D platformer from developer Pat Morita Team. In it, players take the role of Nano on a quest to rescue his brother Mano in the underworld after he was kidnapped during the Day of the Dead.
Across each 15 levels, you’ll have to find a key to progress but doing so is no walk in the park as you’ll encounter underworld residents and bosses. To fend off enemies, you’ll be able to throw your skull (quite thematic!) and bombs.
While Hermano looks and, for the most part, feels like a retro platformer, it does bring an interesting addition to the gameplay. It involves multi-directional scrolling which makes for interesting level design while adding a welcome layer of challenge. However, I did find the respawning enemies to get frustrating, especially as you often have to backtrack after finding a level’s key to open the door to the next level.
That said, Hermano is a welcome addition to ModRetro’s library and packs that retro platformer charm while delivering a new experience.
