Retro-Bit Announces Alwa's Awakening 8-Bit Edition NES & Digical!
76In this episode, we share news from Retro-Bit in their latest game release, Alwa's Awakening 8-Bit Edition NES & Digical.
In September of 2021, Retro-Bit announced a new release of the popular Elden Pixels game Alwa's Awakening, but with several twists. Available for some time on Steam, PSN, XBox Live and the Switch, Retro-Bit is bringing this title, inspired by classic 8-bit adventure and puzzle games, to the original Nintendo Entertainment System. That's right, a new NES Cartridge. But that's not all, as they are also introducing a new content delivery method they are calling "Digical", combining aspects of both a digital and physical release.
So let's talk about the Digical version to start, as that's a totally new sort of delivery method for games. Each Digical release includes the game ROM and exclusive digital content packed in a character themed 8GB USB thumb drive, along with a display case that really stands out in any collection. The ROM will work on most popular emulators, but your results could vary. A digital instruction manual, digital wallpaper featuring exclusive artwork, and a behind the game developer interview are all included. Best of all, you can get the Digical version for only $19.99 MSRP!
For me, releases like these from Retro-Bit really shine when it comes to the physical release, and Alwa's Awakening is no exception. The cartridge itself is an amazing looking frosted plastic, really setting the looks apart. It does feature a beveled cartridge connector, to make it easier to insert and remove from your system, along with a battery backup system. It also comes packed with an exclusive slipcover, behind the game developer interview, certificate of authenticity, animated lenticular card, mini level poster, and a full-color instruction manual. Retro-Bit really packed it in!
From a technical standpoint, getting a 280MB game to run n a 512KB NES Cart is amazingly impressive. Thanks to the hard-work of Elden Pixels and help from programmer Brad Smith, they managed to fit the game on a 512 KB cartridge without taking away critical elements of the games. In fact, they even added new areas to explore that are not present in the original 2017 release, adding even more playability.
As of now, both the Physical and Digical releases are slated to release in 2022. This is a limited release, and once they are gone, they're gone. They will be available in both North America and Europe for pre-order, something I highly recommend. As a fan of physical media, I am genuinely curious to see how the community reacts to the Digical concept, as this could be the best of both worlds for those who want to play on emulators while still having something physical and tangible to hold and own. Make sure you stay subscribed to the channel as we will be doing a full unboxing and review once these ship.
About Alwa's Awakening:
In Alwa’s Awakening, you play as Zoe, a heroine sent from another world to bring peace to the land of Alwa. Equipped only with a magic staff, she awakens in a distant land and must set out to help the people. Traverse dangerous dungeons, meet interesting and fun characters, and explore the world in this 8-bit adventure game. Just like the old classics, you won’t have a flashing arrow telling you exactly where to go and what to do next. Instead, you are free to find your own way and by using your magic staff, you can progress through the over-400 unique challenging rooms in the game.
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