I played a lot of UFO 50 when it first released back in September of 2024, but I decided to hold fire on further exploration when I learned that there was a physical release of the Switch version on the way. Not only that, but it would have a rather cool limited edition that came with a bunch of extra "feelies" to help sell the fantasy that you were exploring a "lost" games console. You can read all about that special edition over on MoeGamer, and I'll be returning to commentary on each of the individual games shortly.
I just wanted to talk about the package generally this evening, and a little about Night Manor, the game that I've played through this evening. It's an adventure game in the mould of Icom Simulations' adventure games (Shadowgate, Uninvited, Deja Vu and the like) but, like most of UFO 50's other games, with a few subtle modernisations to make it a tad less frustrating — like not being able to die permanently.
The thing that impresses me about UFO 50 the most is not just the fact that it's a collection of 50 excellent games, it's that each and every one of these games, in its own way, pays absolutely perfect homage to a particular aspect of retro gaming. In the case of Night Manor, it's clear that the whole thing was an Icom Simulations homage from the moment the opening line began "The last thing you remember is…" — which is the opener for pretty much all of the old games it's paying tribute to.
The most astonishing thing about the package as a whole is that all the games feel fully fleshed out in their own right. Sure, some are fairly short, but so were real games from the '80s. I haven't played any of the RPGs from the collection as yet, so it will be interesting to see if those feel like they're "rushing" through, or if have a decent amount of substance to them. But definitely when it comes to things like arcade-style games and adventures, it absolutely was not at all unusual for a game to be over within a couple of hours — sometimes less.
Of course, real retro games — and, indeed, many of UFO 50's titles — are designed to be replayed and enjoyed over and over again, particularly where there is a skill-based element that rewards the player with score or something similar. Even Night Manor in UFO 50 has a certain amount of replay value — alternative endings for beating the game without suffering any unfortunate mishaps, an outright alternative solution, and even a secret mode accessible via a "terminal" command that presents you with "a more lighthearted version" of the game. And, indeed, there are several older retro games that I have played over and over again, simply because I enjoy them — see: various Sierra and LucasArts adventures, to name just a few.
UFO 50 really is an absolute masterclass in game design, because it demonstrates both an understanding of where video games were in the past, and how they've evolved over time. The result, a collection of fake retro-style games designed with subtle modern sensibilities baked into them, is a truly wonderful piece of interactive entertainment that I anticipate I'm going to be spending a lot of time with over the coming months.
Want to read my thoughts on various video games, visual novels and other popular culture things? Stop by MoeGamer.net, my site for all things fun where I am generally a lot more cheerful. And if you fancy watching some vids on classic games, drop by my YouTube channel.
If you want this nonsense in your inbox every day, please feel free to subscribe via email. Your email address won't be used for anything else.
Discover more from I'm Not Doctor Who
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
