On the Retro Radar for January 2023

Sorry it’s a bit later than usual but I assumed you might have better things to do on New Year’s Eve… And by the way, happy New Year! It’s finally time for our regular roundup of the mostly (but not strictly) retro-interest games I’m aware of due for release in the upcoming month, and at the very least I hope you enjoy watching a few trailers and even a few insights where I have them! And a quick admission that it is missing a couple of big-hitters like Persona 4 Golden and Persona 3 Portable because they’re too nerdy even for me and I’m also too lazy to try and work out what they are and where they fit! If you’re interested I’m sure you already know though. And here’s the rest…

On the 12th we’ve for a couple of cult Japanese fighters heading our way on all the consoles and PC in Breakers Collection, which features the NeoGeo original Breakers from 1996 and its sequel Breakers Revenge from 1998, as well as a load of museum-type stuff. There’s arcade and team battle, local and online multiplayer versus modes and what seems to be a much-requested training mode too. Not one I’m really familiar with but reminds me of Fatal Fury and I reckon could well be my first purchase of 2023!

I think OmegaBot is already out on Steam but the console release on Switch, PlayStation and Xbox was delayed to January 20th so hopefully it makes an appearance this time because while it’s not massively original, I really like its super-vibrant pixel-art style! The rest seems like a slick and precise side-scrolling platformer, old-school tough too, no doubt, looking at some of those big bosses! Not sure I’m in the market for one of these at the moment, given I still haven’t even finished Mega Man Zero on that collection, but it looks pretty good if you are!

Monster Hunter Rise has been out on PC for ages and Switch for even longer, but if you’re desperate for some epic monster hunting action-RPG action on PlayStation and Xbox (where I think it’s coming straight to Game Pass) then put the 20th in your diary. I might give it a go as it’s effectively free on Xbox Series X but the addition of an animal companion on top of all that crafting nonsense honestly puts me right off! Anyway, that’s just me. I’m sure it’s going to be great if that’s your thing!

Popular date, that January 20th, because that’s also when Fire Emblem Engage comes to Nintendo Switch! It brings with it the very latest in rock-paper-scissors tactical turn-based combat, as well as a brand new story abot chaos dragons or some such lunacy, and brand new characters to make all this fresh evil go away again. You’re also going to be able to summon a load of your favourite characters from previous games to help you out along the way too, and it’s all looking pretty spectacular!

I can’t believe I volunteered for this, but sometime around the January 26th release date I’ll be reviewing all twenty-one versions of six classic Wonder Boys coming to Switch and PlayStation! From the wonderful, pure platforming of the 1986 arcade original and through the RPG-infused sequels to 1994’s Monster World IV on various systems, Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection brings near-enough perfect reproductions from loads of different systems as well as modern conveniences like rewind. We did look at the less extensive Wonder Boy Collection on Switch last June, so we’ve got a bit of a head-start, but just don’t ask me to go through all the convoluted naming conventions and meandering versions this time around! No trailer at the time of writing unfortunately. Sorry!

I have a controversial opinion when it comes to the original Dead Space, which thankfully I only rented on PlayStation 3 from LoveFilm when it first came out around 2008, because I think it’s a bit of a snooze-fest! But there’s no chance this remake can be, right? Well, as it’s coming to PlayStation, Xbox and PC on the 27th we won’t have to wait long to find out! It’s looking like a very immersive and very atmospheric bit of sci-fi horror so far though, and I’m ready to give it a second chance.

Last up this month, awesome vertically scrolling shoot ‘em up Raiden 4 x Mikado Remix has been around on Switch for a while (and as I write is almost half price) but comes to everything else on the 31st. This version brings five new game modes to just about the best of the classic series as well as remixes of sixteen background tracks produced by GAME CENTRE MIKADO. It’s a beauty and if you don’t have it on Switch it’s time to get it somewhere else!

Not a massive amount this month, which I guess is understandable at this time of year. Hope you enjoyed looking at those though, and so be sure to come back for loads more this Thursday, the 5th of January, when we’re going to have trailers for loads more stuff coming this year and I make some predictions Retro Arcadia game of the year 2023. And in case you missed it, check out last year’s while it’s still fresh here!