I’m not afraid to say that the Modretro Chromatic is easily my favorite way to play Game Boy games, new and old. The hardware delivers on its claims; the Chromatic is the ultimate Game Boy Color console. And since Modretro has been busy securing more and more physical games to publish, from a fresh Atari collection to a Rayman rerelease, it comes as no surprise that the company has released two new titles.
This past Friday (a Halloweeen release no less), Modretro launched Croc: 25th Anniversary Edition and Buck and the Cursed Cartridge as physical Game Boy Color carts, with both titles available for sale on its website for $45 a pop. You can also find Buck and the Cursed Cartridge at GameStop, both in physical stores and online, and this is not only because Modretro has been cooperating with GameStop to sell its wares, but also because Buck the Bunny is the actual GameStop mascot, an amusing character with a foul mouth that’s challenging not to love. Buck is back and bigger than ever, now starring in his own game — one I can vouch is an absolute hoot, having gone hands-on with the title over the weekend.
Buck and the Cursed Cartridge isn’t your typical branded release
Screenshots from the BGB emulator
I’ve made it a habit to purchase the Modretro titles that strike my fancy ever since the company started selling Game Boy games and hardware, and as a longtime lover of platformers on the platform, I knew I had to have Buck and the Cursed Cartridge as soon as I caught wind of it. Thanks to GameStop’s ever-so-awesome same-day delivery, I placed my order for the $45 game a day after launch, on Saturday, and had it in my hands the same day.
It would appear that the developer, known as Playinstinct (you can find more of their work on itch.io), had luck on their side when a couple of successful game jams got the attention of Modretro, which spurred the developer to pitch the company on a Buck the Bunny title in the hopes its GameStop cooperation could lead to bigger and better things. As it turns out, Modretro was already looking for someone to create a branded title for GameStop, and so it would seem the pairing was kismet, resulting in the recent launch of Buck and the Cursed Cartridge, an indie game created from scratch by Playinstinct using GB Studio.
Buck and the Cursed Cartridge gameplay recorded on Chromatic with OBS
Now, as far as the gameplay goes, Buck and the Cursed Cartridge is a platformer, one that feels like it was made with speedrunners in mind. Basically, you have to shoot every single enemy in a stage to open the door to the next, and finding all of these enemies requires some creative platforming. What’s especially appreciated is that there are two difficulty choices; this way, once you’ve perfected your runs on Normal, you can jump to Hardcore to really test your skills.
Of course, I recorded a gameplay video (above) so everyone can see how the game runs on the Chromatic, thanks to the video out function that works so well with OBS.
Cart, charm, box, and instruction booklet
Personally, I’m having a great time with Buck and the Cursed Cartridge, the platforming gameplay is challenging, the controls are tight, and performance is pretty good, especially for a GB Studio title, as you can tell Buck and the Cursed Cartridge is very much pushing the limits of what the Game Boy Color (and Modretro’s Chromatic) are capable of, something even the developer admits, just skirting the line with near rock-solid performance.
Buck and the Cursed Cartridge
Croc: 25th Anniversary Edition is a rerelease with fresh controls
Croc gameplay footage (Source: Modretro)
Similar to the recent Rayman rerelease from Ubisoft and Modretro, Argonaut Games’ Croc is back for its 25th anniversary with new controls and an improved save system, breathing new life into a classic Game Boy Color title from 2000.
Croc box and cart, with charm (Source: Modretro)
Basically, Croc: 25th Anniversary Edition takes what was great about the original Game Boy Color platformer and polishes the controls and save system for modern day. So if you’re a collector or simply enjoy playing Game Boy games using a physical cart, you can find the game on Modretro’s store for $45, and just like every Modretro game release, you can expect to get a slick charm with the title.
Croc: 25th Anniversary Edition
