Limited Run Games has announced another couple of classic collections, but unlike theJurassic Park Classic Games Collection, these are actually good. Coming up isFelix the CatandRocket Knight Adventures: Resparked.
I’m just learning this now, butFelix the Catis turning 105 this year. The character got his start in the golden age of animation back in 1919, starring in some silent shorts. Like most popular characters from the time period, he kept coming back repeatedly for new TV series and movies, even if he wasn’t as high profile asLooney Tunes (Merry Melodies)andMickey Mouse. Limited Run Games’ collection contains the 1992 NES title by Hudson Soft, and the 1993 Game Boy port.
The NES title is actually somewhat based on thegodawful1989 movie, which, in turn, is based on thegodawful1958 cartoon series. The game itself is pretty decent, though. The main draw of it is that you continually pile on power-ups until you’re driving a tank, and some of the levels have you flying. They’re not scrolling shoot-’em-up sections, though. You’re just allowed to fly around for some reason. I absolutely loved the game when I was a kid. My cousins owned it, and I always wanted to play it whenever I visited.
Rocket Knight Adventuresshould hopefully require no introduction. The original title, developed and published in 1993 by Konami, is unequivocallymy favorite Sega Genesis/Mega Drive game. It’s just such a joyfully creative platformer that is evocative of early Treasure games.
TheRocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparkedcollection compiles that with the Genesis sequel, 1994’sSparkster, with the SNES sequel, also a 1994 game calledSparkster. BothSparkstersare entirely different games. Like, even mechanically, they’re dissimilar. They’re also not as good as the original. They both give off this feeling like the marketing team got involved and started making suggestions on how to make the character more appealing to the masses.
BothFelix the CatandRocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparkedare coming to the PS4, PS5, and Switch. Probably PC, as well, but that’s not mentioned in the press release. The physical edition ofFelix the Catwill be available for preorder on February 9, until March 10.Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparkedis sooner, from January 19 until February 18. There’s an “Ultimate Edition” ofRKAgoing up as well, and that Sparkster Statuette is pretty tempting. The digital versions don’t have a release date yet.
Limited Run Games is also that more Konami titles are on the horizon. It’s about damned time, since the company is sitting on a massive trove of classic titles that have never been re-released. Maybe we’ll get a Ganbare Goemon collection now.
