Factsheet
Publisher:
8-Bit Legit
Developer:
ToggleSwitch and FrankenGraphics
Release date:
October 6, 2023
Platforms:
Nintendo Switch
Xbox
NES
Itch.io
Website:
https://8bitlegit.com/games/project-blue
Regular Price:
| USD | $9.99 |
Description
Hidden in the outskirts of the Dezone, a secret bio-weapons lab is conducting unspeakable experiments on the homeless youth of that concrete wasteland.
The most promising test subject, codenamed PROJECT BLUE, manages to break free following an overly successful bio-energy augmentation.
Now it's up to YOU to help Blue escape from Theta Lab and bring down the shadowy multinational conglomerate running Neo Hong Kong!
Put your skill, wits and reflexes to the test as you jump, swim, and blast your way through four massive areas in this exciting new action platformer.
History
Project Blue was created by two people who have never met in real life - Ellen Larsson (FrankenGraphics) and Donny Phillips (ToggleSwitch).
They both had a love for cyberpunk and sci fi, so the duo borrowed moods and fundamental ideas from that cultural backdrop - Escape from New York, Neuromancer, The Three Body Problem, The Running Man, Waste Tide - to make a dystopian world of their own.
Making an NES game means you need to have a laser focus on what's going to be important. For resource reasons, you can't as easily get away with having a design that goes a bit in many directions at once, so you better nail a creative course and stick to it. For example, they made it so the game never stops to deliver exposition. Instead, the harrowing gauntlet that Blue, the hero, must move through becomes an analogy to the struggle and isolation navigating through incomprehensible megastructures in dystopian society. All while doing it in a light-touch; comics-like manner. The mazelike backgrounds of tube spaghetti, concrete waste and cold steel plates tell the story. The camera switches from scene to scene instead of scrolling with, almost giving a CCTV feel for those attuned to pick it up.
The world of Project Blue was further enriched by the artist M-tee, who created all the outside-of-game illustrations for media and penned the manual full with flavor.
Features
- 256 screens of heart-pounding action!
- A huge, original soundtrack of 22 songs!
- 3 layout-changing difficulty modes!
- Secret rooms and alternate routes galore!
Videos
Trailer YouTube
Images
Logo & Icon
About 8-Bit Legit
8-Bit Legit is a pixel partnership between Mega Cat Studios & Retrotainment Games, who share a passion for quality retro games.
We are committed to keeping cartridge gaming alive both in physical form and through modern digital publishing. 8-Bit Legit curates and publishes the best new retro experiences. We wish to satisfy your appetite for pixels on classic cartridges and modern platforms. 8-Bit Legit is headquartered out of the Steel City, Pittsburgh, PA.
About ToggleSwitch and FrankenGraphics
ToggleSwitch and FrankeGraphics are veterans of the #indieNES development community, teaming up to create Project Blue.
Stemming from a shared passion for the NES, the duo set out to create something special for the console, mixing shared inspirations and tones to deliver a licensed-quality #indieNES game for people to enjoy in the modern era.
Quotes About Project Blue From the Development Team:
"For originally being for the NES, with all its humble graphics capabilities, I set my mark on chiseling out an unusual amount of detail to the sprawling levels." said FrankenGraphics.
"One thing I think I can be proud of is that despite its simple to pick up controls, the skill roof of this game goes way beyond." FrankenGraphics said. "At the start it's good enough to find health containers to help push through an unlucky streak, but after a while you start to figure out how to navigate the map more safely, efficiently... then elegantly... and it feels quite rewarding."
"I'm hyped to see Project Blue meet the flat screen!" said FrankenGraphics.
"Making NES games from scratch is special - you don't take designs and features for granted, everything is considered carefully." said FrankenGraphics.
"It's easy to pick up, challenging to master, & very rewarding when you do." said Frankengraphics.
"An NES game unusually rich in graphic detail." said FrankenGraphics.
"I was inspired to make an authentic NES game because the world of AAA gaming in the modern era left me feeling flat." Donny Phillips said. "Despite an abundance of processing power, hi-def graphics, cinematics, mini-games, and more, I found that the actual experience of playing games didn't evoke the same joy as it did when games were smaller and simpler."
"Working around the restrictions imposed by the NES was a fascinating exercise. From the sound chip to the graphical limitations, the NES has an aesthetic that will always be classic to me." said Donny Phillips.
"Project Blue is a game that nearly anybody can pick up and teach themselves how to play in a matter in minutes." Donny Phillips said. "But from the simplicity of the controls and environment, we were able to create a world that feels immersive, interactive, and fun."
"I'm particularly excited to see the Switch release of Project Blue - having the game available in a compact, portable package makes it so much more user-friendly, and more accessible to the modern gamer as well." Donny Phillips said.
Project Blue Credits
Donny Phillips
Programming, Music, Level Editor, Game/Level Design and Initial Concept
Ellen Larsson
Game Graphics, Cutscene Music, Game/Level Design
M-Tee Graphics
Cover Art, Spot Illustrations and Manual
Contact
Inquiries
info@8bitlegit.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/WeAre8BitLegit
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/weare8bitlegit
Twitter
https://www.twitter.com/WeAre8BitLegit
presskit() by Rami Ismail (Vlambeer) - also thanks to these fine folks