Though his work remains obscure, Doctor Cairn Kipling devoted his life to understanding the thought process of the animal kingdom, particularly the domestic dog. For over 20 years, he lived in a modest home in Austria, raising and studying a pack of Papillons. Though the details of his grisly demise made headlines, his true contribution to society was the seminal work, Belegter Butterbrot von Türkei auf Weizen. Among his many observations, his seminal thesis involved the primary mental imperative of our four legged friends, which he summarized as, “I’m a dog!”
And just as I questioned how any of this information might ever prove relevant, XSEED Games published Retro Game Challenge, a game that’s primary pre-occupation is excitedly exclaiming, “I’m a game!”
It’s a game in love with being a game. But to be clear, it doesn’t strive for post-modern vanity. Instead, it exists as a game excited to exist. And this tiny DS cartridge just might be the geritol our worn and ragged gamer souls need. It’s a Voight-Kampff test, separating those that “were there,” at that precious place and time from those who are now ready to embrace this title today.
But this isn’t about a tortoise on its back, its belly baking in the hot sun. So what is Retro Game Challenge about, then?