Developed by JPN 8bits fanatics
Released for XBLIG (11/2010)
The Tempura of the Dead is a 2D action-platformer released in late 2010 exclusively for XBLIG. The game has you playing as two different characters that you can switch between on the fly. The main character is Thompson, who is the President of the United States and uses firearms to take matters into his own hands. Accompanying Thompson is a samurai wielding a sword named Sugimoto. Thompson looks like a cross between former US President Barack Obama and anime legend Lupin the Third.
Each stage in Tempura of the Dead will feature a certain number of larger creatures and once all have been destroyed you will progress to the next stage. Stages are selected via an overworld map which also features shops where you can buy upgrades/health for your characters. Items can be purchased with your points which are gained by juggling zombie heads. After the zombies take enough damage, their head will go flying up in the air and if you can juggle it a couple times you'll initiate "tempura fever," and every head you hit in the air after will give you bonus points. Decapitated heads can be juggled with either your sword or bullets depending on which character you're using. There are four boss battles you'll encounter through the game, with the last one having you face off against a possessed Statue of Liberty!
The Tempura of the Dead features an 8-bit pixel style that feels very true to form, very similar to the developers' other effort Aban Hawkins & the 1000 Spikes. You can see the developer took a lot of care in presenting this game in a retro aesthetic. The controls are solid and the only complaint I can find is that jumping doesn't work while moving near an edge sometimes, which becomes a bit of an issue in later stages with very narrow platforms. It's extremely frustrating to see your character simply walk over the edge of a platform to his death when you know you pressed the jump button. You'll have to adjust to jumping before pressing over in the direction you're trying to move, which is a shame but I've found this is a common issue with several of the more challenging XBLIG platformers. It's not totally game-breaking though and you'll adapt to it if you play the game enough, but it's definitely worth mentioning. Also, while the music is decent and has the appropriate chip-tune sound, the game would have benefited from a bit more variety as the tracks are quite short and they tend to loop fast.
Tempura of the Dead features 24 levels with a few boss battles sprinkled throughout and it never feels like it drags on too long. It feels about the perfect length for the original $3 asking price. The currency/upgrade system pads the game out a tad but I found it enjoyable enough that it didn't feel like much of a grind. A playthrough of the game will probably last around 5 hours, which isn't bad for the cheap price. Tempura of the Dead was a solid XBLIG title with a retro feel and it would be nice to see it released again on a future platform so it's not completely forgotten in the sands of time. If you're a fan of late '80's/early '90's retro gaming, The Tempura of the Dead is one you'll enjoy!
Final Verdict: The Tempura of the Dead is an excellent 2D action/platformer that looks, plays and sounds like a classic 8-bit title. Highly recommended!
Related Links:
8bits Fanatics - Xbox Overview
The Tempura of the Dead - GameFAQs
Tempura of the Dead on 8bits Fanatics - Official Site
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