Cthulhu Saves the World (XBLIG, 2010)

Cthulhu Saves the World
Developed by Zeboyd Games
Released for XBLIG (12/2010)
Also on Android, iOS, Macintosh & PC

Cthulhu Saves the World is a tribute to old-school JRPGs and is similar to their previous effort, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning, but the game overall has a bit more polish this time. The overall graphics have been improved and the battle screens look much better in this title. The main quest will last you rougly 6-10 hours, which is an incredible value for a game that's selling for a dollar. You now have save notebooks that allow you to save whenever you want as opposed to having designated save areas in their previous game. Also, there are 1ups available that will let you retry a battle if you fail. There are seven playable characters, one of them being Cthulhu from the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. The humor from Breath of Death VII is still intact and the character interactions are well written. There are multiple difficulties and post-game modes for some extra replay value for those who want more after finishing the main quest. Cthulhu Saves the World retailed for $3 when it came out, but the developer has since dropped the price to $1 making this one a must-buy for old-school RPG fans!

Final Verdict: Cthulhu Saves the World is an excellent tribute to old-school JRPGs that any fan of the genre should give a look.

Breath of Death VII: The Beginning (XBLIG, 2010)

Breath of Death VII: The Beginning
Developed by Zeboyd Games
Released for XBLIG (4/2010)
Also on PC

Breath of Death VII: The Beginning is an excellent homage to the JRPGs of the 8 & 16-bit eras. The game wastes no time and gets you pretty much right into it, with a brief explanation of your stats and character. The battles in the game are turn-based, a battle system not too commonly seen these days. Stepping onto a save point will restore all of your life & magic, allowing to recharge in between battles if a save is near. The graphics are composed of pixels, which are simple but pack quite a bit of charm. The characters and dialogue exchanges are well written and full of humor, with many references to video games of old packed in there. The game will last you roughly about four to six hours, which is a pretty sweet deal for a buck. There are also hard and score modes if you want to go back and replay the game again. If you cut your teeth on the RPGs of the old days, Breath of Death VII should spark up some nostalgia while providing a fun new game at the same time.

Final Verdict: Breath of Death VII: The Beginning is a throwback turn-based RPG that fans of old-school JRPGs will love!