The old-school days of gaming have been invading the airwaves of the gaming industry in recent memory. With the nostalgic expertise from publisher Merge Games, Alex Kidd in Miracle World is celebrating its 35th birthday with the team sharing its process of bringing back the retro platformer.
The Mission to Revive Alex Kidd with Merge Games
Merge Games is an indie developer and publisher that specializes in helping other teams reach their projects to the masses. The six-person studio of Jankenteam approached Merge Games after the release of Streets of Rage 4. Their mission was to revitalize the legend of Alex Kidd with the publisher’s help. After a nice visit to Sega HQ, the teams were ready to get to work.
An entire strategy was assembled to aid in the game’s production and marketing. While maintaining the original integrity of Alex Kidd, the teams amped up the art, boss fights, and game modes to keep the action engaging and fresh. Additionally, retro enthusiasts have the option to switch the title back to its original vision. The finished product’s title came to be Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX.
The title was released earlier this year on June 22, 2021, to Very Positive reception on Steam (the original was released on November 1, 1986). The success of Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX might encourage Merge Games to explore other forgotten retro game icons. Luke Keighran, Managing Director of Merge Games, spoke about the experience of reviving Alex Kidd, saying:
It was a pleasure to work with Sega and Jankenteam reviving this retro classic. The success of Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX has given Merge a blueprint in this niche, and we intend to continue to drive that objective and look at other potential franchises we can resurrect.”
Not only can Merge Games look into other projects but also the reputation of retro gaming will continue to grow. Today, we celebrate Alex Kidd’s 35th birthday. We can only begin to wonder what they will bring back, but what do you think? Do you have any older games in mind that could make a comeback? Let us know in the comments below.