Gamers don’t agree on too many things, but one that is seemingly universally understood is that some of the best adventure/RPG titles originated from the 8 and 16-bit console generations. That’s how indie-dev Barnyard Intelligence sees it, which is precisely why they’ve created High Strangeness. And with the help of Midnight City, High Strangeness will be coming to PC and the Wii U system everywhere on May 6.
High Strangeness is the first of its kind – a deftly blended hybrid of 8 and 16-bit games, referred to as a 12-bit adventure. Drawing inspiration from the timeless RPG and adventure classics that hailed from both generations High Strangeness players take on the role of Boyd, who along with his trusty, yet sarcastic feline friend, traverses between two worlds in order to solve a multi-layered and crazy mystery that draws its insanity from games of old.
The ability to switch between the 8 and 16-bit worlds at will adds a unique wrinkle to the game and allows players to solve puzzles and figure out the secrets of the High Strangeness realm. The 8-bit world of High Strangeness on the left, versus the 16-bit world on the right…picking up any The Legend of Zelda and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past vibes yet?
“Any gamer of a certain age will no doubt have some pretty fond recollections of playing through the true classics of the JRPG/adventure genre like Chrono Trigger, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, StarTropics, and more,” said Ben Shostak, Lead Developer and Director of Barnyard Intelligence. “With High Strangeness we took all of our favorite elements from those classic 8 and 16-bit games and combined them with a new hook – ultimately making the game '12-bit', allowing gamers to switch between 8 and 16-bit worlds and enemies seemed like the perfect solution. We’re extremely pleased with how it turned out.”
As the first successfully funded videogame on Kickstarter (all the way back in 2009 for $1,500), Barnyard Intelligence and Midnight City are thrilled to bring High Strangeness to the masses later this spring. For more information on High Strangeness, please visit highstrangenessgame.com.
