Studio Bitmap Bureau has announced plans to port its 2019 arena shooter Xeno Crisis to the Game Boy Advance later this year. The Game Boy Advance is still regarded as one of the most beloved handheld platforms of all time and is a widely respected piece of hardware from the 32-bit era of video game consoles. Now, over 20 years after its release, fans of the GBA can look forward to a new title with both retro charm and modern gameplay innovations.

Fans of top-down shooters might have already heard of Xeno Crisis, Bitmap Bureau's critically acclaimed 2D-pixel title. Released in 2019, Xeno Crisis is an indie top-down arena shooter inspired by several of the most beloved 1990s arcade games, such as Mercs and Smash TV. In the game, players take on the role of a veteran marine who is deployed on a mission to Outpost 88, a scientific research facility that has been overrun by aliens. Similar to other arcade-style games, the title also features local multiplayer on most systems, enabling players to act alone or share the screen with a friend.

Xeno Crisis has notably been released on multiple retro consoles before, including the Sega Genesis and Neo Geo. Fans of the game will also be able to pick it up on Game Boy Advance by Q4 2024. Physical versions of the acclaimed top-down arena shooter will come packaged in region-free GBA cartridges and will also include an instruction manual. Game Boy Advance fans who rely on emulators and flash cartridges can similarly purchase access to a digital ROM on Bitmap Bureau's official website at release.

Though Xeno Crisis has yet to launch on GBA, there's reason to believe it can stand alongside the classics of the handheld console. Since its 2019 release, the game has already made a name for itself on other platforms, earning respectable scores on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. Fans of retro video games have notably praised Xeno Crisis' for its charming pixel art graphics and challenging fast-paced gameplay, with the title currently sitting at a "Very Positive" rating on Steam.

Players looking to expand their Game Boy Advance library can preorder a physical copy of Xeno Crisis now through Bitmap Bureau's official online store for approximately $45. Fans who place an order for a copy of the physical version of the Game Boy Advance version will also automatically receive a complimentary download of the digital ROM version.

Posted: Jul 27, 2024 3:40 pm
Related Forum: Gaming Discussion

Source: https://gamerant.com/game-boy-advance-xeno-crisis-2024-release/