We reported on Prison City‘s major update and impending physical release earlier this month. The original game was released almost two years ago, but we felt it was due for another playtest, given the overhaul to many of the game’s mechanics and general gameplay. We’re playing the Steam version, but it’s now available digitally on Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, with physical versions for PS5 and Switch in development. Programancer and Retroware have developed the game, and Limited Run Games is publishing the physical editions.
Prison City is an NES-inspired action platformer set in an alternative universe where 90s Detroit hasbecome a giant prison. Terrorists have taken over the complex and are building an army to take over. The corrupt police have also stopped any action being taken, and it’s up to our hero Hal to stop the threat. Yes, it has that typical 90s action movie story, but that is all part of the fun. We started playing Prison City on a training level that gets you up to speed with all the game’s mechanics.
Although this game is inspired by 90s action titles, it does have a few modern touches that mean Hal has lots of different techniques in his arsenal to take down his enemies. Firstly, you attack using a chakram that can be shot in almost all directions and can be heldoutwards and moved in circles. It’s an effective weapon, and although it takes a few goes to get the hang of it, once you master it, you’ll be blasting enemies and picking up boxes from all angles.
It’s not just responsive attacks that impressed us in Prison City, jumping around as Hal also felt good, as did grabbing onto rails and fences that enable you to get to higher up areas. Hal can also slide along the ground by crouching and can become invincible by finding the right pickup. Other moves include throwing a screen-clearing grenade, although he can only carry one at a time, and upgrading his chakram that downgrades again once a certain number of hits are taken.
Most of the levels in Prison City play out in the same way. You must fight your way to a colleague who has the keycard for the boss’s room that is usually back towards the start of the level. The boss battles are fun, varied, and pose quite a challenge in the greater difficulties. One great aspect is how the levels are presented in Mega Man-style, with players able to select where to travel next. There are some set pieces throughout the game, including riding a motorcycle in an auto-scrolling level, and these help break up the overall play.
Prison City also has some great graphics that hit that 90s NES aesthetic right on the head. The same can be said about the chiptune music that beeps and boops along with the retro action. Overall, this is a well-made retro title, and the new features have improved on the original version immensely. It would be easy to argue that it doesn’t do anything particularly new, but it hits all the action platformer tropes to a high standard and is great value given the replayability of difficulty settings and secrets to discover. Prison City is one we recommend to anyone who appreciates NES action platformers.
