Game review: Retro City Rampage, PS3/ PS Vita

DEVELOPED by indie coder Brian Provinciano, Retro City Rampage is a superb love letter to old-school gaming that plays like the original Grand Theft Auto series, as you tool around an 8-Bit city to the sound of bleeping chip-tune music.

The main character – simply called “Player” – finds himself transported to the future where he must search Theftopolis for parts to repair his craft and return home. Every street is littered with references to NES games, and missions typically throw you into a homage of classics such as Metal Gear, Contra and Paperboy.

All of the parodies are hilarious but the game is no mere gimmick, as there is a lot of solid gunplay to enjoy, thanks to a neat twin-stick shooting mechanic that also incorporates a cover system. You can pop in and out of cover while locking on to a host of wrestlers, ninjas and street thugs with your suite of firearms and melee weapons.

Aside from key quests you can tear up the streets in a variety of cars and outrun the fuzz as you crash through scenery and pedestrians. Bonus “Rampage” challenges see you attempting to get a high score in a set time limit. Within seconds you can turn the streets into a warzone in a frantic attempt to dominate the online leaderboards.

It may look simplistic, but Retro City Rampage is ideal if you’re a long-time fan of the games industry. Newcomers will also enjoy the game for its penchant for mayhem alone.

• Retro City Rampage, £7.99, PS3/PS Vita