Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril

I cannot say the same about this port, since it is plagued with a lot of annoyances and problems that make this one of the last places I’d advise you play the game. From audio pitch glitches, barebones options, the lack of save states or an autofill password feature, and a tiny smidge of input lag, this is an incredibly barren port, and for the $10 price, double that of an old NES VC title from back in the day, it is honestly pretty upsetting to see such a fantastic game presented in such a barebones fashion.

Once again, old-school retro gaming fans, the Switch is continuing its fortunate streak of titles tapping into that authentic feel… in a good way

Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril is a competent attempt at recreating the look and feel of the NES era, but even then I don’t think it is that impressive, especially considering it’s already twelve years old. Some of its issues, namely the hit detection, infuriating initial difficulty spikes and button placement are hard to ignore, even when taking its system limitations into account.

Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril is a game out of its era but that does not mean it is to be seen as a bad thing. #8Bit Legit is a group that wants to keep the retro games alive and I look forward to seeing what games they work on next. As mad as I got with the game, particularly regarding hitboxes, it did keep me driving to want to beat sections for my own personal satisfaction, but it does feel harder than it should be.

Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril is a throwback to all the games I grew up playing on the NES, capturing everything I loved and challenging me; with great controls, a retro look, and great soundtrack this is a must-play title!

The game looks and feels like yet another clone of the Blue Bomber, but before you roll your eyes like I did (since this seems to be the blueprint for almost every retro-release post-2020), the developer made the brilliant decision to add in a Metroidvania touch that sends you off exploring a metric ton of levels while taking down eight bosses.

Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril is a traditional 2D platformer that stays true to its NES roots. Its simple controls and charming 8-bit qualities make it a no brainer for any retro gaming fan. The over-the-top difficulty, while a little too much at times, creates a satisfying experience overall, making this a great game for anyone seeking a challenge.

Even as someone who can finish any Mega Man game before breakfast, I found Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril to be one maddeningly difficult game. It does a lot of things right, though, so it's worth checking out for any hardcore retro game enthusiast.