Where to get it

2019 · Action · Action-adventure

Black Future '88

Nintendo console exclusive

Climb a procedural tower in an alternate version of 1988 to kill its insane owner. Then do it again, and again. The constantly evolving world is influenced by other players as you experience this bold and wildly exciting dungeon crawler.

Released: 21 November 2019
Platforms: Nintendo Switch Windows
Genres: Action Action-adventure Adventure Indie Shooter
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Modes: Co-op Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action Science fiction
Country: United States
Age ratings: ESRB T PEGI 7 CERO C
Languages: Chinese (Simplified), English, French, German, Japanese, Russian
Time to beat: 5.5hmain story10hcompletionist

About

Black Future '88 is a roguelike video game developed by SUPERSCARYSNAKES and published by Good Shepherd Entertainment. The game was released on November 21, 2019, for Windows and Nintendo Switch. Set in an alternate version of 1988, the game follows survivors of a nuclear apocalypse climbing to the top of a tower to before their hearts explode.

The PC version received mixed reviews, while the Switch version was met with more positive reception.

›Story

Black Future ’88 is a Synth-Punk roguelike 2D action Shooter. Vertically climb an always evolving procedural tower to reach the top and kill its insane owner…before your heart explodes. Shoot, slash, dash and upgrade yourself to survive the endless waves of deadly traps, homicidal AI, crazed junkies and colossal Wardens standing in your way in a stylish alternative version of 1988.

The world is reeling from a nuclear cataclysm, created by Duncan, the tower architect. The First of his bombs fell in the summer of 1988, and by December they had blacked-out the sun with endless rain. We decided to stop keeping time after this, and it’s been 1988 ever since. Everything that lived through the initial attack will die in the extreme floods that followed. These are the times after, where there are no more months, or even weeks…everything is measured in minutes left to live.

Take on the mantle of one of the last remaining misfit survivors, and fight your way to the top of the tower to kill the architect and stop the endless nuclear rain. Ascend to die, and die to survive.

Game Features

Death Ascendant: Climb an always evolving procedural tower and fight for survival through a constant onslaught of death by fire, lasers, and slashes.

Unique Synth-Punk World: Play through a unique take on a retro cyberpunk dystopia, and fight to survive through 5 distinct zones each with their own challenges.

Pick Your Poison: Play as one of 5 playable characters, each with their own unique buffs- and weaknesses.

Ruin Friendships: Test your wits and reflexes with a friend in couch co-op, and experience a completely unique take on the co-op roguelike.

Kill the Wardens: Fight for survival by challenging the numerous unique bosses that guard each one of the game’s zones.

Fog Machines and Laser Beams: Bring a gun and laser sword to a fire fight by arming yourself with a selection of the 50 unique weapons available in the game, each with their own unique effects.

Evolve to Survive: The only way to survive when everything, including your own heart, is trying to kill you is to carefully boost or curse yourself by strategically choosing- and combining from 30 distinct buffs and curses.

Dailies: Every day, a new challenge is generated with unique attributes that will test your mettle and allow you to see how your skills compare against other players in a global Leaderboard. Fight for not just survival, but supremacy!

Ear Candy: Death never sounded so good thanks to an all killer original analog-synth soundtrack performed by Tremor Low.

Players say

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Black Future '88 is a roguelike, in which the player controls a survivor of a nuclear apocalypse. The survivor has to climb a procedurally generated tower and stop the Architect from keeping time stuck in 1988. There are six characters available with different loadouts and traits. After 18 minutes, the character's heart explodes.

The character can double jump, dash, and aim and shoot simultaneously. Each area of the tower is split into rooms that contain enemies, with a boss fight appearing every five or six screens. Defeated enemies drop currency that can be used to buy ammunition, health, and weapons. The number of weapons that can be picked up or purchased increases as more runs are completed.

Development

Black Future '88 was developed by SUPERSCARYSNAKES. It was showcased at the Indie Megabooth during the 2018 Game Developers Conference. In October 2019, it was announced that the game would release on November 21 for PC and Nintendo Switch.

Reception

Black Future '88 received "mixed or average" reviews on PC, while the Nintendo Switch version received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 60% of critics.

Nintendo Life's Jake Baldwin wrote that the world reminiscent of Blade Runner, and that the cyberpunk visual style was "masterfully crafted". Baldwin felt that all rooms were "balanced to perfection". Conversely, Blake Morse of Shacknews believed the game lacked balance, but praised the retro style and the soundtrack.