Coffee Crisis

Coffee Crisis is a side-scrolling brawler, reminiscent of games like Streets of Rage or Golden Axe. Players fight a variety of aliens and possessed humans, collecting power-ups and earning points, as they progress through numerous levels. Jumping and special maneuvers are also available.

The game was designed with cooperative play in mind, and offers two-player support. Players can play as either Nick Miller or Ashley Corts from the Black Forge Coffee House.

An evil race of aliens called the Smurgliens has watched Earth for years. Through their observations, they deduce that the best humanity has to offer is its wifi, cat videos, metal music, and coffee. Two baristas from the Black Forge Coffee House, Nick and Ashley, take it upon themselves to confront the threat after their coffee shop is invaded.

The game started out when the owner of Mega Cat Studios met Nick and Ashley, the owners of the Black Forge Coffee House, at a fundraiser for the UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh and decided to collaborate. Out of a shared respect for retro gaming consoles, the owners decided that the game should be released on the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive, especially since Mega Cat Studios already had the equipment necessary to self-publish the game. Coffee Crisis runs on the Sega Genesis's and Mega Drive's original hardware.

The Black Forge Coffee House penned the story, while Mega Cat Studios did the art and programming. Pittsburgh metal band Greywalker provided music for the soundtrack. The game features many scenes and locations from around Pittsburgh, including PNC Park, Grandview Boulevard, and the Duquesne Incline.

Coffee Crisis received mixed reception, being praised for its sense of humor, music and inclusion of Pittsburgh locations and music, while being criticized for lack of modern features, such as the ability to block attacks. Critics also noted that the game's difficulty would sometimes suddenly spike, and that it wasn't always clear what was going on in game.