Gorgeous Pixel Platformer Lunark is Like Sci-Fi Prince of Persia on PS5, PS4

One correction to this article: Wayforward did not develop this, Canari Games did. Wayforward published this game.

2nd correction: (opinion actually) The animation and shooting mechanics look like they were straight ripped from Flashback!

@HydroSeptr Good catch. Updated

@hookedWORM17 Yep, Flashback was the first thing that sprang to my mind. I loved Flashback when it was first released, though remember wishing that its world was more open and 'living/breathing' than the illusion it gave.

What I don't understand about modern 'pixel art' games is that the original games they ape had the best possible graphics manageable at the time. Surely these days, a 2D platformer could be made with pretty-much photo-realistic graphics/motion-capture. But I haven't noticed any attempts at this.

Huntdown gets my vote for best pixel platform/shooter type game, this one looks too much like flashback.

Indeed, as others have already pointed out, this game looks very much like Flashback, but in lower resolution.

@Smiffy01 Huntdown is amazing and a good example of proper use of pixel art.

Yeah definitely more of a Flashback demake than anything else, even down to Conrad's jacket. Will definitely check this one out when it hits the Plus collection

They really went all in on the pixelization! Not a fan of Flashback style games, I find them frustrating. Easy pass.

@Khayl who is the best video game journalist Australia produced? Alanah?

Reminds me of Flasback, I’m sold.

@VanguardKaiser it’s on Steam, seems like it’ll be a perfect fit for Steam Deck if it works there.

Good to see an interesting game available to play as soon as you see it. Bought it already, can't wait to play.

@Toypop I remember renting Flashback when I was a kid and I couldn’t get past the first area. I hated it and was so mad I wasted a rental on it. I went back to it a couple of years later because I got it in a box of used games from a garage sale, it quickly became one of my favorite games. These style games (and Battletoads) remain to be some of the toughest games I’ve ever played.

Looks like Flashback to me. It was a fun but challenging game.

@themightyant @BowTiesAreCool @deadfred77 @hookedWORM17

From what I’ve heard about this game, yes, this game is mostly inspired by Flashback. Maybe a bit of Another World (aka Out of this World). Similar games like this also include Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee and Blackthorne (a personal favourite of mine).

But the @Khayl isn’t wrong. The original Prince of Persia invented this genre of platformer game, so tracing this style of game back to its originator is not inaccurate.

@Toypop I’m familiar with the name of Rick Dangerous but I’ve never played it. I couldn’t agree more though, games of this style takes time and patience. Flashback and Out of This World weren’t about skill, they were about learning and piecing things together without any handholding.

Premise and gameplay could be fun, but graphics are a pixelated mess IMO. Just not a fan of 'retro' pixel graphics. Probably pass.

As a huge fan of Flashback i already bought the game to support the team.
Well this is actually Flashback with new low pixel art skin! It plays 95% like Flashback, the story so far is again inspired by classic sci fi movies and the character is wearing Conrad's clothes!
It's actually very enjoyable and quite easy for a veteran player.

@deadfred77 You're absolutely right. With all that horsepower nowadays we could have had the most beautiful and life-like 2d platform game. But no, it's only pixel art .