8DAYS

8DAYS is a side-scrolling shoot’em up with a pixel art style, featuring dual-stick controls where players control either Mike or Lola through five missions. The game emphasizes fast-paced action and arcade-style gameplay, with a retro aesthetic and challenging gameplay mechanics.

8DAYS: A Retro Revival with Flaws

Introduction

In the crowded landscape of indie shooters, 8DAYS stands out as a bold attempt to revive the spirit of 1980s action games while infusing modern sensibilities. Developed by Spanish studio Santa Clara Games and released in 2016, 8DAYS is a twin-stick shooter that pays homage to classics like Ikari Warriors and Commando, but with a twist of contemporary design. This review will dissect the game’s development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, and its place in the broader context of video game history. While 8DAYS offers a nostalgic thrill with its pixel art and retro aesthetics, its execution is marred by frustrating design choices that ultimately hold it back from greatness.

Development History & Context

Santa Clara Games, a small indie studio based in San Sebastián, Spain, crafted 8DAYS as a love letter to the arcade shooters of yesteryear. The game was developed using GameMaker, a tool known for its accessibility and suitability for 2D projects. The studio’s vision was to blend the fast-paced, arcade-style action of the 1980s with modern controls and design sensibilities. The game’s release in July 2016 coincided with a resurgence of interest in retro-inspired games, fueled by titles like Hotline Miami and Nuclear Throne.

The gaming landscape in 2016 was ripe for a game like 8DAYS. The indie scene was thriving, and players were increasingly open to experimental and nostalgic experiences. However, the market was also saturated with twin-stick shooters, making it challenging for 8DAYS to stand out. The game’s development was constrained by the studio’s limited resources, which is evident in its visual and technical limitations. Despite these challenges, Santa Clara Games aimed to create a game that would appeal to both hardcore fans of the genre and casual players looking for a quick, arcade-style experience.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

8DAYS is set in an alternate future where the world is controlled by two powerful entities: G.O.D. (Gold, Oil, and Diamonds, Inc.), a mercenary company, and the eponymous 8DAYS newspaper, which spreads propaganda to manipulate public opinion. Players take on the roles of Mike “Ghost” and Lola “Wasp,” two mercenaries tasked with quelling global conflicts. The narrative is delivered through environmental storytelling and brief cutscenes, with a focus on action rather than deep character development.

The game’s themes revolve around the consequences of unchecked power and the moral ambiguity of war. The protagonists are depicted as expendable pawns in a larger geopolitical game, highlighting the dehumanizing nature of conflict. The narrative is not particularly groundbreaking, but it serves as a fitting backdrop for the game’s frenetic action. The dialogue is minimal, and the characters are archetypal, which aligns with the game’s retro aesthetic but limits its emotional impact.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

8DAYS employs a twin-stick shooter mechanic, where players use the left stick to move and the right stick to aim and shoot. This control scheme is intuitive and allows for precise aiming, which is crucial given the game’s high difficulty. The game features five missions set in diverse locations, from lush jungles to industrial factories and barren deserts. Each mission is filled with waves of enemies, culminating in boss battles that test the player’s skills.

The game’s combat is fast-paced and chaotic, with a variety of weapons at the player’s disposal, including pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, and rocket launchers. The weapon variety adds strategic depth, as players must adapt their tactics based on the situation. However, the game’s checkpoint system is a significant flaw. Checkpoints are triggered when entering a new room, and players respawn with the same health they had when they died. This design choice can lead to frustrating situations where players are forced to clear entire sections without taking any damage, which is nearly impossible in the game’s later stages.

The game also supports local co-op, allowing two players to team up and tackle the challenges together. Co-op play mitigates some of the frustration of the single-player experience, as players can cover each other and share the burden of combat. However, the co-op experience is not without its issues, as the game’s difficulty scales poorly, making it either too easy or too hard depending on the players’ skills.

World-Building, Art & Sound

8DAYS‘s pixel art style is a deliberate throwback to the 16-bit era, evoking a sense of nostalgia for players who grew up with classic arcade games. The art direction is consistent and visually appealing, with detailed environments and distinctive character designs. Lola’s flaming pink hair, in particular, stands out as a memorable visual element. The game’s sound design is equally retro, with chiptune music and sound effects that complement the visual style.

The game’s soundtrack is a mix of upbeat tracks that enhance the action and more subdued melodies that play during exploration. The music is not particularly memorable, but it effectively sets the tone for the game’s various environments. The sound effects are well-executed, with satisfying gunshots and explosive impacts that add to the game’s arcade feel.

Reception & Legacy

8DAYS received mixed reviews upon its release, with critics praising its retro aesthetics and co-op gameplay but criticizing its frustrating difficulty and checkpoint system. The game holds a Metascore of 63 on Metacritic, indicating a mixed or average reception. Player reviews were similarly divided, with some praising the game’s challenge and others finding it overly punishing.

Despite its mixed reception, 8DAYS has developed a cult following among fans of retro shooters. Its influence can be seen in subsequent indie games that blend modern design with classic aesthetics. The game’s legacy is that of a passionate but flawed attempt to revive a bygone era of gaming, offering a glimpse into what made those games so appealing while highlighting the challenges of adapting them to contemporary standards.

Conclusion

8DAYS is a game of contradictions. It captures the spirit of classic arcade shooters with its pixel art, twin-stick controls, and fast-paced action, but its frustrating design choices and lack of innovation hold it back from greatness. The game’s co-op mode is a highlight, offering a fun and challenging experience for players willing to tackle its difficulties together. However, the single-player experience is marred by a punishing checkpoint system and a lack of health pickups, making it a frustrating slog at times.

In the broader context of video game history, 8DAYS is a testament to the enduring appeal of retro aesthetics and gameplay mechanics. It serves as a reminder of the challenges and rewards of reviving classic gaming experiences in a modern context. While it may not be a masterpiece, 8DAYS is a worthy addition to the library of indie shooters, offering a unique and nostalgic experience for players willing to embrace its flaws. Its place in video game history is that of a passionate but imperfect homage to a bygone era, a game that strives to capture the magic of the past while struggling to adapt to the present.