Chip's Challenge

The Epyx Collection Handheld Landing on XBox and PC

April 1, 2025 By ausretrogamer

Seven Classic Lynx Games Arrive on Xbox and PC April 9th in ‘The Epyx Collection: Handheld’

Retro gaming fans, rejoice! Pixel Games UK and Imagine Software are making history with their first-ever release on Xbox consoles. Set to launch on April 9th for both Xbox and PC, ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ brings seven legendary Atari Lynx games to a new generation of players.

Priced at £11.99 / US$14.99/ ~AU$23.99 / €14.49, this collection delivers a dose of late ‘80s and early ‘90s nostalgia with beloved classics, including:

California Games (1989): Experience extreme sports like skateboarding, BMX biking, surfing, and more in a vibrant, sun-soaked West Coast setting.
ElectroCop (1989): Step into the cybernetic boots of a futuristic police officer and battle crime in a dystopian cityscape.
Blue Lightning (1989): Engage in high-octane aerial combat and prove your piloting prowess in this arcade-style flight adventure.
Gates of Zendocon (1989): Navigate alien worlds, battle hostile creatures, and take down the sinister Zendocon in an intergalactic space odyssey.
Chip’s Challenge (1989): Solve over 140 mind-bending puzzles in this brain-twisting classic, now with additional Sega Mega Drive and SNES ports.
Todd’s Adventures in Slime World (1990): Explore a hazardous alien world filled with monstrous creatures and slimy traps.
Zarlor Mercenary (1990): Pilot a customisable spacecraft and defend the galaxy from waves of alien invaders in this action-packed shooter.

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source: Imagine Software

Modern Enhancements for a Timeless Experience

Bringing these iconic titles to modern platforms isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about elevating the experience. ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ includes:

Customisable Display Filters – Choose from a variety of filters, including an authentic 80s-style CRT mode.
Suspend Points – Save and restore up to four game states per title, ensuring you can pick up where you left off.
Live Rewind – Rewind up to five seconds of gameplay instantly to correct mistakes or retry difficult sections.

Additionally, the collection features an overhauled user interface, with interactive 3D-rendered box art and cartridges based on the original releases. Fans can also enjoy fully remastered instruction manuals, bringing even more historical detail to these retro gems.

A New Era for Pixel Games UK on Xbox

This marks the first retro release on Xbox for Pixel Games UK and Imagine Software, but it’s only the beginning. “We’re excited to bring the first collection of classic games to Xbox and PC,” says Nick Tiseo, Director of Imagine Software. “It’s been a goal of ours for a long time.”

As the world of retro gaming continues to thrive, ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ is a must-have for both longtime fans and newcomers eager to discover these classic adventures. Don’t miss its worldwide release on April 9th via the Microsoft Store!

Review: Chip’s Challenge – Nintendo Switch

January 22, 2024 By ausretrogamer

Want to join the Bit Busters Computer Club?

One of the first games I bought for my Atari Lynx (back in the day, and which I still have!) was Chip’s Challenge. For the record, the first game I bought for the Lynx was California Games, but this review isn’t about that game!

Just like Tetris on the Game Boy, I love coming back to Chip’s Challenge on the Lynx, it’s just a great game that suits the Lynx to a tee. To now have this great game on the Switch, I honestly couldn’t stop smiling! Chip’s Challenge on the Switch is exactly how I remember it on the Lynx, but with better controls and a luscious screen (if played on the OLED Switch).

For those of you that have no idea who or what Chip’s Challenge is, let us school ya a bit! Schoolboy Chip desperately wants to join the exclusive Bit Busters Computer Club, but to prove his worthiness he must complete a series of brain-twisting challenges set by the club’s owner Melinda the Mental Marvel – darn you Melinda!

You have to help Chip solve over 140 challenging grid-based puzzles, finding and using tools and devices such as keys, switches, pushable blocks and more, all while avoiding enemy creatures, and collecting computer chips to exit the level, all against the clock! Sounds easy aye 😉

Chip’s Challenge on the Switch has brought back a lot of nostalgia. For those coming in fresh to this game, please don’t be put off by the “blocky” graphics – it’s just all part of the charm! The game shines with its mind-bending puzzles to solve. At the end of the day, for the price of the game (less than a take away coffee), Chip’s Challenge is well worth it on the Switch. It may look quite blocky when docked, but this game shines when playing it on the go!

Chip’s Challenge will be released worldwide on Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop on January 25th 2024.

Disclaimer: Chip’s Challenge Switch review code supplied by Pixel Games UK

Retro Puzzler Chip’s Challenge Lands on Nintendo Switch Later This Month!

January 15, 2024 By ausretrogamer

Classic Puzzle Game ‘Chip’s Challenge’ Returns on Nintendo Switch this January!

The 1989 classic made available for Nintendo Switch for the first time! Features display filters, suspend points and live gameplay rewind. Releasing January 25th, 2024.

Developed by Imagine Software and published by Pixel Games UK, this 1989 classic returns with over 140 levels to put your mind (and your fingers) to the test — available for the first time on Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop.

In ‘Chip’s Challenge’, players take on the role of Chip — a puzzle obsessive who desperately wants to join Melinda the Mental Marvel’s computer club. His initiation takes the form of a series of increasingly difficult puzzles. To succeed Chip slide blocks, dodge hazards and collect the computer chips to pass each level. Are you up to the Challenge?

‘Chip’s Challenge’ for Nintendo Switch allows players to play this classic puzzle game with many modern features, including:

● Display filters, including an 80s-style CRT filter; and

● Suspend points – save and restore up to 4 suspend points per game

image source: Pixel Games UK

Chip’s Challenge is coming to the SNES and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive!

July 16, 2021 By ausretrogamer

Chip’s Challenge for SNES and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Pre-Orders Now Live

Top-down tile-based puzzle game

Independent publisher The Retro Room Games has recently announced that the pre-orders for Chip’s Challenge on Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive are now open!

Play as Nerdy Chip McCallahan, who navigates through a series of increasingly difficult puzzles in 148 two-dimensional levels, in order to prove himself and gain membership to the very exclusive Bit Busters Club.

Originally developed by Epyx, Chip’s Challenge is a classic top-down tile-based puzzle game launched on Atari Lynx in 1989. The game was also ported to MS-DOS, Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and the Amstrad CPC back in the 90s.

Chip’s Challenge was also released on Steam 6 years ago featuring 90% of positive reviews. This will be the first time that the game will be available on Nintendo and Sega platforms.

Chip’s Challenge will be available on 16-bit consoles including a cartridge in both PAL and NTSC versions, a box and an instruction booklet. Pre-orders for the game can be found here.

source: The Retro Room Roo