GIVEAWAY: Win A Free ‘Pink Cassette’ Limited Edition Of Pixel Ripped 1989 On PSVR

ATTENTION VR GAMERS: We’re teaming up with ARVORE to give away a free ‘Pink Cassette’ Limited Edition version (releasing April 12th) of cult classic nostalgia-charged VR game, Pixel Ripped 1989. Details below!

pixel ripped 1989 Pink Cassette limited edition

The Pink Cassette Edition is exclusive to the Perp Games Online Store and only 1,500 will ever be sold. This makes it a must-have for collectors and a very rare giveaway option for fans of the series and fans of VR in general.

This extremely limited Pink Cassette Edition includes an exclusive, limited-edition retro-styled 1980s game box with a physical boxed edition of Pixel Ripped 1989 on PlayStation VR inside, a limited edition retro pink cassette USB drive which contains the digital soundtrack, wallpaper, exclusive art, and three limited edition postcards, including one signed by Pixel Ripped’s creator, Ana Ribeiro.

For more details on the game itself, here is what I had to say in my original review from 2018:

Pixel Ripped is a love letter to all things classic gaming. From the inventive melding of retro graphics with a modern VR game setting to the way it subverts medium stereotypes by putting you in the dress and shoes of a grade school girl with a trusty Gameboy, it’s hard not to smile while playing this nostalgia-fueled adventure. A few minor hiccups hold it back from truly transcending the medium as a whole, but anyone that has fond memories of video games from the 80s and 90s absolutely needs to check this one out.

And if you love Pixel Ripped 1989, definitely check out the sequel, Pixel Ripped 1995, which builds on everything that made 1989 great and delivers an even better (in my opinion) nostalgia trip that’s dripping with charm.

GIVEAWAY: Win A Free ‘Pink Cassette’ Limited Edition Of Pixel Ripped 1989 On PSVR!

To enter into the giveaway fill out the form above or at this link here. A winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email on April 9th. You’ll send us your shipping information and we’ll give that to Perp Games so they can ship you the physical Limited Edition.

Let us know if you have any questions down in the comments below!

How Pixel Ripped 1995 Is A Nostalgia-Fueled Time Machine For Gamers

Nostalgia hits different in VR; it can recreate not only the things that what you once loved, but also the environment you were in when you loved it. There’s no better example of that all-encompassing nostalgia than Pixel Ripped 1995.

[UploadVR regularly commissions freelance writers to review products, write stories, interview subjects, and contribute op-ed pieces to the site. This article is a feature piece from an experienced journalist unaffiliated with UploadVR.]

Our rose-colored memories of how things used to be are a powerful force in their own right. But, blind to the world, headphones over your ears, tracking controllers mirroring the movement of your real-world hands, VR is more than just normal nostalgia.

“We have, as developers, the possibility to recreate other memories, not just the game itself, but the interaction of playing that game in that period, how it felt to play a game when I was in my bedroom at night and I had to hide the game from my mom,” says Ana Ribeiro, an indie developer at Brazilian VR studio, Arvore Immersive Experiences.

Ribeiro isn’t just referencing a common experience that many players share. She’s citing an actual example from Pixel Ripped 1995, which launched on Steam, PSVR and Quest earlier this year. Ribeiro was creative director on Pixel Ripped 1995 as well as 2018’s Pixel Ripped 1989, a similarly nostalgia-driven VR game.

pixel ripped 1995 castlevania

Drawing Nostalgia During Development

In Pixel Ripped 1995, players assume the perspective of David, an American kid growing up in the 1990s, who is faced with a dilemma: he wants to play video games all the time and his mom doesn’t want him to play video games all the time.

This conflict is gamified in a few different ways. During one section, David uses a Nerf gun to shoot objects on the kitchen counter, using the sound to distract his mother. In another bit, David is sneaking in some gaming time in his room at night. But, his parents are asleep in the next room, and if he doesn’t manage to stop playing before his mom wakes up and barges into the room, she’ll turn the console off.

Throughout this process, players see the world through David’s eyes. The left and right tracking controllers become David’s hands, cradling the in-game controller. Pixel Ripped 1995 presents the experience of playing a game within a game.

“Because of the power of immersion we have with VR, we have a much stronger nostalgic experience, because you’re putting yourself in that world and we can explore all those little things,” Ribeiro says. “Having to deal with parents or people who don’t want you to be playing games. Things that people can relate to. Every gamer has memories of struggling to play games, because we always have to be so productive, right?”

Arvore drew on the diverse experiences of its team for this collection of memories. Ribeiro alludes to the childhood experience of Arvore CEO, Ricardo Justus, who was friends with the game’s art director, Rodrigo Blanco, while growing up.

“They were telling us, ‘Oh remember that time we were playing Final Fantasy and we had to play in the night, hiding from our parents because we had to get up, and we had no electricity from the room so [we] had to get electricity from the [bathroom] and someone closed the [bathroom] door and pulled the cord from the game and we lost all their progress and [we] had to play the whole Final Fantasy game again because it didn’t have the memory card?’” Ribeiro says.

“So we kind of tried to put everyone on the team’s memories [in the game],” she says. “And I think that really helped to make the game more relatable.”

pixel ripped 1995 arcade

Representing Diverse Genres

Arvore created this collage of memories in hopes of providing a “time machine” for nostalgic players.

“That was the reason why I created the game, and I’m happy this is still what shines the most in the game: the power of transporting people to their childhoods,” Ribeiro says. “I’m happy that it actually ended up being one of the best things about the game because it was the first inspiration I had when I started building this game. I wanted to make a time machine and I wanted to relive moments of childhood because I grew up in the ‘80s, and we’re never going to have this explosion in the industry like we had [then].”

Of course, the proliferation of new games in new genres provided challenges as Arvore attempted to distill a wide variety of nostalgic memories into one 3-5 hour game. Not everyone is nostalgic for the same things. You might have spent the ‘90s honing your beat-em-up skills in brawlers like Streets of Rage. I might have spent my time riding the sprawling plains of Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda.

The small team at Arvore had to somehow make a game that hit nostalgia pressure points for as many players as possible. All while making their genre tributes fun to play in their own right. According to Ribeiro, that limited the depth of what Arvore could do with each.

pixel ripped 1995 zelda living room

“We can say that we reference a Streets of Rage, beat-em-up game,” Ribeiro says. “But, we cannot say that that’s a really, really good beat-em-up game like we want it to be, because we couldn’t explore each genre deep. So the beauty of the game is when you put it all together. But, if you have one of these levels separated and released as a full game, we wouldn’t be happy. We wouldn’t explore as much as we wanted, you know? But, putting it all together, I think it’s a big achievement.”

But, what makes Pixel Ripped 1995 unique is not just its recreation of ‘90s genres. It’s the way it uses VR to allow you to dip into the various locations from the era that aren’t as prevalent today.

“There were some locations — like the pier or the arcade and the rental store — that have that nostalgic feel, that [as] gamers, we all remember, like, ‘Wow, I’m going to the rental store.’ But, other locations, like the car, it was more related to let’s bring back those memories of being a kid,” Ribeiro says. “We all remember being in the back of the car… I had three brothers, so I would usually go in the back of the car and I remember looking out the window. So we wanted to [capture] that feeling of being a kid, and that feeling of imaging things happening, like when you start seeing Tetris blocks everywhere when you play too much Tetris.”

Recreating diverse locations helped the team to keep the game feeling fresh. Pixel Ripped 1989’s locations were pretty limited by contrast, taking place entirely in a school.

“But in 1995 we really wanted to explore [and] make more environments. The nostalgia you can bring [with] different environments, it’s so much stronger than if [you’re]  in the same place, right?” Ribeiro says.

“And we can explore much more interesting things with VR when you change environments, change the set-up, change where the characters are coming from. ‘The mom is coming from that corridor and we can explore that.’ The main reason, of course, is nostalgia, [but] also it adds to the gameplay, adds to the overall experience, that feeling of progress when you go to a new environment.”

pixel ripped 1995 rental store

The Future Of Arvore’s Nostalgia

With Pixel Ripped 1995 completed, Arvore can begin looking to the future of nostalgia. The team still has a lot of ground to cover. Ribeiro says there are plans to hit 1978, 1983, and 1999 at some point down the line. There’s even a tease for the next game hidden in 1995. But, the team isn’t only looking to span time periods. They also want Pixel Ripped to span time zones. 1989, which Ribeiro began developing while in school in England, is set in the UK. And 1995 takes aim at the ‘90s in America. That’s great for those audiences, but neither game has given the team the opportunity to explore all the specifics of their own nostalgia in Brazil.

“At some point, we definitely want to set one in Brazil, because there is so much we want to explore and I think we could make something so amazing with the experience we have being Brazilian, it would be ridiculous not to explore that,” Ribeiro says. “We had this console called [the] Phantom System [and] it was just released here… This console actually is my favorite console. I grew up saying this is my favorite console, but no one knows about this console [outside Brazil]… It was a console released in Brazil in the period that Nintendo wasn’t releasing games here.”

Developed by Gradiente, the Phantom System was an NES clone that could play NES games. But, it didn’t look anything like the NES.

“You would play with controllers that were exactly like SEGA Genesis. It was bizarre. So you would be playing Nintendo games, and also they had Brazilian games just released here,” says Ribeiro. “You could play with Sega Genesis controllers, it looked like an Atari and it played Nintendo games.”

So, while Pixel Ripped 1995 serves up an immersive experience of American-inspired ‘90s nostalgia, it will be interesting to see Arvore dive deep on the intricacies of Brazilian bootleg culture perhaps sometime soon. 1995 hits hard on my nostalgia. But, I can’t wait to see Arvore fully explore their own.

Pixel Ripped 1995 SNES

Pixel Ripped 1995 is available on Steam for PC VR headsets, the PSN Store for PSVR, and the Oculus store for Oculus Quest for $19.99 on all platforms. You can read our full review of the game here and watch a previous interview with Ribeiro from our UploadVR Holiday VR Showcase in 2019 here.

Pixel Ripped 1995’s ‘Ultimate Challenge’ Update Adds New Features and Secrets

Pixel Ripped 1995

Retro sequel Pixel Ripped 1995 arrived a few months back and once again showed how the virtual reality (VR) community loves a bit of nostalgia mixed in with modern tech. Today, developer ARVORE has announced a free update called the ‘Ultimate Challenge Update’ adding plenty of new content.

Pixel Ripped 1995

The Ultimate Challenge Update aims to increase the replay factor of Pixel Ripped 1995 with new features, challenges, secrets and rewards. A Hardcore Mode toughens up the enemies to give players a real challenge, whilst a scoring system for each of the six levels means you can try to improve your best score and time on each of them.

As you head back into Pixel Ripped 1995 now keep an eye out for hidden Golden Cartridges which will unlock secret content. On the gameplay side, Dot gains the Ripped Boost ability making her super powerful when she gathers enough pixels. ARVORE notes is a press release that this: “allows hardcore players and speed-runners to devise new strategies for clearing each level.” To that end, cut-scenes can now be skipped plus there’s a built-in gameplay timer to improve speed-running/time-trials.

Other additions include eight new armour designs to unlock for Dot, Pixel Doors which offer alternative routes, an interactive comic book with an original Pixel Ripped story and a new after-credits scene.

Pixel Ripped 1995

Pixel Ripped 1995 is a tribute to the gamers themselves, ones who grew up protecting fascinating digital worlds, who became friends with the most charming low-resolution characters and who poured their hearts and souls into beating the hardest of challenges,” said Bárbara Framil, Narrative Designer, ARVORE in a statement.

VRFocus was impressed with the PC edition of Pixel Ripped 1995 in its review: “ARVORE has certainly learnt from Pixel Ripped 1989both in terms of scope and gameplay, Pixel Ripped 1995 is a premium retro experience from start to finish.”

The Ultimate Challenge Update for Pixel Ripped 1995 goes live today for Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift and Steam VR headsets. It will be coming to PlayStation VR but a date has yet to be officially given. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Pixel Ripped 1995, reporting back with the latest updates.

Pixel Ripped 1995’s Retro Homage Hits PlayStation VR This Month

Pixel Ripped 1995

Last month Brazilian developer ARVORE released Pixel Ripped 1995 for PC VR headsets and Oculus Quest, bringing back some retro 90s gaming goodness. Today, the developer has announced that the PlayStation VR version isn’t too far away, with two launches taking place over the next couple of weeks.

Pixel Ripped 1995

Europe and the Americas are getting separate release dates, starting with the latter. The Americas will see Pixel Ripped 1995 arrive via respective PlayStation Stores on 12th May followed by a European release on 19th May.

Just like its predecessor Pixel Ripped 1989, the sequel is essentially a love letter to old-school gaming from its own particular era. The mid-90s were a golden era for videogames when they were moving from 16-bit sprites into 32-bit 3D titles. Pixel Ripped 1995 plays on this aspect at every turn, with all six levels containing nods to 1990s action RPGs, brawlers, platformers, space shooters, and racing games such as Streets of Rage, Mortal Kombat, Road Rash, Star Fox, Sonic the HedgehogCastlevania and many more.

In Pixel Ripped 1995 digital heroine Dot returns to help save both real and digital worlds from an evil goblin, the Cyblin Lord with the help of a 9-year-old videogame fan called David. He has to deal with nagging parents, bullies and more, switching between playing on his new console and dealing with outside distractions.

Pixel Ripped 1995

VRFocus was suitably impressed with Pixel Ripped 1995 in its review: “ARVORE has certainly learnt from Pixel Ripped 1989both in terms of scope and gameplay, Pixel Ripped 1995 is a premium retro experience from start to finish.”

As mentioned this months launch is a split digital release. The Pixel Ripped Twitter account previously confirmed ARVORE has been working with Perp Games on physical versions of Pixel Ripped 1989 and Pixel Ripped 1995 but there’s been no update yet regarding when that may occur.

ARVORE has said fans can also look forward to new features and extra content in free updates in the months to come as it looks to add more fun and replayability to the title. VRFocus will continue its coverage of Pixel Ripped 1995, reporting back with all the latest announcements and updates.

Review: Pixel Ripped 1995

Pixel Ripped 1995

2018’s Pixel Ripped 1989 offered a unique blend of virtual reality (VR) entertainment mixed with 8-bit retro nostalgia, blurring the line between modern gaming and that of 30 years ago. Pixel Ripped 1995 continues that formula in a crucial era when videogames were transitioning between 2D and 3D, 16-bit to 32-bit. But can that same recipe work again whilst offering a fresh experience?

Pixel Ripped 1995What that means for those who haven’t seen the first title is playing console and arcade videogames inspired by famous ones from the 90s in addition to interactions with the ‘real’ world in which your character inhabits. Pixel Ripped 1995 is a story-driven adventure where the narrative does arc between the two titles but can still be enjoyed without playing the former. Dot is a videogame character tasked with saving her home once again from an evil goblin called the Cyblin Lord, she does this by inhabiting skilled players, this time its 9-year old David to the rescue.

Just like the videogames the title is paying homage to, Pixel Ripped 1995 can be a frantic arcade experience, albeit a somewhat watered-down version. Jumping between genres, from beat ‘em’ ups and platformers to shooters and racing titles, those of a certain age who enjoyed gaming in the 90s will have instant flashbacks to some of the greats, their pros and their cons.

Most of the chapters tend to feature nods to a couple of titles from the decade, with the main level differing from the final boss each time. Name a 90s videogame and its probably in there in some form, Streets of Rage, Mortal Kombat, Road Rash, Star Fox, Sonic the Hedgehog and Castlevania to name just a few. As mentioned these imitations aren’t quite as hardcore and unforgiving as the original videogames but that’s not to say certain latter sections are easy.

Pixel Ripped 1995The trickiest mechanic to get to grips with is mixing between operating the digital controller and then interacting with the VR world. A good portion of Pixel Ripped 1995 is playing on a console, looking at a TV screen. Moments will then arise where you’ll have to multitask with the off-screen world, the best example of which – and most relatable – is the bedroom level where David is trying to play late at night, against the wishes of his mum. Make too much noise and she’ll wake up, giving you a few seconds to grab the TV remote and switch it off, after which she’ll go back to bed. This can become a little repetitive if you’re not careful yet this is also where Pixel Ripped 1995’s charm lays.

Pixel Ripped 1995 is unapologetically romantic when it comes to its delivery of retro gaming, which is no bad thing, although not all gamers are going to feel the same way about it. Thankfully, the experience offers enough variety in its gameplay that no matter your age it’ll offer enjoyment on some level. One big help is the comfort level, most players shouldn’t have an issue as Pixel Ripped 1995 is best played seated with little reason to spin around. Most of the action takes place within a 180° FoV so sit back and relax.

It might be a step up from the first instalment but Pixel Ripped 1995 isn’t all plain sailing. The title does suffer from a lack of depth, each moment quickly moving to the next with no time to really enjoy the world the developer has created. A few more interactive elements to a scene could’ve helped ground you in the world more. Also, NPC’s dialogue can become monotonous and mechanics like the Nerf gun get overused but these are minor quibbles.

Pixel Ripped 1995ARVORE has certainly learnt from Pixel Ripped 1989, both in terms of scope and gameplay, Pixel Ripped 1995 is a premium retro experience from start to finish. There’s a wonderful mix of aesthetics employed across the campaign which offers around 4-5 hours of gameplay. For a VR title Pixel Ripped 1995 can feel a little constrained and linear plus there doesn’t seem to be much replay encouragement. However, all in all, there’s still plenty of fun to be had.

80%
Awesome
  • Verdict

Retro Love Letter Pixel Ripped 1995 Gets an April Launch Date for Oculus & SteamVR

On New Years Eve 2019 VRFocus published its Most Anticipated VR Games Coming In 2020 and those on that list which have arrived including Half-Life: Alyx, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners and Paper Beast haven’t disappointed. ARVORE’s retro sequel Pixel Ripped 1995 was also on that list and today the released date has been announced, set to arrive next week.  

Pixel Ripped 1995

After the success of 2018’s Pixel Ripped 1989 Brazilian developer ARVORE and original creator Ana Ribeiro announced the sequel the following year, showcasing the title for the first time during Oculus Connect 6 (OC6). Still featuring the same mechanics where you take on the role of a kid tasked with playing various videogames to defeat an evil villain, the title pays homage to videogames of that specific era.

Set during an exciting time for videogames when the 16-bit era was making way for the onslaught of 32-bit gaming, you play a 9-year-old boy named David who has to battle an evil goblin, the Cyblin Lord, from the first title. Set across six levels that contain nods to 1990s action RPGs, brawlers, platformers, space shooters, and racing games.

“Thanks to the success of the first game, we were able to dedicate more resources and use more experience to create a game that is an even crazier nostalgic adventure. The setting of 1995 gives us a lot of great classics to reference and a whole new world to explore,” says Ricardo Justus, CEO and Co-Founder of ARVORE.

Pixel Ripped 1995

For those wondering why 1995 was chosen, it was actually the fans who got to decide. When players completed Pixel Ripped 1989 they were present with a time machine that allowed them to choose their favourite year which then influenced the sequel. Ribeiro has previously said there are plans to make further entries in the series with 1978, 1983 and 1999 earmarked.

For a taste of what’s to come, check out VRFocus’ preview of Pixel Ripped 1995 which noted: From what’s been shown so far the sequel retains the atmosphere and humour of the original, whilst updating it with some awesome 90s mechanics and gaming references.

Pixel Ripped 1995 will be coming to Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets on 23rd April. A version for PlayStation VR is slated for next month, the team saying: “It has already been submitted to the Sony QA and certification process, and is expected to launch in May.” For further updates on Pixel Ripped 1995, keep reading VRFocus.

Pixel Ripped 1989 Denied Oculus Quest Approval as 1995 Sequel Eyes Spring 2020 Release

By all accounts, the Oculus Quest is doing really rather well. Oculus’ UK store says the 64GB version can currently be delivered from 11th February onward and it’s not much better for the 128GB version. So naturally, developers are keen to get on the store. The only trouble is its highly curated (unlike Steam for example) which can make the process a little tougher. So tough in fact that one of VRFocus’ favourite, retro-inspired titles of 2018, Pixel Ripped 1989 has been denied. Strangely, its sequel Pixel Ripped 1995 has had no problem.

Pixel Ripped 1995

Over on Twitter Pixel Ripped creator, Ana Ribeiro revealed that Oculus Quest support wasn’t down to the videogame not running or being properly optimized for the headset, simply it fell foul of Oculus’ processes. Ribeiro explained to a fan: “We had optimised pixel 1989 and it is running well on the oculus quest but we can’t release on the quest without oculus approval. Sorry man :/ we done what we could in our end.”

Giving a little more detail she said: “Is not a Queue, you submit a pitch for Oculus and if they don’t approve we can’t go forward. It is a more selective restrictive process than the Oculus Rift. Unfortunately, 1989 is not approved :/”

So for a reason only Oculus knows (and probably won’t share) Pixel Ripped 1989 will not appear natively on Oculus Quest. Thanks to Oculus Link it will still be possible to play via a cable just so long as you own a compatible PC. And in all likelihood, most headset sales will probably be to those who don’t, purely because Oculus Quest is standalone and easy to pick up and dive into VR.

Pixel Ripped 1995

Oculus Quest owners will still be able to enjoy Pixel Ripped 1995 when it arrives this spring, as will PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality owners.

VRFocus got a taste of Pixel Ripped 1995 at Oculus Connect 6 (OC6), finding that: “From what’s been shown so far the sequel retains the atmosphere and humour of the original, whilst updating it with some awesome 90s mechanics and gaming references.”

As further details regarding Pixel Ripped 1995 are released, VRFocus will keep you updated.

OC6 Interview: Ana Ribeiro Gets Into Pixel Ripped Character

During Oculus Connect 6 (OC6) a couple of weeks ago VRFocus was lucky enough to get an early look at the third level of Pixel Ripped 1995, the sequel to ARVORE’s successful virtual reality (VR) title Pixel Ripped 1989. On hand was the designer behind the original videogame Ana Ribeiro  – who is now ARVORE’s Creative Director – who gave a little more insight into the upcoming experience.

Pixel Ripped 1995

If you’ve never played it, the whole idea behind Pixel Ripped 1989 was a modern homage to retro gaming using VR technology. In that title, you play as Nicola, a gaming obsessed kid who just can’t put down her ‘Gear-Kid’ handheld console. Gameplay mixes between both 2D 80s era sprites and side-scrolling with more immersive 3D VR elements. The most notable section is early on where you’re gaming in class, having to mix between controlling the character on the handheld screen then distracting the teacher in the ‘real’ world through various means. VRFocus enjoyed it at the time, giving Pixel Ripped 1989 a four-star review.

Pixel Ripped 1995 takes that same formula and brings it into the 90s, this time putting you in the shoes of David, a 9-year-old kid from the US. While the child is different the enemy is the same with the evil goblin called the Cyblin Lord returning to cause chaos. As mentioned, the OC6 demo featured level three taking place inside David’s bedroom while he’s playing a Castlevania-style experience. The only trouble is his mum keeps coming in to ruin the show. Check out VRFocus’ preview of Pixel Ripped 1995 for further in-depth details.

In the interview, Ribeiro discusses how the team are planning an extensive franchise with five titles in total, 1989, 1995, 1978, 1983 and 1999. It’s all about travelling through different gaming eras and celebrating what made them great. The demo was available on both Oculus Rift S and Oculus Quest with the team also planning versions for PlayStation VR and HTC Vive.

Pixel Ripped 1995

Pixel Ripped 1995 still has a way to go with a release planned for some point in 2020. Check out the full interview below to learn more and for continued updates on Pixel Ripped 1995, keep reading VRFocus.

Preview: Pixel Ripped 1995 – The Nostalgia is Stronger Than Ever

Retro gaming is big business at the moment, from mini-consoles packed with 90s era videogames to indie titles inspired by those early sprites. For virtual reality (VR) fans this nostalgia became perfectly embodied in Pixel Ripped 1989, harking back to the NES and Sega Master System years. Developed by Ana Ribeiro and Brazilian studio ARVORE, the team has several titles planned with the next one in production being Pixel Ripped 1995. Only revealed a few months ago, during the recent Oculus Connect 6 (OC6) event the team showcased an experience which will be very familiar to anyone over 30.

Pixel Ripped 1995

While it is a standalone title, Pixel Ripped 1995 still continues the story from 1989, where you have to fight an evil goblin called the Cyblin Lord but this time you’re David, a 9-year-old kid from New Jersey. Keeping with the same mechanics as the original, Pixel Ripped 1995 is a mixture of 3D and 2D graphics, placing you in immersive locations to play videogames inspired by 90s classics.

The OC6 demo certainly encompassed that in droves, offering the third level to play through. This transports you to David’s bedroom at night, with lightning crackling outside and his mum trying to make him go to sleep. Of course, that’s not happening as David has a new console and TV in his room (big mistake by mum) and you need to complete a videogame inspired by Castlevania.

Naturally, David can’t be left alone to play happily, so just like Pixel Ripped 1989, the gameplay is all about juggling between both realms. When the mum disappears off to bed then it’s time to play, running through the 2D castle, jumping from platform to platform and shooting bats and skeletons along the way. To join the two worlds, whilst running through the wannabe Castlevania there are bells and other items which make loud noises, in turn waking David’s mum up. She’ll then switch on the hallway light which is your cue to do the classic turning off of the TV (whilst keeping the console on), pretend to be asleep, she’ll then mutter something about ‘hearing things’ and ‘going crazy’ before heading back to bed.

Pixel Ripped 1995

Pretty much anyone who loved playing videogames as a child knows this scenario in some form – less so now when playing online – perfectly representing the fun of staying up late to play and the frustration when getting interrupted. There’s even a boss battle at the end to properly test those expertly timed jumping and shooting skills when staring at a 14-inch portable TV (as was the way back then).

The level is a lot more sparse than those found in Pixel Ripped 1989, meaning aside from switching the TV off and on there’s nothing else to do or interact with. So unless you really struggle with 2D platforming it’s quite a short level, probably why it was chosen for the demo.

Much like Pixel Ripped 1989, VRFocus is looking forward to Pixel Ripped 1995 and the quirky gameplay it’s going to offer. From what’s been shown so far the sequel retains the atmosphere and humour of the original, whilst updating it with some awesome 90s mechanics and gaming references. With a launch planned for 2020 across multiple platforms including Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR, Pixel Ripped 1995 is one to look out for next year.

Enjoying Some Retro Gaming Goodness With Pixel Ripped 1989

It’s been a long road for Ana Ribeiro and her homage to classic retro gaming with Pixel Ripped 1989. The title has seen many a stop and start with the end now in sight, set to launch on 31st July. One videogame that VRFocus has been keenly watching and waiting for having made it to the Best Oculus Rift Games Coming in 2018 list, we’re now able to showcase some gameplay footage from the final review version.

Pixel Ripped 1989 new screenshot15

Of course like many an early spoiler VRFocus was restricted to what it could show, that being said, there’s still almost 30 minutes of footage as we play through the very first chapter of the videogame.

Pixel Ripped 1989’s story is a classic tale of fantasy villainy crossed with the 1980s. Technically a a ‘game-within-a-game’,  you begin by following the adventures of main character Dot, who sees her world destroyed by an evil goblin called the Cyblin Lord, who has the power to escape from the videogame realm into the real world.

You then take on the role of a girl called Nicola, chosen by the videogame to help Dot save her realm and the real world from the dastardly plans of the Cyblin Lord, all while facing challenges in her own reality in the form of grumpy teachers and an angry headmaster.

Pixel Ripped 1989 new screenshot17

The first chapter (and the video itself) primarily take place in Nicola’s classroom. Almost transporting you back in time you find yourself behind a school desk with a ‘Gear Kid’ handheld console in hand. The task is the play the 80s videogame whilst not getting caught by the teacher, every time you do you lose a life. To help distract the teacher and give yourself more gaming time there’s a spitball item on the desk which can be used to shoot certain objects around the room.

Pixel Ripped 1989 is available to pre-order for PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift, with a discount bringing it down from $24.99 to just $19.99. Steam will get a launch week discount when it arrives. Check out the gameplay video below, plus look out for VRFocus’ review next week.