Free retro platforming game
Powerglove Reloaded is a free adventure game from the RGCD.DEV team. This multiscreen platforming experience, originally conceived for the now-discontinued Commodore Amiga home computer system, lets you control the hero who is tasked with restoring a thermal reactor. Rescue trapped personnel, collect control diamonds, and defend yourself against the maintenance units that have turned hostile.
Apart from being the sequel to the 2014 game Powerglove, Powerglove Reloaded features new environments, boss fights, and game mechanics. This port, although created as an Amiga ROM, comes in a standalone package, unlike dedicated ROM files like The Machinations or Ball and Chain.
A new search for the Control Diamonds
In Powerglove Reloaded, you play as the protagonist who is equipped with a protective suit plus the titular Powerglove. The technologically advanced accessory lets you do a number of things but is mostly used for shooting opponents. As a game for the Commodore Amiga, it features authentic retro-style graphics and chiptune music, although it has smoother animation and more precise gameplay common among modern games.
Content-wise, the game has more than enough material for hours of gameplay. Similar to Metroid or Castlevania games, this is composed of multiple screens of levels that you can explore. Get carried by strong winds, enter pipes, and cross gaps—all while trying to beat different types of monsters. Having four bosses makes the game feel limited and lacking, but the difficulty of the game makes everything worthwhile.
Also, as mentioned, this game is available in a standalone package. This means that despite being a game for a discontinued console, you can play it straight without the need for an emulator. However, the controls are simple and intuitive, using Arrow Keys for movement and CTRL for firing. Also, like most retro games, Game Over means starting the game from the start.
Authentic retro experience for modern systems
By packaging Powerglove Reloaded into an optimized standalone application, players can enjoy an authentic retro experience for modern gaming systems. From pixel art graphics, chiptune music, a straightforward premise, and even the no mercy permadeath feature that lets you start from the top all create a nostalgic gameplay experience. For better or for worse, this authenticity makes this game a must-try.
