Last Call BBS

Sometimes we get really nostalgic in the gaming community, this is why we love to play retro games so much. We actually love old games so much that we are constantly looking for ways to keep playing them. Some developers make games that look and feel just like old games to bring back all the feelings. There's also the gray area of emulation, where people get to play their favorite games in a more modern way. And there are even emulation devices that use the original hardware and play your physical retro games, and the internet loves them. Last Call BBS is a game that works really great when it comes to bringing a nostalgic feeling, even though it isn't like, an 8-bit game or something like that. So, how does Last Call BBS manage to feel so nostalgic then? Well, let's talk about this game.

About the game

This is a puzzle compilation anthology game, and it's a darn interesting one. In the game, you finally get your hands on the exciting Z5 Powerlance, a fictional PC that was created by a Japanese company called Sawayama (if you're a fan of Zachtronics you've heard this of Sawayama by their Wonderdisc in Exapunks). You have a friend called The Barkeep, and he helps you get this machine running with eight games, sure they are pirated, but hey it's the 90s, times were different.

These eight games are pretty much games to relax and solve some puzzles, there's no hardcore action in there. But it's all nice and well made, even though there isn't much more as for a story or plot in this game of course. It is all managed through an old computer interface, even though one of the minigames consists pretty much of just building Gundam models and painting them. This whole game is a nostalgia blast, but there's something else too that makes this game special, but also really sad.

One last time

Fans will be sad to hear that this is confirmed to be the last game ever by developer Zachelectronics. The prolific indie game developer team is closing its gates completely after the release of Last Call BBS and everyone is devastated. These guys have been doing amazing work for years and they deserve a lot of respect from the community. But they really went ahead and confirmed that this is definitely their last game. There has not yet been any talk about what they are going to do next with their lives, but this is a sad end to a brilliant career.

Review: 7/10

Last Call BBS is a great last tile in the great mosaic of games Zachelectronics has developed over the last decade. They've specialized in puzzle games that are very reminiscent of the early days of PC gaming. While it's not quite on par with some of their other releases, it is still an absolutely fantastic experience.

Pros:

• It's a great intro to the Zachelectronics brand, which is known for its games being easy to pick up and hard to put down
• It's good to see a game that takes its time and doesn't rush things

Cons:

• The games aren't anything groundbreaking, but they are fun and relaxing