Prison City News

[h3]Game After the Game![/h3]
We wanted to have a separate mode from Normal Mode. Rather than give players a "New Game+," Bomb Mode was meant to be a challenging experience where each level was redesigned with new rooms, areas, and eight separate bomb planting locations.


[h3]A Whole New Level![/h3]
If you've only played Normal Mode, you'll rethink everything you know about each level once you start Bomb Mode! Every level in Bomb Mode does NOT follow the same design or layout from their Normal Mode counterparts. In fact, while there are some sections in each level that may look or function the same way as in Normal Mode, the majority of each level is noticeably different.


[h3]No Upgrades, Only Bombs![/h3]
Perhaps one of the more distinguishing features of Bomb Mode is the lack of "secret upgrades." Originally, in Normal Mode, Hal would be able to find and obtain individual upgrades to his Health and Weapon Energy bars. However, Bomb Mode erases all of these upgrades that were typically found once per level. Instead, players are challenged to take on each Zone level again--but this time going in without knowing the level layout!


We've got more in store as we get closer to Prison City's launch!

Wishlist Prison City and play the free demo available NOW!

[h3]Setting & Story[/h3]
As Hal Bruzer makes his way through Detroit Prison City, he comes across a frozen facility swarming with Techno-Terrorists and harboring a malignant brain...


The Coolant Drive found within the Cold Storage zone created an artificial polar vortex around a still-functioning brain, which resulted in the surrounding foundry complex to become frozen.


[h3]Enemies to Expect[/h3]
You’ll find Mobsters patrolling certain areas and Grenaders perched near ledges and ladders! As in previous levels, Mobsters will walk around and fire their weapons at Hal, while Grenaders will remain stationary and either fire their weapons or lob grenades.


Though its body has long deteriorated, the brain of a gaming-obsessed criminal remains active to challenge anyone who dares enter its dominion! With a hunger to always achieve the highest score, this Warden will stop at nothing until it sends all of its opponents into the dark, icy depths below!


[h3]Totems, Picketts, & Platforms![/h3]
Be careful of the Bullet Totems positioned around the zone! They’ll fire one bullet projectile periodically, so either destroy or evade them when you can!


Picketts are pickaxe-like mechanisms that constantly chip away at the ice platforms next to them. Mind where you step!


In addition, you’ll find icy platforms that will break if you linger on them for too long! And some of these platforms will be closer to collapsing than others, so time your jumps right and–as already stated–watch your step!


We’re excited to share more as we get closer to Prison City’s launch!

Wishlist Prison City and play the free demo available NOW!

[h3]Setting & Story[/h3]


After taking down the Hind D, Hal seizes a motorcycle and heads down Route 696 along Freeway I-75 to confront the next Warden–notorious leader of the Killer Konvoy, Fury Rhoads. However, the Techno-Terrorists have deployed their Gizmo Riders, Rollies, and Creepers onto the Freeway zone, too!


When Hal finally makes it to the hidden route behind the Warden’s door, he comes across Fury Rhoads himself commandeering the Killer Konvoy and his psycho clown minions!


[h3]Creepers, Rollies, and Psycho Clowns[/h3]
Fury Rhoads and his band of road warriors are not the only enemies Hal will be facing in this level! The Techno-Terrorists have outfitted some of their squads into “Gizmo Riders,” who are supported by flying “Creeper” drones and mechanical “Rollies” for fast-moving combat.

Gizmo Riders are specialized Techno-Terrorists that travel on mechanized unicycles and can fire energy rounds at Hal.


Creepers are drone-like machines that lock onto Hal’s position and attack him up close! Rollies are transforming enemies that can curl up into a ball and fire bullet projectiles in their deployed forms. Creepers can also carry and drop Rollies onto the Freeway, so be sure to destroy them before they get too close!


As Hal makes his way to the contact in the zone, he’ll face Fury Rhoads’ psycho clowns–road warriors who won’t hesitate to lunge at him, knife in hand!


[h3]Inspiration from Mega Man![/h3]
Lead game developer Programancer comments, “I thought about Mega Man 5’s Wave Man water bike segment and how cool it would be to have something like that to start the level out with. And once that was set up, I thought it would be cool to do something different for the part after that, as well.”

Wave Man Water Bike Segment from Mega Man 5:

Prison City’s Freeway Opening:


Check back soon for more updates!

You can wishlist Prison City and play the free demo available NOW!

Former cop Hal Bruzer must infiltrate the infamous Detroit Prison City to prevent Techno-Terrorists and their Warden leaders from raising an army of criminals and mutated monsters!

You can play Prison City and Iron Meat at the Retroware booth in the Game Room, first booth on the left, VG201, this weekend!

Look for the BIG RED TENT!


[h3]A Modern Retro[/h3]
With tight mechanics and intricate level design, Prison City is a modern homage to a host of retro classics! If you're at Otakon 2023, stop by and give the demo a try!


[h3]Come Play at Our Arcade![/h3]
Don’t forget to check out Retroware’s ARCADE, located in the back of the Game Room–same place as the Retroware booth! We’ll have the following machines available to play:

• Centipede
  
• DDR HD Black Cabinet
  
• Die Hard Arcade
  
• Donkey Kong III
  
• Final Fight 30th Anniversary (3p)
  
• Gunbarl (Point Blank 2)
  
• Jr Pac Man
  
• Lethal Enforcers
  
• Marvel Vs Capcom (Blast City)
  
• Metal Slug 5
  
• Mr. Do's Castle
  
• Neo Geo 4 Slot (King of Fighters 98, Shock Troopers II, NAM 1975, Metal Slug)
  
• Nostalgia
  
• Pole Position
  
• Project DIVA
  
• Puzzle Bobble
  
• RBI Baseball
  
• Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting (Big Blue)
  
• Street Fighter 6 (Vewlix Diamond Orange)
  
• Sunset Riders
  
• Super Pac-Man
  
• Tekken
  
• Time Crisis 3 (Linked pair)
  
• VS Balloon Fight (2 Games Linked/Nintendo Red Tent)
  
• VS Gradius
  
• Wacca
  
• X-Men

IN ADDITION, we are also joining with Psychic Drive who will have another 30 arcade machines situated in our area!


We’re excited to be able to feature Prison City alongside Iron Meat at Otakon 2023! We’ve got more updates on the way as we move closer to Prison City’s launch!

Be sure to wishlist Prison City and play the free demo available NOW!

[h3]Settings & Story[/h3]


Following Hal Bruzer’s successful entry into Detroit Prison City, he finds himself situated among the rooftops. As he makes his way through the cityscape’s jungle of concrete, brick, and steel, he sees his eventual destination–the Detroit City Police (DCP) Headquarters–in the distance.


But waiting for him at the end of the Rooftops zone is the Hind D Warden! Armed with a forward nose gun, side missiles, and a dangerously skilled former military operative, this enemy will toy with Hal as it reigns fire (and grenades) from above!


[h3]Chain Walls and Security Eyes[/h3]

As Hal makes his way along the platforms and ladders, he’ll come across multiple chain walls that can be grabbed onto. Like the chain walls in the introductory mission on the train, Hal can move about the chain walls found throughout the Rooftops level.


However, there are some areas where Security Eyes are positioned. These “Eyes” will open when Hal gets too close, and they’ll spawn 8 smaller security spheres to contain any threats within them! Skilled players can either attack one security sphere at a time, or guide Hal’s chakram in a circular direction to dispatch multiple spheres in one throw!


[h3]Inspirations Taken[/h3]

In our previous post on Level Designs, lead game developer Programancer described Rooftops “to be very entry level.” With inspiration from bat skip in Castlevania, speedrunners can choose to “slide into a bullet to damage boost onto the platform and cut some time.”

Power Blade was also an influence in how the structure of Rooftops was designed–in Progamancer’s words, “where you can see a platform or area on a screen you can’t reach without navigating above or below.”

Also, don’t even think about making that jump, Hal!


Be sure to check back for more updates very soon!

You can wishlist Prison City and play the free demo available now!