Buck and the Cursed Cartridge on Chromatic

For readers in London and across the UK retro scene, there is a new ModRetro Chromatic review worth a look, Buck and the Cursed Cartridge, as covered by Gaming Trend. The game is a 2D platformer developed by Play Instinct, with GameStop’s mascot Buck dropped into a cursed cartridge and pulled into the game world.

Gaming Trend’s verdict is broadly positive. The review says the game is surprisingly competent for a title tied to a retail brand, and that its self-aware tone is set early, with Buck’s irreverent attitude carrying through the experience. One early moment, where he rejects a sword in favour of a gun, is used as an example of the game’s blunt humour.

GameStop’s role here is also part of the story. The retailer has published games before, including Song of the Deep, although that effort was later abandoned. This new release for the ModRetro Chromatic suggests a more deliberate push into publishing, and a closer link between hardware and software than you might expect from a traditional retailer.

The game itself sounds well stocked for a compact retro platformer. Gaming Trend notes six distinct worlds, each with multiple levels and a boss encounter, plus a structure that lets players tackle stages at their own pace within each world. The review also points to themed areas, including an early Mario-like world, a Halloween section, and a Winter world with slippery ice physics and darker levels that limit visibility.

On the play side, the review highlights responsive jumping and shooting, a counter that tracks remaining enemies, and short levels that usually take a minute or two. There are also light RPG touches, with a hacker rat in each world selling upgrades such as an air dash, a double jump, and health boosts. Collectibles in chests add another reason to replay stages, even if they do not affect gameplay directly.

There is one clear criticism, though. Gaming Trend says the level markers do not change once completed, which makes progress harder to track, especially because every level in a world must be cleared before the boss unlocks. Even so, the review’s overall tone is that Buck and the Cursed Cartridge is a solid addition to the Chromatic’s growing library. For more retro gaming coverage, see our news tag.