Cold And Starving (2024)
a FREE game by ‘Memelvar’ for Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Written for BrewOtaku #003 by Usman A. Khan
‘Cold and Starving’ by Memelvar plunges you into a chilling survival experience reminiscent of ‘The Long Dark’ by Hinterland Studio. One moment, you’re piloting a plane, and the next, you’re parachuting into freezing mountains. It is an 8-bit survival beauty for the NES or Famicom.
COLD AS ICE ICE BABY!
Though still in development, this game offers a promising, albeit rough, survival experience. You’ll find yourself navigating colourful trails and tackling the essentials of survival amidst the harsh, freezing environment. We particularly enjoyed the trail designs, which bring a splash of colour to the otherwise stark maps. The pause menu, while functional, could benefit from adding subtitles to actions to indicate when they’re active. Perhaps a nudge in the tutorial about crafting would be nice. The game begins with a riveting intro cutscene depicting the plane crash, setting the mood perfectly. As you walk through the cold wilderness, crafting tools and gathering resources are crucial. Each chilly night brings with it a new challenge.
The nights have a creepy element to them, as there’s always something waiting in the darkness. Quite often, you are forced to rush back to your cabin with your heart racing. Memelvar, the game’s creator, has documented the development process on his YouTube channel. With 25 episodes so far, viewers are hooked on watching the game evolve. The series is an informative and fascinating insight into the complex challenges and triumphs of game development.
Conclusion
The game is shaping up to be quite an icy gem for the NES, giving you a fun survival experience not common with the system. Can you survive the freezing nights and lurking dangers? Oh, and eat something, will ya. You look totally famished.
