Trap - A lost prototype originally a C64 release appears on the Atari XL/XE!

Throughout the years we've featured many lost and recovered games, this is especially true when it comes to either the Amiga or the Commodore 64. Well, today's news is a bit of a special one. As if you have an Atari XL/XE however, we've been told that the 1986 game 'Trap', which featured music by Ben Daglish, has been recovered as a prototype for the Atari XL/XE. A game whereby some have commented for the Commodore 64 version, that it requires patience to play, is rather difficult but was one of Antony Crowther better C64 games.

Whispers of the Woods - An Adventure RPG for the Amiga is teased as a prototype by Hoogames2017!

I'm not sure why we've had so many Amiga games throughout this month. In fact one of our readers even said I should change the website to AmigaRetroNews ;). Well that isn't going to happen! But I can at least mention another Amiga game that's well worth talking about, it's 'Whispers of the Woods' by Hoogames2017. An Adventure RPG for the Amiga that's been teased as a prototype from the same creator who released the brilliant Scorpion Engine created game of Dr. Dangerous. In light of this news, Saberman has provided a video and we've got the game details below.

Rintivoorh - As a prototype Amiga game, this looks pretty decent by UltraNarwhal [Update]

While I'm trying to avoid prototypes as half the time they never get finished, there was a couple of games entered into the AmiGameJam 2024 that caught my attention. One of those games in development by UltraNarwhal, who was also behind the charming Amiga platformer of Duckstroma. Has made available a prototype of an Amiga platformer called Rintivoorh. What makes this one pretty special however, is not only does it look pretty damn cool, but according to the developer "it's a prototype for 'The Sequel That Never Was' - What if there was a Hawkeye sequel?".

Skinvaders (Prototype) - Yet another Space Invaders clone for the Commodore Amiga

We've seen lots of Space Invader variants over the years, from Havie's Blitz Basic version of the game on the Amiga, to our personal favourite from Pink/Abyss called 'Tiny Invaders'. Well yet again we've been sent another version of Space Invaders for you to download and try out, and it's Electric Black Sheep's latest update of Skinvaders'; A game in which the creator says is a simple game as a small size simple code developed prototype. To coincide with this news, Saberman has done a short gameplay video of the game in action.

Dice Legends - Another high quality game teased as a prototype for the ZX Spectrum by RetroSouls

If you've been following RetroSouls, you would've known they have released high quality games such as GLUF, Old Tower, Twinlight, Alter Ego, and even Tiny Dungeons for the ZX Spectrum. Well today as thanks to a heads up via their Twitter page, they have announced a new(ish) game for the ZX Spectrum called ' Dice Legends  '; A game which looks to be a turn based roguelike that was entered into the Gravedigger as the first prototype you can play right now. To coincide with this news, Saberman has done a gameplay video for you to watch below.

Akumajou Dracula AGA - Castlevania for the Amiga, and it still looks amazing in this playable prototype update

We've certainly played our fare share of Castlevania inspired games over the years, especially the most impressive Castlevania Spectral Interlude, which we had the pleasure of playing on the ZX Spectrum which was created by Sanchez. But today thanks to another heads up by Saberman, we've been told the Castlevania prototype, which the developer is calling 'Akumajou Dracula AGA' and using Earok's Scorpion Engine. Has recently been updated with the "Vampire Killer" soundtrack; a change which features great Paula 4 channels rendition by the talented musician Estrayk/Capsule^Scoopex, based on the original by Satoe Terashima.

Akumajou Dracula AGA - Castlevania could be coming to the Amiga, and it looks amazing ( Play the prototype today! )

We've certainly played our fare share of Castlevania inspired games over the years, especially the most impressive Castlevania Spectral Interlude, which we had the pleasure of playing way back in 2015 on the ZX Spectrum which was created by Sanchez. But today thanks to a heads up by Dante 3d dev who is also behind the upcoming Arcade to Amiga conversion of Green Beret, he has released an early prototype of what looks to be an in development Castlevania AGA which is based around the version released on the SHARP X68000!

Popeye V1 - A special find for today, as an unreleased and early C64 prototype of a classic Arcade game appears!

Now here's a blast from the past, as we've recently been informed by our good friends Games That  Weren't, that the classic Arcade game of 'Popeye' which was originally released on the C64 back in 1983 via the Parker Brothers, has re-appeared on the same system, but this time as an unreleased and full C64 conversion prototype. A different version of the game not seen for almost 40 years by a completely different developer Jack Verson for On-time Software

Pac-Land V1 - Could the Amiga have got a "better" version? Rare prototype found!

Pac-Land at the Arcades was one of my most favorite platformers in the late 80's, it's just a shame that when it did make an appearance on the Amiga, many regarded it as a lack luster port as a jerky mess gaining not much above 1 out of 5 ranking even on LemonAmiga. Well things may have been very different, as thanks to Games That Weren't letting us know via an old video from UltraMaster2O1 Studios, here on Indie Retro News we have a preview of a rare, incomplete version of Pac-Land for the Amiga which looks so much better than what we actually got.

AlarCity Dungeon Prototype - Formerly known as the "AlarTV" Amiga version

Even more Amiga news today as we've recently been informed from Earok of PixelGlass, that he has released a playable Amiga prototype of the AlarCity Dungeon, which was formly known as AlarTV. Now I know many of you are still waiting for the full game of AlarCity from PixelGlass, but this downloadable blaster is a version of a game that no longer represents the current vision at all while still remaining completely playable. As in his words "the engine, the graphics, the gameplay and the upgrade system are in the process of being completely overhauled to something more fun and polished".

Fantastic Dizzy - Sega Mega Drive/Genesis game Prototype discovered

Ever since I had an Amstrad CPC 464 and then on to an Amiga, I have always been a massive Dizzy fan, playing pretty much every Dizzy game ever released since 1987 by the famous Oliver Twins with a huge collection gathering in my cupboard. One such Dizzy game I remember so well was Fantastic Dizzy, which appeared on the Amiga, Game Gear, NES, Sega Mega Drive and even via your browser thanks to our good friends the YolkFolk! So why are we mentioning this game you might ask? Well thanks to a heads up by our YolkFolk friends, they have mentioned a Sega MegaDrive and Genesis prototype that has been discovered of that very game!

Highway Sprint - Rapid racer on the Amiga gets new prototype footage and demo

At the end of last year we came across an announcement via our Commodore Amiga Facebook group of an upcoming racing game that was sure to get your adrenaline going at a rapid rate. This game which was called 'Highway Sprint' and developed by a team of people such as Erik Hogan, Pixel and Simone Bernacchia. Looked to feature non stop racing fun as you race along a road at dangerous speeds while also trying not to crash into other cars. Thankfully if you have seen this game when it was first announced you'll be pleased to know it has been updated with a number of features.

SimCity - Prototype on the NES has been found and shown!

Image design by vladictivo?

This news has just blown us away, as after just coming back to search through our usual gaming hideouts we have found out that a prototype of Simcity on the NES has been found and shown off as footage by Benjamin Ramirez! This famous city building game that has appeared on the PC and other platforms such as the SNES, was sadly never released even though it was announced as coming to the NES in the Nintendo Power Magazine of 1990. Unlike many other prototypes we've seen on other systems such as an earlier version of Rayman, SimCity on the NES certainly looks as if it was way ahead in development, even though it was canned.

Kynseed - 2D sandbox adventure prototype from ex-Lionhead Fable devs

Something for everyone this week and it continues with the prototype indie game ' Kynseed ' which is being developed by a couple of ex-Lionhead Fable devs 'PixelCount Studios', and is available to download as a very early version for the PC. Classed as a 2D sandbox adventure with RPG elements, this prototype puts you in control of a young lad that is working on the family farm. You can walk around, explore the lush landscape, go fishing and even be pulled in by the lovely sound of bee's!

BUTCHER - A bloody gory 2D shooter game is out now on GOG/Steam

We've mentioned this game some time ago in its prototype state, but today Transhuman Design (creators of Soldat and King Arthur's gold ) have announced the bloody gory GOG/Steam release of ' Butcher ' for PC, Mac and Linux. A mix and mash of Doom blended in with a bit of the classic Abuse, has as we said before: ultra-violent carnage in the spirit of Doom and Quake, skill based gameplay, wall painting blood with up to 4 million pixels per painted level, environmental use such as saws, hooks and lava pits to dispose of your enemies, an array of weaponry to blast your enemies into pieces and some of the most painful death imaginable.

BUTCHER - A bloody gory 2D shooter game available as a prototype

Welcome to the bloodiest and most fast paced 2D shooter we've posted this week, a game that is a blood-soaked love letter to the early 90's by Transhuman Design (creators of Soldat and King Arthur's Gold). It is also a mix and mash of Doom blended in with a bit of the classic Abuse, this is 'BUTCHER', a freely available prototype for PC and Linux that is also available to play in your browser. Prepare for carnage, it's going to get really messy.

Action Fighter - An early SMS prototype of a commercial racing shooter

In 1986 Sega released the top down racing shooter ' Action Fighter ' for the Arcades and later over to the Sega Master System. The aim of the game was to speed ahead in a multitude of vehicles such as a sports car, jet , jetski, helicopter or F1 while blasting or bumping everything in your way. It was a very enjoyable game that has reappeared this month but this time as a very early prototype with a number of differences compared to the retail release.

Lost Neo Geo Prototype found - A Kick ass arcade fighter teased!

Hot off the press and given the heads up by our good friends Retrotaku, is a rather eye opening Neo Geo prototype that has been found, and teased to a rather shocked community. Revealed by NeoTurfMasta at Midwest Gaming Classic 2016, this looks to be a rather interesting fighting game, similar to those seen at the Arcades, that featured a number of characters each with different fighting moves. According to the details in the video there is no information on the name of the game or the company that was developing it. This is a game that was never even listed on any SNK catalogs ever and was thought to be developed by Technos for various reasons, but at this time there is no proof of this.

The Universim gets an early prototype playable tease

Time to return to the Indie and what better way to start your day than playing the latest prototype release of 'The Universim''; A god like game which was both a huge Kickstarter and Steam Greenlight success, which gives you the power to guide your civilization from the beginnings of the stone age to the universe itself.