''Justice Duel'' is a
platform game
A platform game (often simplified as platformer and sometimes called a jump 'n' run game) is a sub-genre of action video games in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are charac ...
developed and published by
Mega Cat Studios
Mega Cat Studios is an American video game development and publishing company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2015 by James Deighan, Nick Mann and Zack Manko.
Mega Cat develops and publishes games for modern platforms and VR (vi ...
. It was released on the
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in America ...
in 2017. Players battle one another while riding cybernetically enhanced eagles. The game plays similarly to
Joust
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two horse riders wielding lances with blunted tips, often as part of a tournament. The primary aim was to replicate a clash of heavy cavalry, with each participant trying to strike the opponent w ...
.
Gameplay
The player controls a
cyborg
A cyborg ()—a portmanteau of ''cybernetic'' and ''organism''—is a being with both organic and biomechatronic body parts. The term was coined in 1960 by Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline. version of a past
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...
riding a cybernetically enhanced eagle to duel either against other human players or the game's AI. The player duels by firing projectiles at their opponents; a level is completed once there are no remaining opponents. Players can pick up power-ups in the form of mines and traps to use against opponents.
Justice Duel supports multiplayer for up to four players through the
NES Four Score
The NES Four Score is a multitap accessory created by Nintendo in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Select games can utilize it to enable up to four-player gameplay. The NES Four Score is similar to the previously introduced NES Sate ...
.
Development
Besides Joust, the game's developers cite
TowerFall
''TowerFall'' is an action indie video game created by Maddy Thorson through her company Matt Makes Games. In the game, players control up to four archers in a multiplayer platform fighter. It was released on the Ouya microconsole in June 201 ...
and
Balloon Fight
is an action video game developed by Nintendo and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo. The original arcade version was released for the Nintendo VS. System internationally as ''Vs. Balloon Fight'', while its Nintendo Entertainment Syst ...
as having inspired elements of the game's design.
Evercade Release
Mega Cat Studios released Justice Duel in a compilation cartridge for the
Evercade
The Evercade is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by UK company Blaze Entertainment. It focuses on retrogaming with ROM cartridges that each contain a number of emulated games. Development began in 2018, and the console was rel ...
, along with several other titles from the studio, including Little Medusa,
Log Jammers
''Log Jammers'' is a sports video game published and developed by Mega Cat Studios. It was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System and is scheduled to be released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One in 2020. ...
, and
Coffee Crisis
''Coffee Crisis'' is a game for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and Microsoft Windows, developed and published by Pittsburgh-based company Mega Cat Studios. The console version was released on February 24, 2017, as a physical cartridge with printed m ...
.
Child's Play Edition
In 2018, Mega Cat Studios released a special edition of Justice Duel to raise money for the charity
Child's Play; it debuted at
PAX East
PAX (originally known as Penny Arcade Expo) is a series of gaming culture festivals involving tabletop, arcade, and video gaming. PAX is held annually in Seattle, Boston and Philadelphia in the United States; and Melbourne in Australia. PAX was ...
and was part of the Omegathon tournament. This special edition of the game features two additional playable characters: Della and Rod, who ride a duck and a quail, respectively.
Reception
''Justice Duel'' has received a generally positive reception from the press, being praised for its aesthetic and fast paced gameplay.
References
External links
* {{Official website, https://megacatstudios.com/pages/justice-duel
2017 video games
Birds in popular culture
Cyborgs in fiction
Fictional presidents of the United States
Homebrew software
Indie games
Mega Cat Studios games
Multiplayer and single-player video games
Nintendo Entertainment System games
Nintendo Entertainment System-only games
Platform games
Unauthorized video games
Video games developed in the United States