Arcus Odyssey and Psycho Dream are getting Retro-Bit reproductions

Retro-Bit has announced that the next games in their line of collector’s reproductions are 1992’s Psycho Dream for SFC/SNES and 1991’s Arcus Odyssey for Genesis/Mega Drive. Pre-orders for them open today until May 24.

I cover Retro-bit’s releases routinely (full disclosure: they send me copies), but if you’re not familiar, they have been releasing rather lavish reproductions of retro games, sometimes going to the work of translating games that were previously in Japanese. By lavish, I mean they that often have reversible covers, translucent plastic cartridges, and nice little small details like the game’s logo stamped onto the circuit board. Even as someone who loves collecting the original copies of games, these always feel really extra.

Plus, they’re usually really obscure games, which I’m always a fan of.

PSYCHO DREAM

Hey, I already reviewed Psycho Dream, so that’s neat. I gave it a middling 5/10, but I also said, “I don’t regret the time I spent with it. It’s an utterly unique and strange game…” It was designed by Kenichi Nishi, who has my eternal gratitude for bringing us Chibi-Robo.

Here’s the cool thing about this re-release: during my review, I complain that the game itself doesn’t feature much in the way of an explanation. There’s no opening cutscene or prologue whatsoever. And I also complained that I could not find a scan of the manual online. Well, the Retro-bit release comes with a manual, it’s been translated, and they say that it includes the “tangled backstory and brushed artwork by Nishizaki Marino.” Rad.

It’s worth noting that the Japanese version of Psycho Dream is available on the Switch’s Nintendo Classics app. Ratalaika also did a translated port of it for modern consoles (Retro-Bit points out Ratalaika’s manual wasn’t translated). So, this reproduction is mainly if you want it physically, and in English. It comes on an “Azure Dreams” coloured cartridge. Translation is being handled by Nathan Deren.

ARCUS ODYSSEY

This one, I haven’t played. It… looks rad. It’s described by both Retro-Bit and MobyGames as a Gauntlet-style action RPG. It got decent reviews back in its day, and I’ve seen it referred to as an underappreciated gem and a cult classic. It’s part of the Arcus series, which mostly ran on Japanese home computers (MSX and PC 88/98, mostly) with a compilation landing on the Sega CD only in Japan. There was also a Japan-only Super Famicom version that didn’t quite make it to North America.

However, the Sega Genesis version did make it to North America (unlike Psycho Dream), so there isn’t a new translation here. It’s worth noting that it is available on Antstream, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Arcus Odyssey comes on “Luminous Amber” cartridge, and has reversible cover art for its Genesis-standard clamshell case.

Both games can be preordered starting today until May 24 at Limited Run Games, Castlemania Games, Rondo Products. If you’re Canadian, you can also get it at PNP Games. They’re both $59.99 American Greenbacks or $84.99 Canadian Loonies. If you miss preorders, usually each retailer gets a limited stock of additional copies.