Panzer Returns In A Wild West Shoot-Em-Up On Kickstarter

Panzer, the arrogant superhero with a posse of reluctant helpers, has become a standout star of the NES homebrew scene. He’s had three games to his name already, but they were all platformers. Surely there were other genres for the man to explore…now frontiers to conquer. That’s when Panzer put on his cowboy hat and looked toward the Wild West.

The Adventures OF Panzer: Frontiers is a new kind of Panzer game for a retro system. It’s a series of shoot-em-up stages where you play as your character of choice, constantly moving on horseback while enemies and obstacles come from front, behind and above. Leap over logs, dodge dashing desperados, and get your trigger finger ready for that approaching train full of  robbers. The game’s seven stages can be played in any order, via a Mega Man inspired menu selection screen.

The Adventures OF Panzer: Frontiers is technically a NESMaker game, but it pushes that engine further than anything I’ve seen before (full disclosure, I helped test this game, but that’s how I know it’s good). Every screen is full of whizzing bullets and projectiles, as well as several faux-parallax effects, without any slowdown and barely any flicker.

• Play as 3 Unique Heroes
  Master the strengths, styles, and special abilities of three unforgettable characters, each bringing their own flair to the fight. Rain destruction with Blarghe’s heavy weaponry, outmaneuver enemies with Kankaro’s tactical speed and finesse, and then… there’s Panzer…He’s got a cool hat? Every hero plays differently, offering multiple paths to victory.
• Gorgeous, Cinematic Cutscenes
  Experience the story like never before through stunning, high-quality pixelart cutscenes that blend action, humor, and drama into a truly cinematic experience. Every scene oozes style, sass, and signature flair.
• 7 Wildly Distinct Levels
  From molten lava caverns to dusty train tracks, each level explodes with unique art, enemies, and gameplay twists. No two stages feel the same, and each one dares you to survive it in style.

You can get The Adventures OF Panzer: Frontiers digitally for a pledge of $15 Canadian (which is $11 American). Physical carts that work in a real NES can be had for a $66 pledge. The Collectors Edition for $132 pulls out all the stops, throwing in an actual NES controller with Panzer designs, the soundtrack on CD, a gold-painted version of the cart and even a full STATUE of one of the game’s characters. Also, if you missed any of the other Panzer games, you can get them as add-ons.

The Kickstarter campaign for The Adventures OF Panzer: Frontiers heads for the dusty trail July 31. The game is estimated to be delivered next March.