We caught this one when there were less than two days left, but you won’t want to miss The Mariana Sequence, the upcoming game from NES wizard CrazyGroupTrio (despite the name, this is a solo developer). CGT’s track record is spotless so far, having produced some of the NES’s most memorable homebrew titles: Shera and the 40 Thieves, Mawthorne, Mawthorne 2, and the wildly original Tryptic, which was several genres blended into one.
The Mariana Sequence is a quasi-sequel to Tryptic that plays differently every time you turn it on. The introductory sequence has you answering a series of questions that will determine the seed of the game. You are Cal, a subject in the Mariana Sequence Project, which means shadowy figures want you to play a game-within-the-game and see if you make it. The goal is to explore and uncover hidden paths until you dig deep enough to discover the game’s true ending — the Mariana Sequence itself.
To save on shipping and work around tariff nonsense, there are separate purchase tiers for The Mariana Sequence depending on your location. WIthin the US, the game will be manufactured and shipped by Dalyen Retro Games. Everywhere else, the game will be made and sent by Broke Studio in France. Both versions cost $60, but there is also a Limited Edition for $90 that comes in a red cartridge and packs in a poster and notebook. Those just interested in the digital ROM can get it for a $10 pledge.
The time is now to decide if you want The Mariana Sequence; as of this writing 40 hours remain. The campaign ends April 23 at 6 AM Pacific / 9 AM Eastern.
