Game Review: The VideoKid 80’s Edition (Nintendo Switch)

Who doesn’t remember the 80’s arcade favourite, Paperboy? You control a paperboy and are tasked with delivering the news on his rounds all while dodging many obstacles that come along the street. It was fun, addictive and is rightfully considered a classic.

The Videokid 80’s Edition isn’t the first to try and cash in on that nostalgia but it might be the first to capture the 80’s era so well.

Stuffed full of 80’s pop culture references, Videokid isn’t just inspired by Paperboy… it unashamedly rips it off. An endless runner so to speak, the goal is to reach the park in time to meet the love of your life, Jessica. Decked out in Marty McFly of Back to the Future fame attire (more costumes can be unlocked), the Videokid must also deliver pirate video tapes to the houses he passes.

Along the way, you’ll get a chuckle at the plethora of references, do tricks, avoid obstacles and more. All with sharp and colourful cube style visuals and a synth soundtrack. It’s a cool looking and sounding game but…there’s really nothing else to it.

Once, the initial wow factor passes (which it will very quickly) all we have is a modern Paperboy clone that is far more difficult then it needed to be. Yes, this is a throwback to when games were tougher in the past but it doesn’t exactly make it fun.

The main draw… the multitude of nostalgic references (The Terminator, Bay Watch, The Muppets, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to name but a few) quickly lose their lustre. Especially when you have to restart over and over again. Which leaves little else to really enjoy.

Delivering tapes and making it as far as you can earns you money which can then be spent on new outfits and tricks. However, all of this is just aesthetic and little more than padding. Perhaps the sort of game that would be better suited for the mobile market then home consoles.