Ashley King writes, "When thinking of top down shooters today, many people turn to the Xbox LIVE Arcade or the Playstation Network to get their fix. There are a great number of these titles available on consoles, but most of them only give a passing nod to the glory days of 8-bit entertainment. BOH is available on neither console, but rather on all three major OSes, and offers retro action you won't be able to find in any game created in the past 15 years.
The storyline for the game is non-existent, as most 8-bit top down shooters were. Basically, you're just a guy wandering through various levels in an attempt to make it out alive. Yet, the simplicity of gameplay, the variety of powerups and monsters, and the level of detail and thought that have gone into the game will leave you wanting more before you know it."
Carl Williams writes, "Okay, for me, BOH is a choice title. I was there discussing the game with the author, Simone Bevilacqua, early on (I believe this was round update number two). Mr. Bevilacqua has been working hard to keep BOH interesting and fun for both hardcore and new fans of the game. The list of additions and fixes in update number 17 is long and varied. BOH has also found a new home to rest on the Internet, one that should give more potential fans a chance to play. If you are a fan of overhead scrolling action adventures, then you should have already made the jump."
Being a giant, beloved video game site has its downsides. For example, Joystiq sometimes neglect to give independent developers their coverage love (or loverage, if you will) as they get caught up in AAA, AAAA or the rare quintuple-A titles. To remedy that, they're giving indies the chance to create their own loverage and sell you, the fans, on their studios and products. This week they talk with Simone Bevilacqua, creator of BOH, about his game and why he'll always love his Amiga.
NZ Gamer: Indie games are a little bit like toddlers; every once and a while they do something really amazing, that makes you pine for the days when you, too, were mesmerised by the simplest things. But for most of the time they just frustrate you, take up far too much of your day, and crap everywhere.
Great review! I just may have to try this one out.
Can't help but think of DOH!
Gonna be gettin my hands on this soon. Real soon.
I love the design of the game.