About a year ago we were made aware of the crowdfunded project 1980X from indie team Hi-Bit Studios and were immediately on board. The game, aims to tells a coming of age story via a number of arcade games. From beat-em-ups to racers and even R-Type style shooters. Part 1 of what's being dubbed an "arcade epic" is out now and it looks fantastic.

Check it out.

Welcome to Suburbia, just outside the City, sometime in 198X. This is the journey of Kid, a teenager stuck between the limitations of innocent youth and the obligations of inevitable adulthood. The story unfolds when Kid discovers the local arcade – finding new worlds, and new meaning, in video games. For every visit to the arcade – every game uncovered, every move mastered, every demon defeated – Kid grows stronger. And the lines between game and reality starts to blur…

No doubt those that grew up during the height of the arcade era will find 198X quite special, but the production values alone make this one for fans of the synthwave aesthetic and stuff like Stranger Things. So far user reviews on Steam have been positive with people commending the storytelling, presentation, and mix of nostalgia. 198X is also available now via GOG, with both PS4 and Xbox One releases coming soon.