March 8, 2025

62. Special: The trial of Kharzoid

This month, we welcome Pascal Belisle, the mastermind behind The Trial of Kharzoid for the NES! Join Andy and Diego as they chat with Pascal about his journey from musician to indie developer, his love for classic consoles, and the joy (and torment) of coding for the NES. We break down his unique “Arkanoidvania” take—where brick-breaking meets Metroidvania-style exploration—and dive into the gothic, Eerie-infused world of Kharzoid. Along the way, we swap stories of childhood consoles, the magic of limitations in retro game design, and why Pascal sometimes curses his own power-downs. Grab a poutine (or some maple syrup) and tune in!

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  • The Trial of Kharzoid
    NES
    |
    10.00 CAD
    | Get it here

    Get ready for an epic ride that mixes classic arkanoid gameplay with metroidvania twists in Kharzoid for the NES! Decide your fate in maze-like levels where every corner hides a surprise. Grab cool powerups and stack up on awesome upgrades to transform your play. Each stage throws in wild challenges—like sections with multiple paddles that demand perfect timing to rack up high scores! As you progress, you’ll follow an engaging story that unfolds through branching paths, unique encounters, and tough boss battles that push your skills to the limit. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, a game-changing ending flips the script (shh, we won’t spoil it!). Plus, there are hidden secret areas and cheeky easter eggs scattered around, waiting to be discovered. This modern arkanoid-vania adventure is one of the wildest, most fun crossovers you’re bound to find!