Revisiting one of the true landmarks of early game design is always a bold move, so bravo to London studio Tikipod for taking the plunge with Aqua Kitty: Milk Mine Defender DX, which, at its core, is a devoted homage to Defender, the much-loved 1980 2D shooter that saw players fending off alien invaders while protecting humans on the surface of a planet. Originally a PS Mobile game, this updated version of Aqua Kitty has taken the Defender theme and entirely reskinned it in superb pixel art, alongside a marvellous dressing of crunchy, chiptune audio. Here, the setting is now underwater and players protect felines mining milk from the seabed. A delightfully baffling premise, but one where the gameplay is ultimately very close to that of Defender. A spread of new weapons and power-ups serve to modernise the 1982 classic’s form, as do a range of levels and modes, including many not present in the original mobile version. A remake that may be mechanically familiar then but one whose energetic gameplay, vibrant visuals and sonic elegance are more than welcome.
