In a recent UK Gaming Network video, Brian offers a hands-on preview of Gemdalus, a new Amiga arcade puzzle game by RETREAM. Available for just $5 on itch.io, Gemdalus combines mechanics reminiscent of Pac-Man and Snake with a minimalistic, early arcade vibe. Despite having no prior experience with the title, Brian dives in cold and lets gameplay speak for itself.
At first glance, Gemdalus delivers a deceptively simple visual style. Players control a continuously moving character in a maze-like grid, reversing direction only by pressing the fire button. The goal is to collect all the gems while avoiding enemy collisions. Power-ups like freezing enemies and random mazes add variety, although their exact effects can be a bit unclear during play.
As the video unfolds, Brian discovers both strengths and quirks in the game’s design. The Amiga arcade puzzle mechanics shine when levels are randomized, offering more replayability. However, concerns arise around the precision of controls, especially when navigating tight turns under pressure. Switching from a joystick to keyboard control shows only marginal improvement, which could hinder enjoyment for players expecting fast response times.
There’s also a minor gripe with the spawn point: it’s unprotected, allowing enemies to spawn-camp the player unfairly. Still, the ability to skip negative power-ups—like skulls—and resume from the last level adds flexibility. For a $5 release, Brian considers Gemdalus an entertaining and worthwhile title that fits well into the Amiga’s rich indie catalog.
The game supports multiple formats, including a CD32 ISO and an LHA file, making it easy to run on WinUAE, the A500 Mini, or real hardware. In the end, Brian gives the game a thumbs-up for its creative concept and affordability, even with its minor imperfections.
