MANTLE.NES

MANTLE.NES recreates the little minigame from DELTARUNE Chapter 3 and rebuilds it from the ground up for the actual NES. It ain't just a straight copy tho. It's like half a demake, faithfully shrinking things down to 8-bit, and half its own unique thing, with new story twists and surprises that totally change the vibe.

The gameplay will feel instantly familiar if you've seen the original. You control this little Kris, running around a top down world, cutting through vines and trees with your sword. The core loop nails that classic Zelda 1 feel, you explore different areas and fight basic enemies.  That said, you can definitely feel the hardware limitations in places. The hitboxes for your sword and the enemies can be a bit loose, making some fights janky, and the screen transitions are always rough.

Where the game truly shines is in its presentation and its willingness to mess with your expectations. The 8-bit arrangements of the DELTARUNE tracks are absolutely spot on, perfectly capturing the mood with the NES soundchip. The new original tracks composed for this version are just as good, fitting right in and making the whole world feel cohesive. Then there's the story. It starts out following the basic plotline but then it veers off into its own territory. Without giving too much away, the game gets kinda meta. It introduces a new mysterious boss character and ends with a message that's surprisingly deep. It feels relevant to DELTARUNE's themes, but in a way that's unique to this specific retrofied experience.

Download

Hark, Lightner! A new FOUNTAIN has been opened, and THE GAME has been manifested just for you. Scan the QR CODE lurking below. The second that progress bar fills up, your VESSEL will be complete and your PARTY will be waiting for you on your HOME Menu. Now embark on your adventure, the MANTLE awaits.