Mixtape: More Than Just 90s Nostalgia, It's a Playable CV (and Maybe a Bit Too Polished)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
*Mixtape* is shaping up to be a stylish trip down 90s memory lane, but beneath the curated soundtrack and nostalgia, there's a hint of careerism that makes you wonder if it's all a bit too perfect. Will it deliver on raw emotion, or remain a polished portfolio piece?
Right, so *Mixtape*, the new game from Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive – yeah, the same folks who brought us *The Artful Escape* – looks like a syrupy dip into 90s nostalgia. But hold your horses, mate, because there's a bit more to it than just reliving your questionable fashion choices and dial-up internet woes.
According to Edwin Evans-Thirlwell over at Rock Paper Shotgun, *Mixtape* isn't just a rose-tinted trip down memory lane. It's also a playable job application. Our protagonist, Stacy Rockford, is about to bugger off to New York City to chase her dreams of becoming a music supervisor. This game? It's her portfolio, a curated collection of teenage flashbacks set to a killer soundtrack. Clever, eh? I reckon so.
Evans-Thirlwell got a 30-minute peek at the game and notes that *Mixtape* is dripping with style and craftsmanship. We're talking MTV-style music videos, off-the-cuff minigames, and a soundtrack packed with bangers from Roxy Music, Lush, and The Smashing Pumpkins. “The soundtrack of a generation,” they cry! But behind the curated soundtrack and nostalgic vibes, there's a hint of careerism that cuts through the sweetness. Rockford’s not just reminiscing; she's crafting an image, selling a story. Isn’t that how it always goes? The past is a work of editing, innit?
Visually, *Mixtape* draws inspiration from *Into The Spider-Verse*, which is high praise indeed. And like *High Fidelity*, Rockford directly addresses the player, making you feel like you're in on the joke (or maybe just ticking off references). You'll be skating down hills to Devo, headbanging in cars, and drunkenly careening down hills with shopping trolleys. Sounds like a typical Saturday night, really.
But here's where it gets interesting. Evans-Thirlwell points out that this "universal" 90s feels a bit too engineered, a carefully constructed composite of different eras. One minute you've got a grungy skater boy, the next you've got Rockford sporting an 80s wardrobe. It's all a bit...too perfect. Too curated. Where's the mess, the chaos, the truly *unforgettable* embarrassing moments?
And that's the rub, innit? Evans-Thirlwell wants *Mixtape* to lose its way a bit, to stumble and shatter and show an emotion that feels imperfectly wrought. After all, isn't that what being a teenager is really like? A glorious, messy, unsellable train wreck. But will it deliver on that raw emotion, or will it remain a perfectly polished portfolio piece? Only time will tell. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the former, mate, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
Tags: Mixtape, Annapurna Interactive, Retro Gaming, Indie Games, Nostalgia
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun