:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73045895/felix_the_cat.0.jpg)
Image: Hudson Soft/Konami
Michael McWhertor
is a journalist with more than 17 years of experience covering video games, technology, movies, TV, and entertainment.
Konami, which is digging into its back catalog in a major way in 2024, is reissuing a handful of classic platformers from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras with the help of Limited Run Games. Two collections, one focused on Felix the Cat and another on Rocket Knight, will arrive this year on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
The Felix the Cat collection will include the eponymous NES and Game Boy games released by Hudson Soft in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Felix the Cat for NES was released late in that console’s lifespan, and now commands a relatively high price — around $300 for a complete copy, according to price-tracking website Price Charting. The Game Boy version has gone for twice that amount.
Felix’s side-scrolling platformers will be released digitally by Konami and in physical form by Limited Run Games. The two 8-bit era games will run on Limited Run’s Carbon Engine, and feature save states and “other quality-of-life fixes,” Konami said in a news release.
Konami and Limited Run will also release the Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked collection together, which will include Rocket Knight Adventures (Sega Genesis), Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2 (Sega Genesis), and Sparkster (Super NES). The Re-Sparked collection promises a new animated intro, rewind features, a boss rush mode, and a museum featuring never-before-seen content, Konami said. Similar to the Felix the Cat collection, the Rocket Knight collection will be released for PS4, PS5, and Switch.
More Carbon Engine re-releases are planned, Konami said. Another collection will be announced on Feb. 24.
Pre-orders for Limited Run Games’ physical editions of Felix the Cat will begin on Feb. 9 and run through March 10. Pre-orders for Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked open on Jan. 19 and end March 3. Here’s everything included in the various physical versions available, via Konami:
Felix the Cat collection
Standard Edition (Switch, PS4 & PS5):
- Physical copy of Felix the Cat bundle featuring the 1992 NES title and 1993 Game Boy title of the same name
Classic Edition (Switch, PS4 & PS5):
- Physical copy of the Felix the Cat bundle featuring the 1992 NES title and 1993 Game Boy title of the same name
- Physical CD soundtrack featuring original music from the Felix the Cat titles
- Reversible poster
- Packaging inspired by the original Felix the Cat NES release box
Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked collection
Standard Edition (Switch, PS4 & PS5):
- Physical copy of Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked, which includes three Rocket Knight titles in one collection
- Reversible cover
- Mini-Comic
Classic Edition (Switch, PS4 & PS5):
- Physical copy of Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked, which includes three Rocket Knight titles in one collection
- Physical CD soundtrack featuring original music from Rocket Knight titles
- Reversible poster
- SteelBook
- Retro-inspired clamshell packaging with reversible cover art
Classic Edition (Switch, PS4 & PS5):
- Physical copy of Rocket Knight Adventures: Re-Sparked, which includes three Rocket Knight titles in one collection
- Physical CD soundtrack featuring original music from Rocket Knight titles
- Reversible poster
- SteelBook
- Retro-inspired clamshell packaging with reversible cover art
- Sparkster statuette
- Full-sized comic
- Design document collection
- Mini cartridge display case
- Certificate of authenticity
Source: Polygon
