Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Resident Evil had a baby with Final Fantasy? Most probably not. However, developer Hit-Point and publisher KEMCO must’ve thought about just that, at least once, because they present Raging Bytes.

“Raging Bytes is a story-driven zombie RPG full of drama and pixels! Survive the raging bytes! With difficulty levels for all kinds of players, dive into this post-apocalyptic world and face zombies in turn-based battles!”

Right from the off, the two main characters in Raging Bytes are called Ben and Barbra. If that doesn’t tell you how much of an influence zombie media has had on the game, then you need to watch more George A. Romero films.

Set in 1978, Barbra is a doctor and soon crosses paths with Ben, a police officer involved in an accident. Ben has been unconscious for several days and wakes up in an abandoned hospital. Discovering that they are in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, Barbra and Ben team up to try and find Ben’s daughter. Along the way, they meet various people, get to explore the city and kill a lot of zombies.

Raging Bytes really is Resident Evil meets Final Fantasy. From the graphics alone, you should be transported back to the SNES-era of JPRGs, especially the likes of Final Fantasy VI and such. This game looks, sounds and feels like it fell right out of 1994. Then there is the massively George A. Romero-inspired setting. There are references aplenty crammed into Raging Bytes and not just from classic zombie flicks, but the horror genre in general. For instance, the first boss you face is basically Leatherface from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

If you have ever played any of those awesome SNES era RPGs, then you’ll feel right at home here. It’s not just the looks of Raging Bytes which capture the style, the gameplay mechanics are a celebration of the 16-bit glory days too. The dialogue between characters feels stilted, the controls are just a bit restrictive and the battles are all played out via a turn-based system. And none of that is a negative either, quite the opposite. This is a wonderful and brilliantly crafted love letter to one of the great eras and genres of gaming.

Plenty of places to explore and discover, and a classic items and weapon system. A really interesting battle machinic that while is very old school, it also throws in some new and interesting twists that add a layer of strategy. There will be times when you’ll have to stop and think about your attack, should you stand and fight or run for your life? There’s even a clever and original reason why zombies are called zombies here.

Priced at around £12-£13 and available now for PC and all of the consoles. Raging Bytes is a fantastic game at a great price. If you’re a fan of older JRPG titles, this is a must-buy. There are three difficulty settings, which are very much needed as this can be a tough title. Ammo management is a must as you don’t want to be running out in the middle of a fight. And even though the story gets rather cheesy and predictable at times but that is just part of the charm. Then there is the battle mechanic and level of strategy you’ll be using will keep you on your toes that adds depth to the gameplay. One of my favourite games of the year. Get this game purchased, it’s awesome.