This video was made by Balazs Kalocsai and it shows you exactly what the game might have looked like in the 80s, on an 8-bit console. Would this game work for real this way on an Xbox 360? Probably not, but the video is still fun to watch.

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The art looks way better than any 8-bit console I’ve ever seen, but you get the point. The characters sort of like voxels which have been flattened into two-dimensions, which is a strange way to describe them, but that’s what they look like to me.

[via Olybop]

Just like the controllers – which by the way are still available – the ornaments are made from acrylic and come in a variety of colors: red, black, white and yellow.

The video game console ornaments are available at Etsy shop Use Your Digits and come in two bundles – packs of five cost $20 (USD), while packs of ten cost $35. Unfortunately for console fanboys, you can’t order five or ten of just one console.

Xona Games’ Decimation X is best described as Space Invaders on steroids meth. The game consists of round after round of descending pixelated aliens and other retro-fantastic characters attacking you in what seems like an endless hail of bullets. Thankfully, your spaceship can be powered-up with plenty of defense and weapons upgrades, including an insane multi-fire attack, capable of annihilating dozens of enemies at once. The game even features a four-player mode where you and your friends can attack the aliens at the same time – sort of like a co-op mode, but you’re competing against each other for the high score.

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If you’re into retro gaming, you owe it to yourself to check out Decimation X. It’s available now over on the Xbox Live Marketplace for just 80 Microsoft points (or for those of you who pay with actual money, just one buck).

Created by Dave Rollins of Digits (with the help of Ponoko’s laser fabrication services), these acrylic holiday gamer ornaments are the perfect addition to any game geek’s Christmas tree, Hanukkah bush, or Secular shrub.

Each set comes with 7 ornaments, including 2-dimensional cutout versions of Wii, N64, Xbox 360, Dreamcast, NES, PS2 and Sega Genesis controllers. The ornaments each measure between 3 and 4 inches wide, so they’re a bit smaller than the real deals.

They’re available in 6 colors, including red, white, yellow, black, clear, and red-tinted acrylic, and can be found over at Digits’ Ponoko or Etsy shops for just $20 bucks a set.

Buy a bunch and cover your whole tree. I’m hoping next year that Dave will make some matching console ornaments and maybe an Atari paddle controller or two.

The Marionette is a lush 2D adventure that follows the strange events surrounding a sculptor named Martin who awakens in a strange location after opening a mysterious package. It’s up to you to point and click your way through to the truth.

The game is packaged in a pretty big file, but you can always poke around the website for character information and more while you twiddle your thumbs… and if you’re less patient, you can always just try the demo.

[via Indie Games]

Shank’s 2D action is glossy and gorgeously rendered, but still manages to look more like old school cartoons than most of its contemporaries. That works, though; the cartoons I grew up with were always full of ridiculous and awesome violence, so I’m already sold on the concept.

Shank is still so early in development that there’s no official word on a release to any platform but PC, though a console release seems likely with the uniformly positive impressions out of PAX. Just look at the footage.

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Man, I want to play that right now.

[via Game|Life and GamerBytes]

The guys over at Borne Games have created this flattened version of the game (in partnership with EA), and it’s kind of reminiscent of classic Prince of Persia type of game when squished into just 2 dimensions. I suppose if there were some enemies in there, I’d think more Shinobi.

The keyboard controls are still a little wonky compared to a joystick, but it is only a Beta, so I’m sure it will improve.

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While the video above gives you a taste of what the game looks like, the best way to check it out is to head on over to the ME 2D web page and play it now. What are you waiting for?

[via The Awesomer]

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Enter CRUSH, a new platformer from SEGA for the PSP. Developed by Kuju, the game works on the novel principle that sometimes the 3d camera in a platformer can be your worst enemy (which is totally true.) In the normal course of the game, you’ll be able to “crush” your 3-dimensional gameplay into 2-dimensions. This new gameplay mechanic will enable you to clear some of the more challenging 3D environments, and really makes the game look like it’s two games for the price of one. We’ll have to keep our eyes on this one when it hits stores this Summer.