Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Epyx Action shines as a versatile compilation, offering five distinct gameplay experiences under one roof. In 4×4 Off-Road Racing, players tackle muddy tracks and rocky terrain in a robust simulation that balances realism with arcade-style fun. Each vehicle responds differently to changes in terrain angle and surface friction, making every stage feel like a fresh challenge. The control scheme is intuitive, yet mastering the throttle and steering takes time, rewarding patient players with satisfying drifts and nail-biting finishes.

Switching gears to California Games, the pace picks up—boarders carve half-pipes, BMX riders pull wheelies, and surfers ride pixelated waves. The minigame structure keeps things breezy: you can dive into the footbag challenge one moment and then test your reflexes in the foot race the next. Each event has its own rhythm and break-neck timing, giving the compilation a carnival-style variety that’s a hallmark of classic Epyx design. Multiplayer support adds extra replay value as friends compete for high scores and bragging rights.

Impossible Mission II brings a stealth-puzzle hybrid to the table, trading sports and vehicles for invisible security bots and password panels. The gameplay loop revolves around exploring interconnected rooms, deciphering cryptic clues, and outsmarting patrolling robots. While the pacing can feel slower compared to the adrenaline rush of the other titles, the cerebral challenge is welcome—especially when you finally uncover that last code fragment and evade a laser grid at the eleventh hour.

Finally, Street Sports Basketball and The Games: Winter Edition round out the roster with fast-break hoops action and wintry athleticism, respectively. Street Sports delivers two-on-two basketball mayhem with a simple pick-up feeling: steal the ball, weave through defenders, and sink jump shots before the clock runs out. Winter Edition evokes snow-bound competition through downhill skiing, luge, and biathlon. While the control schemes vary slightly across events, all five games share responsive input that feels remarkably tight for their era. Together, these titles ensure that Epyx Action never grows stale, even if you binge-play for hours.

Graphics

The visual presentation in Epyx Action stays true to the aesthetic of mid-’80s home computer graphics, embracing chunky pixels and bold color palettes. In 4×4 Off-Road Racing, terrain textures shift between browns, greens, and grays, giving each track its own signature look. While the resolution can appear blocky by modern standards, the game’s art style remains coherent and instantly recognizable—even when you’re tearing through a thunderstorm of on-screen mud splatter.

California Games is a feast of pastel backdrops and vibrant sprites. Sun-soaked palettes convey the laid-back spirit of the West Coast, and each athlete’s animation cycles are surprisingly fluid for an 8-bit title. When your skateboarder catches air or your surfer cuts a perfect wave, the game captures a moment of joy that transcends the hardware’s limitations. Color bleeding is minimal, ensuring that fast-moving sprites don’t lose definition during high-intensity segments.

In the eerie corridors of Impossible Mission II, muted tones and stark shadows create a tense atmosphere. The robots’ red eyes and the occasional neon status panel pop against the dim backgrounds, guiding your attention when you’re deciphering an important clue. Screen layouts are cleanly organized, and while the character sprites are small, their motion—whether crawling through an air duct or diving for cover—feels deliberate and readable.

Finally, the winter athletes and street basketball court benefit from crisp, contrasting colors. Snowdrifts in The Games: Winter Edition are rendered in bright whites and greys, with occasional blue skies providing a pleasant backdrop. In Street Sports Basketball, the court’s woodgrain texture and audience stands are simplified but effective, allowing players and ball sprites to stand out clearly. Across all five titles, Epyx Action proves that thoughtful design can overcome graphical constraints to deliver memorable visuals.

Story

As a compilation, Epyx Action doesn’t offer a unified narrative in the traditional sense. Instead, each individual game brings its own theme and “loose” storyline. In Impossible Mission II, you assume the role of a secret agent infiltrating Dr. Elvin Atombender’s lair—an escapist sci-fi premise that’s loosely tied together with on-screen text and collectible data disks. It’s enough context to keep you motivated as you evade security systems and piece together the villain’s master plan.

The sports-centric titles—California Games, Street Sports Basketball, and The Games: Winter Edition—present their events as standalone challenges rather than narrative arcs. There’s no overarching championship bracket; you simply strive for personal bests, high scores, or local bragging rights. This approach may feel shallow to players seeking story-driven progression, but it’s exactly the right fit for arcade-style competition and quick multiplayer showdowns.

4×4 Off-Road Racing has the thinnest storyline of the lot, focusing solely on vehicle performance and track mastery. Though you don’t hear about sponsors or championship trophies, the satisfaction of pushing a pixelated Jeep over a massive jump more than compensates for the lack of plot. The goal is simple: cross the finish line before time runs out, and you’ll craft your own narrative of triumph.

Ultimately, Epyx Action’s story component is minimalistic by design. Rather than weaving an elaborate tale, the compilation lets gameplay and atmosphere carry the weight of engagement. For fans of narrative-driven titles, the lack of depth might be a drawback; for others, the quick-start, low-friction setup allows you to jump into the action—any event, any time—without wading through menus or cutscenes.

Overall Experience

Epyx Action offers a nostalgic journey through five genres of classic gaming, making it a perfect package for retro enthusiasts or newcomers curious about 1980s design philosophies. The compilation’s strength lies in its variety: you can race muddy trails, compete in sunlit board sports, infiltrate high-security facilities, shoot hoops on urban courts, or brave snowy slopes all within the same session. This breadth ensures that boredom rarely sets in, and there’s always a new challenge waiting.

Controls and performance hold up surprisingly well on modern hardware, preserving the responsive feel of the originals without introducing lag or fidelity issues. Multiplayer is straightforward, with local turn-based or simultaneous play depending on the game—a feature that fosters impromptu competitions among friends. Audio cues and soundtrack snippets vary widely, from engine roars to chiptune fanfares, contributing to the distinct personality of each title.

While the graphics and story elements reflect their era’s limitations, that low-fi charm is part of the appeal. You’re not buying Epyx Action for cutting-edge visuals or cinematic narratives; you’re here for tight mechanics, evocative pixel art, and the pure joy that comes from mastering five unique slices of gaming history. The compilation feels curated rather than scattershot, and Epyx Action respects your time by letting you dive straight into the events you want.

All told, Epyx Action is a well-executed tribute to an iconic developer’s golden era. Whether you’re chasing high scores, reliving childhood memories, or introducing friends to foundational titles, this anthology delivers a varied, engaging package. It’s a must-own for retro collectors, a valuable addition for anyone exploring the roots of modern sports and action games, and a fun time capsule for casual players seeking quick bursts of vintage excitement.