Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Action 52’s central selling point is its sheer volume: 52 distinct titles on one cartridge. From side-scrolling beat-’em-ups like “G-Force Fighters” to shooter outings like “Spread-Fire,” the collection spans a broad spectrum of action subgenres. In practice, however, the gameplay often falls short of modern expectations. While a few entries deliver momentary enjoyment, most suffer from clunky controls, inconsistent hit detection, and confusing level design. Even simple jumps in “Silver Sword” can feel sluggish, making precision platforming a frustrating affair.

Many of the mini-games are so bare-bones that they border on prototypes rather than polished experiences. “Fire Breathers” tasks you with dodging fireballs in a side-scroll, but poor collision logic frequently results in unfair deaths. Similarly, “Bubblegum Rosie” offers a charming premise—blowing bubbles to trap enemies—but the hitbox feels unpredictable, turning this whimsical concept into needless trial-and-error. Each title’s learning curve is steep not for depth, but for erratic responsiveness.

That said, there are glimpses of fun beneath the rough exterior. “The Cheetahmen” attempts a Metroidvania-inspired adventure with multiple weapons and branching paths, and its early stages show promise in level layout and enemy variety. “Chill-Out” provides a break with simple swim-and-dodge mechanics that, while simplistic, are legitimately relaxing. If you’re the type of player who enjoys exploring oddball game design and tolerates a high degree of inconsistency, you might find amusement in sampling the entire anthology.

One notable quirk is the menu structure, which divides the collection into three screens: each screen holds roughly 17 titles. This makes browsing cumbersome, especially since there’s no search feature or categories beyond the scrollable list. Jumping between “Atmos-Quake” and “Star-Evil” requires cycling through dozens of entries, which can break immersion and erase any momentum you’ve built in a previous game. It’s a reminder that while the concept is ambitious, the execution sacrifices user-friendliness.

Graphics

Graphically, Action 52 is a mixed bag. A minority of the titles boast passable pixel art—“Haunted Hills of Wentworth,” for example, presents eerie backgrounds and swirling spectral effects that evoke classic NES horror games. These moments hint at the artistic talent involved, with detailed sprites and moody color palettes. Unfortunately, such high points are scattered and rare.

The majority of the lineup suffers from inconsistent sprite work and palette clashes. In “Sombrero’s,” the protagonist’s hat glitches into the environment on occasion, and enemy sprites pop in and out erratically. Backgrounds often loop abruptly, and parallax scrolling is nonexistent. In “Oooze,” the titular substance drips in laughably low-resolution blobs that fail to convey any sense of menace. While you can appreciate the ambition of cramming 52 games into limited cartridge space, the compromise in visual fidelity is hard to overlook.

Some entries use recycled assets or repurpose the same character model across multiple titles. “Micro-Mike,” “Billy-Bob,” and “Hambo’s Adventures” all feature nearly identical protagonist sprites, distinguished only by color swaps or alternate hats. This repetition undermines any effort to make each game feel unique. Music and sound effects follow a similar pattern; a handful of bleeps and bloops are reused across dozens of games, leading to noticeable audio déjà vu.

Despite these shortcomings, the collection’s art direction occasionally surprises. Games like “Megalonia” offer sprawling alien landscapes with vibrant purples and greens, while “Storm Over the Desert” captures a dusty, war-torn atmosphere through muted browns and oranges. These isolated moments of creativity demonstrate the potential that went untapped in the broader compilation.

Story

Given that Action 52 comprises 52 disparate titles, narrative consistency is not its strong suit. Many games dispense with story entirely, opting instead for “Rescue the princess” or “Defeat all enemies” templates that generate little emotional investment. “They Came From Outer Space” opens with a brief text scroll about invaders, but the plot evaporates once gameplay begins.

Some titles make half-hearted attempts at world-building. “The Evil Empire” offers a few sentences about a tyrannical regime, and “City of Doom” frames each level as a stage in an urban revolt. Unfortunately, these setups rarely extend beyond title screens, leaving you to fill in gaps with your imagination. The result is a patchwork of premises that rarely coalesce into a coherent anthology narrative.

Where storytelling does appear, it is often charmingly amateurish. “Alfredo and the Fettuccini’s” features an Italian chef protagonist battling rogue noodles, complete with hand-drawn food-themed sprites. It’s silly, unexpected, and memorable precisely because it leans into its absurd concept. Yet these offbeat detours are few, and players hungry for deeper plots will be disappointed.

Ultimately, the minimal storytelling makes Action 52 feel more like a tech demo than a curated game library. The emphasis is squarely on quantity, with narrative elements tacked on as afterthoughts. If you value immersive world-building or character-driven arcs, you’re better off exploring dedicated titles rather than this sprawling sampler.

Overall Experience

Action 52 is a curiosity from gaming history: a bold promise of unparalleled value hampered by uneven quality. Its biggest draw is the novelty of 52 games in one package, which can provide hours of exploration for players determined to see every title. Yet the underlying mechanics, art, and polish are often lacking, leading to frustration more than delight.

For retro collectors and enthusiasts of obscure gaming oddities, Action 52 holds undeniable appeal. It represents a moment when ambition outpaced technological and budgetary constraints, resulting in a product that is fascinating in its flaws. Speedrunners, completionists, or those who simply enjoy dumpster-diving through the annals of gaming history may find enough unique moments to justify the purchase.

However, casual buyers or newcomers seeking a cohesive, high-quality experience will likely be disappointed. Repetitive controls, technical glitches, and a dearth of meaningful progression make the majority of these games feel like prototypes rather than finished products. If you’re looking for polished side-scrollers or tight shooter action, established titles in those genres will offer more satisfying gameplay.

In the end, Action 52 is best approached as a novelty box set—a conversation piece more than a go-to gaming resource. It showcases flashes of creativity and ambition but falls short in execution. If you can embrace its inconsistencies and play with forgiving nostalgia, you might unearth a handful of hidden gems. If not, you may find yourself questioning whether more really is better.

Retro Replay Score

2.3/10