There are many retro NES-styled games all over the Xbox storefront, and while most of these games are generally good, for the most part they are largely derivative of the sources they draw inspiration from. It’s not often when an indie developer uses gameplay and presentation conventions from yesteryear to create something that not only feels unique, but also modern at the same time.
Astalon: Tears of the Earth lands on Xbox during a very busy release cycle where there is no shortage of games; indie or otherwise. And yet this may just be one of the sleeper indie hits of 2021.