Confession time: I spent my holiday weekend playingFinal Fantasy II. So I understand if, even in this age of bump mapping, lens flares, and bloom lighting, you feel the need to play games lacking in polygons (or level design that values rote memorization more than critical thinking — I’m looking at you,Mega Man!). To that end, let me introduce you to Sivak Games’Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril, the newest addition to the Nintendo Entertainment System’s already-formidable library.

Even thoughBattle Kidmight have the best name ever, I doubt Nintendo stamped its seal of quality on the game. Nevertheless, for what amounts to homebrew development,Battle Kidisn’t a bad deal. It comes on a brand-new, playable cartridge with new chips and motherboards and the works. And, hey, the character sprites excluded,Battle Kidlooks really nice; I especially like the backgrounds.

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Battle Kidis being sold throughRetroZone, purveyors of “new tech for old school gamers.” If some of RetroZone’s other offerings are a good gauge, you might expect to pay anywhere between $30 and $45 forBattle Kidwhen it becomes available next month. Whether a cartridge and the authentic feel of an NES controller in your hands is worth $30 is up to you, but, for my part (and I hate to be a scrooge), I think Sivak might be better served by digital distribution. At the very least, you have to admire them:Battle Kidis obviously a labor of love.

Battle Kid: Fortress of Perilcould be the next NES hit[Joystiq]

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Indie game collage of Blue Prince, KARMA, and The Midnight Walk

Close up shot of Jackie in the Box

Silhouette of a man getting shot as Mick Carter stands behind cover

The ghost at the end of the hallway