A cancelled Game Boy Advance game from 2002 has finally made its way onto modern hardware, as Elland: The Crystal Wars is now available on Nintendo Switch.
Originally developed by Hungarian studio Soft Brigade, Elland: The Crystal Wars was intended to launch on the Game Boy Advance in 2002, but was cancelled late in development. The game has now been revived by Pixel Games UK and The Retro Room Games, giving players a chance to experience a project that was left behind more than two decades ago.
Set on the harsh desert planet of Elland, the game follows Ethan Lancashire, one of Elland Inc.’s top fighter pilots. The planet has become a valuable prize thanks to its abundance of Brem-Nar crystals, which are used in the construction of galactic star cruisers. With the aggressive Trafford Corporation looking to take control of Elland, Lancashire is sent into more than 20 dangerous missions to defend the planet.
Players will pilot a variety of advanced flying machines capable of moving, turning and hovering while making use of different weapons and utilities depending on the mission. Weapons can be manually aimed or configured with a lock-on system, while successful missions allow players to earn commendations and trophies and rise through the ranks from Cadet to Air Force General.
The game’s unusual history goes back even further. Development began in 2001 as an officially licensed title based on a popular science fiction franchise, though the project was ultimately cancelled before release. The Retro Room Games later acquired the rights and reworked the game, removing its connections to the original source material and allowing Elland: The Crystal Wars to return in its current form.
The Nintendo Switch version also adds a few modern conveniences to the retro experience, including an LCD screen filter, a rewind feature that lets players reverse gameplay at any time and a virtual instruction booklet.
Elland: The Crystal Wars is available now on Nintendo Switch through the Nintendo eShop for £6.99 / $8.99 / €7.99.