Mikael Tillander, the programming wizard also behind Tanzer and ZPF, seems to have a grasp of the Genesis hardware that few other indie developers can match. Already sporting a stellar record on the console, he’s back with a new title that pays homage to classic run-‘n-gun arcade games and takes inspiration from favorites like Rush’n Attack and Super Contra. Heavy Recoil is a side-scrolling bundle of firepower that tells the story of a retired soldier who is called back to fight, setting the stage for an action-packed adventure through various environments. The game had a successful Kickstarter campaign this past July, and Tillander is working to get the game to backers by March of next year.
Heavy Recoil is built using the SGDK development kit for Genesis hardware, ensuring it captures the feel of the 16-bit era The visuals have that awesome art style that we all love, with some great pixel work by Jiggeh. Complimenting the SGDK toolkit is new software that Tillander developed to improve production efficiency. I love to see projects like this, ones that mix the best of the old with that of the new. Even with its retro style, Heavy Recoil looks like it’s going to do a great job of highlighting modern attention to detail for gameplay variety and accessibility with the old school action of classic run-‘n-guns. As if designing and programming weren’t enough work, Tillander also created the soundtrack and sound effects himself. So far, he’s added over two-dozen songs.
Heavy Recoil’s gameplay centers on scoring and exploration. Players earn points by collecting stars, rescuing hostages, and finding secret items. Along with increasing attacks, power-ups also unlock secondary attacks, with eight different types to try out. Losing a life has its drawbacks, such as losing upgrades, but the game balances this by regularly providing chances to resupply and experiment with new weapons. The main campaign consists of 16 levels, linearly structured with some branches added for diversity, and players navigate them using a world map. You can choose your stage at the start and completing them unlock more. Also, the campaign mode reportedly has over a dozen bosses, so I can’t wait to see what’s in store.
The “Mission Bingo” mode is the one that most stands out to me. In this mode, players receive a randomized 3×3 bingo board, where each square stands for a unique mission objective. You don’t win by clearing the entire board; instead, you succeed by completing a row, column, or diagonal of objectives, much like traditional bingo. Each time you enter this mode, both the objectives and the stages connected to them get shuffled. This means no two playthroughs are the same. The randomness keeps the experience exciting and encourages players to try out different strategies, something that is sure to add replayability. As for the reward for completing a bingo, the game keeps it a secret, challenging players to find the prize through their own hard work.
Unfortunately, all of this action will be a single-player affair since Heavy Recoil failed to meet its two-player stretch goal. It was the only one Tillander included, and it fell short by just under $10,000. Come on, Genesis fans! We can do better!
In his September 28 update, Tillander revealed that he’s completed all the stages and bosses, meaning the game is now completely playable. He still has a lot of tweaking and polishing to do. A few stages have some design issues that need to be worked out, and the ending still needs to be done. It seems like the game is pretty far along, and Tillander has been prompt with progress updates since the campaign ended. There’s no word on a publisher yet, but we do know that the German company Dragon Box Shop will handle the manufacturing. Tillander hasn’t revealed if Heavy Recoil will have a digital download release to compliment the physical one.
Heavy Recoil’s successful crowdfunding campaign included collector perks like retro-style packaging with a physical cartridge and full-color manual, stickers, and card and the game is on track for a March 2026 release (he’s also considering a Sega CD version). We don’t have any reason to doubt Tillander will come through. He has a great track record with his work so far, and his dedication to the Genesis platform is second to none. We’ll be eagerly awaiting the promised demo for preview, as well as the final game for review.
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