You know all those NOT ROMs for NOT emulators that nobody actually has...well, ever wonder what would happen if somehow the data in a collection of old 8-bit ROMs became corrupted and somehow the files merged?

Neither have I, but apparently the folks at Farbs did when they created Rom Check Fail for the The Independent Games Source VGVN competition.

The game opens with what is supposed to be ROM data being corrupted and then you're thrown into a crazy world where Link is running around a Super Mario Brothers level fighting off Windows 3.1 screensavers with the Bubble Bobble theme playing in the background.

But after a few seconds the ROM becomes further corrupted and you're controlling Pac Man in a Spy Hunter level, trying to eat Space Invaders critters with music from Wonder Boy playing...and it goes on as such until you clear each board of transforming baddies...then you're off to another level.

The only thing that stays consistent is the overall level layout though depending on which character you're controlling, your movement and attack options can be limited.

For example, the Space Invaders cannon can only move from side to side and fire shots upwards, bad if the bad guys are at the bottom of the board.



Similarly, Mario can only move up by jumping and has to squish bad guys, no gun for him, unlike Pac Man who can go anywhere he wants but needs his trusty white pill before he can devour anyone.

I find it a little frustrating to almost have a board clear and then have it switch to a different combination of characters that makes it impossible, but otherwise it's a pretty good time, if anything for the nostalgia factor.

It's a free download at Farbs.org