If you look up “one of the best Milwaukee bands of the 2010s,” you’ll find Space Raft. The psych/stoner-tinged rock band released a handful of instant-classic albums between 2014 and 2020, played a ton of shows, and even opened for Bernie Sanders. And though the group disbanded after the belated release of 2020’s Positively Space Raft, it has lived on in, of all things, the world of video games.
In 2020, former Space Raft frontman Jordan Davis pivoted to game design and released Space Raft: The Game. The homebrewed creation found Davis’ old band—and oodles of Milwaukee characters and locations—populating a zany retro 8-bit adventure. Van shenanigans, chicken sandwiches, and levels set in places like Cactus Club and Circle-A (R.I.P.) abounded. A slightly tweaked arcade version followed in 2021, created for—who else?—X-Ray Arcade.
Four years later, Space Raft: The Game lives on. A deluxe version of the game is now available on the Nintendo Switch eShop, and will be available on Steam on August 16. The $9.99 download gets you an updated version of the original game, the arcade version, and some nifty audio options that allow you to enjoy the soundtrack in chiptune and original “live-instrument” formats.
“I made this for people who understand Milwaukee and Wisconsin,” Davis told us in 2020. “Obviously, this is a game for them, but I also wanted to make something that was legitimate enough that it would be enjoyable wherever you live.”
For anyone who grew up with the sights, sounds, and infectious gameplay of the NES, it’s clear that Davis succeeded in his Zelda-esque quest. It’s a blast! (Davis’ most recent game, The Storied Sword, is also terrific.)
Oh, and don’t let the cameos from these two goofs distract you:
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