Running with nostalgia: How Disney and G.I. Joe inspired a speedy pair of platformers

Developers love to reference or imitate the games they played when they were kids. But rarely do we see that nostalgia pointed at specific moments in popular culture.

Developer RageSquid’s Action Henk and Moon Spider Studio’s Harold do just that. They’re speedy platforming games for PC with striking presentations. Action Henk’s tale recalls Pixar’s Toy Story films: A washed-up but beloved action figure is trying to prove to himself and others that he still has what it takes to race against the best. Harold is about a hapless dweeb caught up in a racing contest controlled by angels — and it looks like one of Disney’s classic 2D animated films.