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u/Squeepty

▲ 18 r/Metroid

I made a tiny browser-based Metroid-inspired 2D engine as a learning project — playable online + source included

I’ve been building a small vanilla browser-based 2D engine inspired by classic side-scrolling Metroid exploration and camera movement.

This is not a fangame, remake, or “next AM2R” type project — more of a fun educational sandbox focused on learning and experimenting with:

  • tile maps
  • scrolling cameras
  • layered canvas rendering
  • sprite/entity logic
  • simple enemy movement
  • keyboard input
  • retro-style engine structure

You can try it directly in the browser here:

Playable demo

And the source code is here if anyone wants to poke around or experiment with it:

GitHub repository

The project intentionally stays very lightweight and readable — no frameworks, no heavy abstraction, just straightforward TypeScript/browser APIs and old-school game loop logic.

Current features include:

  • scrolling tilemap rendering
  • front/back map layers
  • debug grid/FPS toggles
  • simple “Zoomer”-style enemies navigating terrain
  • offscreen canvas rendering
  • configurable runtime debug options

A lot of it was inspired by studying how older 2D games handled movement, maps, and camera systems. The goal is mainly educational: something people can read, modify, and extend without getting lost in engine complexity.

If anyone here enjoys retro engine architecture, Metroid-style exploration systems, or just tinkering with small game tech projects, I’d genuinely love feedback and ideas for where to take it next.

u/Squeepty — 22 hours ago
▲ 9 r/EmuDev

Building “EZPU” — a tiny 4-bit fantasy computer to teach emulator development fundamentals (TypeScript)

Hi everyone,

I’ve started working on a small educational project called EZPU, a deliberately tiny “fantasy computer” designed as an introduction to emulator development fundamentals rather than a serious fantasy console.

The goal is to create something small enough that a beginner (like me !) could realistically understand the entire stack:

  • CPU architecture
  • memory layout
  • fetch/decode/execute loop
  • assembly language
  • assembler
  • eventually a tiny compiler

…without drowning in complexity.

Current design constraints are intentionally absurdly small:

  • 4-bit architecture
  • 16 banks × 16 addresses
  • 4 general purpose registers
  • fixed-width 4-nibble instructions
  • 4×4 monochrome framebuffer
  • no stack
  • no pointers
  • no interrupts
  • no hidden flags register

The idea is to make the emulator code read almost like a textbook.

The emulator itself is being written in TypeScript with a very explicit architecture:

  • Memory
  • CPU
  • Display
  • classic switch(opcode) decoder

I’m intentionally avoiding “clever” abstractions and trying to keep everything visible and educational.

The immediate goal is simply:

“Can someone learn emulator fundamentals from this project?”

I’d really love feedback from experienced emudev people on:

  • ISA design mistakes
  • educational pitfalls
  • missing fundamental instructions
  • architecture decisions
  • things that become painful later if not designed early

Especially interested in whether the “extreme simplicity” approach actually sounds useful from a teaching perspective.

github.com
u/Squeepty — 23 hours ago
▲ 201 r/retrogaming

Can we collectively name and shame whoever thought a sudden death mystery cube in Alex Kidd in Miracle World was a good idea?

u/Squeepty — 4 days ago
▲ 35 r/retroid

What are my options ?

Hey RETROID… hear me out

Bought flip 1 dead battery on arrival had to ship back and wait for ever to get a replacement

Flip 1, 2 years later battery swollen, soldered custom no 3p replacement possible

Then bought a flip 2, a year later hinge breaks…

That was my favorite brand but there probably won’t be a future flip for me tired of the poor quality 😞

u/Squeepty — 12 days ago
▲ 47 r/vic20

Choplifter on VIC-20: Surprisingly solid, but without the iconic ‘First Sortie’ mission comms 😁

u/Squeepty — 13 days ago
▲ 32 r/bbcmicro

Crypt Capers (AKA The Pyramid) — Strong Tutankham vibes on the BBC Micro..

u/Squeepty — 13 days ago
▲ 765 r/retrogaming

I know I could look online or in a guide, but I am more of a conversational guy 😅, think of it as helping your little bro back in the days..

Here is what I know

  • I followed the story up to finding the green pendant
  • I then followed a hint that led me to the Ice Rod
  • Thought I would go after the blue pendant next but got stuck and now believe I need a book that I found in the library cannot grab

So my questions is, did I miss a key object that would let me progress towards the blue pendant quest (what and where), or should I first seek the red pendant (I have not yet visited that map location)

Cheers

u/Squeepty — 19 days ago