Argonaut Games, a British game developer founded in 1982 by Jez San, which closed its doors in October 2004, has announced its revival, alongside a remastered version of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, set to be released for “all current consoles” and PC in 2024.
Argonaut Games, known for iconic titles such as Starglider, Starglider 2, Star Fox, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, and Croc 2, released its last game in 2004. Now, the company is making a comeback as a boutique publisher, with plans to reintroduce classic Argonaut Games intellectual properties and launch “exciting new titles” for both current and retro gaming platforms. The first title in this new chapter is the remastered version of Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, which originally launched on the PlayStation in September 1997. Here is an overview of the remastered release, as shared by Argonaut Games:
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos is a 3D platformer developed by Argonaut Games and originally released in 1997 for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and PC. The game follows the adventures of Croc, a lovable, anthropomorphic crocodile, as he embarks on a quest to rescue the Gobbos, a tribe of small, furry creatures, from the clutches of the evil Baron Dante.
The gameplay of Croc is centered around exploring various levels, each filled with obstacles, enemies, and puzzles. Players guide Croc through these levels, collecting crystals, freeing captured Gobbos, and defeating bosses. The game’s colorful environments, engaging level design, and charming characters made it a hit with players, particularly younger audiences.
Croc was one of the early 3D platformers, arriving in the wake of genre-defining games like Super Mario 64. Although it didn’t achieve the same level of fame, it earned a dedicated fan base and is fondly remembered for its unique charm and approachability. The game was successful enough to spawn a sequel, Croc 2, in 1999. With its upcoming remastered version, Croc: Legend of the Gobbos aims to recapture the hearts of nostalgic fans and introduce a new generation to its delightful world.
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos, Argonaut’s 1997 multi-million-selling hit, features Croc, a lovable crocodile who embarks on a quest to rescue the Gobbos from the clutches of the evil Baron Dante. The game’s charm and creativity made it an instant classic, and the remaster promises to bring the beloved game to a new generation of gamers with enhanced high-definition graphics, updated modern control mechanics, and a nostalgic, fun, and authentic gameplay experience that will be sure to ignite the imagination of players and remind them why they fell in love with video games in the first place.
Additionally, retro-gaming fans will be excited to learn that the remaster includes the Crocipedia, an extensive and meticulously curated digital museum containing long-lost development assets such as game design documents, concept art, animation tests, team member interviews, and much more.
“I worked closely with Jez on the design and production of Starglider, Argonaut’s first big hit back in 1986, so to take up the mantle of relaunching Argonaut Games nearly four decades later brings me full circle, and we have further exciting announcements in the pipeline in the coming months,” said Argonaut Games co-CEO Gary Sheinwald in a press release.Argonaut Games co-CEO Mike Arkin added, “We wanted to honor the original game’s legacy while introducing it to a new audience. The HD remaster allows us to do just that. It’s been a labor of love for our team, and we can’t wait to share it with players on all the current consoles and PC later this year.”
Original Argonaut Games founder Jez San said, “I’m thrilled to see the Argonaut name back after 20 years away. Argonaut was always about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming, and I’m excited to see how the relaunched Argonaut Games builds on that legacy, starting with the Croc: Legend of the Gobbos remaster.”
