Alentejo: Tinto's Law

Alentejo: Tinto’s Law
Developer(s)Loading Studios
Publisher(s)Teknamic Software
Director(s)Ivan Barroso
Designer(s)Ivan Barroso
Vasco Oliveira
Programmer(s)Daniel Penão
Artist(s)Marta Vaz
Composer(s)Pankyonshii
Platform(s)Game Boy, Web browser
ReleaseWeb browser
  • EU: November 30, 2024
Game Boy
  • EU: February 25, 2025
Genre(s)Action role-playing game
Mode(s)Single-player

Alentejo: Tinto’s Law is a 2024 action role-playing game developed by Loading Studios and published by Teknamic Software for the Game Boy and web browsers. The game is loosely inspired by the 1991 RTP television series Alentejo Sem Lei[1][2] and mid-1960s Spaghetti Western films.

The story follows Gildo, a mysterious newcomer to the village of Tinto, as he works to disrupt the illegal tinto (red wine) traffic in 19th-century Alentejo, Portugal. The Game Boy version marks the first commercial Portuguese-developed game released for the platform.[3][4][5]

Gameplay

Alentejo: Tinto’s Law is a single-player action role-playing game featuring narrative-driven gameplay with puzzle-solving elements.[6] The game is divided into two sections: an overworld, focusing on exploration and action challenges, and underground levels containing puzzles and collectible power-ups.

The narrative follows Gildo as he attempts to dismantle Baron Tinto’s control of the region’s red wine trade, centered around a newly constructed train station.[7] Players must gather resources, form alliances, and plan a train robbery to halt the operation.

Development and release

Alentejo: Tinto’s Law was developed by a team from Loading Studios, previously known for The Fisherman: A Codefish Tale, winner of a 2023 PlayStation Talents award.[8][9] The team included Ivan Barroso (director), Vasco Oliveira (level designer), Daniel Penão (programmer), and Marta Vaz (artist), with music composed by Pankyonshii.[10] Marketing Art was provided by Martim Alves, with additional services by Tiago Colaço. [11] According to Vasco Oliveira, the game was created as a retro speculative design project—imagining what a Portuguese Game Boy title might have looked like in the 1990s, a period when none were actually developed. Alentejo: Tinto’s Law draws inspiration from popular films of the era, including the 20th-century Spaghetti Westerns, as well as the 1991 RTP television series Alentejo Sem Lei.[12]

The game was released digitally in November 2024 for browsers and physically for the Game Boy via cartridge in February 2025 by Teknamic Software.[13]

Reception

Reviews

Alentejo: Tinto’s Law received generally positive reviews, particularly for its story, puzzles, humor, and historical references to 19th-century Iberia.[14][15][12] Criticism focused mainly on the limited variety of music tracks and basic shooting mechanics.

Accolades

At the 2024 Indie DB Indie of the Year Awards, the game was a finalist in the "Upcoming Games – Role-Playing" category.[16] It was also a finalist at the DevGamm Spotlight Awards ("Reveal of the Year") and won "Best National Game" at the Geeks d'Ouro awards.[17] In June 2025, the game was distinguished as a Runner-Up and won an Honorable Mention in the "Fnac Novos Talentos" contest in the "Videogames" category.[18]

Future

In February 2025, Loading Studios announced a sequel titled Alentejo: The Tinto and The Ugly.[19][20][21]

References

  1. ^ "Alentejo: Sem Lei". RTP Arquivos (in Portuguese). RTP. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  2. ^ "Alentejo: Sem Lei". Brinca Brincando (in Portuguese). Brinca Brincando. 16 August 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  3. ^ "Portuguesa Loading Studios lança novo jogo para Game Boy". Visão (in Portuguese). Exame Informática. December 18, 2024. Archived from the original on March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  4. ^ "Alentejo: Tinto's Law – O jogo português lançado no Game Boy". IGN Portugal (in Portuguese). IGN. 30 December 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  5. ^ "How Alentejo: Tinto's Law Has Become Portugal's First Game Boy Hit". The Portugal News. January 26, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "Alentejo: Tinto's Law". Kotaku. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  7. ^ "Alentejo: Tinto's Law recebe formato físico para Game Boy e já tem sequela anunciada". MSN Notícias (in Portuguese). MSN. July 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
  8. ^ "Hexrite vence nos Prémios PlayStation Talents em Portugal". Eurogamer Portugal (in Portuguese). Eurogamer. 27 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  9. ^ "Vencedores PlayStation Talents IX". RTP Arena (in Portuguese). RTP. 24 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  10. ^ "Alentejo: Tinto's Law é um novo jogo português desenvolvido para o Nintendo Game Boy". EchoBoomer (in Portuguese). 6 December 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  11. ^ Moreira Dias, Pedro (26 February 2025). Alentejo: Tinto’s Law está disponível em cartucho físico. Salão de Jogos. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b «Isto Faz-se Por Cá» – Alentejo: Tinto’s Law. RDP Internacional, RTP. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  13. ^ "Alentejo: Tinto's Law". Teknamic Software. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  14. ^ "Alentejo: Tinto's Law - Análise". Squared Potato (in Portuguese). Squared Potato. 6 March 2025. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  15. ^ "Made in PT: Lançamento de Alentejo: Tinto's Law". Meus Jogos (in Portuguese). Meus Jogos. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "2024 Indie of the Year Awards - Top 100". IndieDB. Archived from the original on February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  17. ^ "GEEKS d'OURO – Prémios da Cultura Geek em Portugal". Geeks de Ouro. Café Mais Geek. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  18. ^ "Novos Talentos". FNAC Portugal. FNAC. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Alentejo: The Tinto, The Ugly – Anunciado a sequela do primeiro jogo português para Game Boy". Geekin' Out (in Portuguese). Geekin' Out. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  20. ^ "Estúdio português Loading Studios anuncia Alentejo: The Tinto, The Ugly". OtakuPT (in Portuguese). OtakuPT. 26 February 2025. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "Lançamento de Alentejo: Tinto's Law". Meus Jogos (in Portuguese). Meus Jogos. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
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