Role-playing games have many clichés. Part of the problem came with the limited memory space of yesteryear. However, what really solidified all of the clichés was their constant usage. Not many original plots came over to our shores. There was always the same if not overly familiar archetypes, same plot points and similar battle systems. It wasn’t until about nine years ago that they started to break that mold. Yet, there is one game available as an Xbox Live Indie Game Download that has fun with every aspect of RPG history. Allow me to introduce to you one of the funniest games released this year: Breath of Death VII: The Beginning.

Breath of Death takes place at undisclosed time in the future, well after a nuclear bomb (or something like it) annihilated all life. Now, the world is inhabited by friendly undead. You control “silent” protagonist Dem the Skeleton warrior, a self-proclaimed hero who sets out to fix the problems in the world. He is quickly joined by a healing ghost, a gun-toting vampire and a zombie prince who speaks in a French accent.

Part of what makes the game so fun is how those archetypes play out. But where the real joys spring out are in the constant references to older games. They range from everything from Earthbound to the original Final Fantasy to Zelda II to English pronunciations of Japanese titles. I love it! Yet again, I’m from the generation that would recognize all of these esoteric references. Would today’s younger generation get them? No, but it doesn’t mean they wouldn’t recognize the humor in it.

The game is done in perfect 8-bit pixel style. Each character looks unique and walks around the map smoothly. Locations are not diverse but are engaging. There are caves with ponds, a cemetery filled with the dead undead and witty tombstones, old-fashioned medieval towns, and cities with our broken stuff. Battle animations are nonexistent, though. Anyway, this is something I wouldn’t expect to see on the Xbox 360. It is something I would expect to see on the Wii as this feels like a lost old-school gem.

In fact, Breath of Death controls like an old-school gem. You wander around the map, open treasure chests, interact with townsfolk, purchase equipment and beat up monsters. Each character learns several skills that cause damage to the opponent(s). Each attack influences the combo counter, and a few skills “break” the combos in order to cause outrageous damage. You can even have the characters unite to inflict damage, buff or heal. Defeating opponents quickly restores a small amount of magic. Oh, did I mention you have to be quick about battles? Monsters gain a 10 percent strength boost at the beginning of each round.

Levels are gained quickly as the game “throws” experience points at you. Each level increases a character’s health and magic cap. You then pick one of two bonuses. This could be as simple as two different stat increases with the emphasis on two different stats. Or you could be given the option of a high-power attack spell or a slightly weaker one that inflicts a status effect. While the characters are locked into their respective roles, it does give one a bit more play than initially thought.

Musically, Breath of Death is very sparse and quiet. This is not to say that it is bad. On the contrary, some of it channels the charm of yesteryear. Other times, it is intense battle music with guitars. And then there is the sparse, acoustically laid-back yet creepy take on dungeon exploration. I just wish it were louder. Furthermore, you’ll hear the same battle effects over and over again. Thank goodness battles move so quickly!

So what does Breath of Death VII: The Beginning mean to us as modern gamers? It shows that pixels are still relevant. It shows that our past does influence our thoughts and habits but doesn’t mean that it is destiny. This is Horation satire on RPGs. Yes, they love, if not appreciate, each of the games referenced. However, they realize that if things stay the same we will get the exact same results with a different coat of paint. That’s what makes Breath of Death such a “breath” of fresh air: It’s aware of the RPG condition.

Thus, RPG fans have no excuse not to pick this game up. Unless you do not own an Xbox 360. Then you’re forgiven for not being aware of this game. Sure, there are lots of little things to be done to make it a stronger game, such as battle animations. But it is its own master. Plus, Breath of Death only costs $1 (about 80 Microsoft Points). And it is one heck of a steal. The developers could have charged $2, and it still would be worth it. Here’s to future games for a developer who holds much promise!