Before we get started, just how are the angry “this isn’t really 8-bit” comments going? Are people losing their minds over graphics semantics despite this video being a fun mind-meltingly awesome take on the Rick and Morty opening credits?

Adult Swim, no doubt gearing up for the release of season three sometime early this year, shared the intro to what might be the best game that never was. This video-gamed version of the show’s opening credits is stunning in a simplified sort of way that makes us wish game designers still made games for our old systems. Created by animator Paul Robertson, each frame is a near perfect recreation of the show’s intro but where it differs is what makes it special. The color palette is clearly turned up from the show to make it a bit brighter and the slight “ready to fight” bounce/wobble in the characters is reminiscent of every great side-scrolling game we’ve ever played.

While there’s no actual game to play, there’s still a lot of joy to be had in each frame of 8-bit Rick and Morty and in the other animations Robertson has created . Back in 2006, he made the very awesomely named Pirate Baby’s Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006 and in 2015 had teamed up with Adult Swim to animate a few “levels” of another non-existent game called Super Dino Boys.

It is a definite shame that these don’t exist as games but, in an age where so many people can create such things, we’re holding out hope a game company collaborates with Robertson to get these made for real.

If it were real, what episodes would be best for a Rick and Morty game? Let’s *burp* discuss in the *burp* comments below, Morty!

Image: Adult Swim