☕️ Review: Coffee Crisis "A caffeine-fuelled burst of arcade action" ☕️ #GameDev #IndieGame @kingdomofcarts @BrittRecluseuk

Title: Coffee Crisis
Developer: Mega Cat Studios
Platform reviewed: PC (Steam)
Rating: Ice Cool

Coffee Crisis was originally released on the Sega Mega Drive back in 2017, developed by Mega Cat studios in conjunction with Black Forge coffee house in Pittsburgh, who handled the story of the game whilst Mega Cat worked on the design.

As a retro game collector myself, (specifically with Sega Mega Drive) the game has been on my radar for a while and I fully intend to pick up a boxed copy at some point. Fast-forward a year or so, and Coffee Crisis has seen a Steam release with enhanced graphics and audio (as obviously this version is not limited by the Sega hardware), but yet still keeping a very 16-bit artistic approach. 

Whilst an enjoyable romp, it is a brief game that has a very arcade approach with the depth that the arcade experience brings.

⚽️ Episode 11: SNES Football Games Were Shite - Head On Soccer - US Gold - 1995 ⚽️ #Retrogaming #SNES

🎮"Come meet Ginger Bob Marley in a unique game of football"🎮

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🕹️ Things I Miss In Video Games - "Battle Mode League"🕹️ #Retrogaming

Those early days of Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo were a delight.

No one had seen a video game like it and no one could believe how great the game was on the mighty Super Nintendo.

Digging beneath the surface of this giant of the SNES world would lead you to a game with longevity that wasn’t weeks it was years and even decades as I still return to Super Mario Kart 26 years later.

🚂 "Elink To The Past Talks North & South Train Running and Smörgåstårta!" - Video Games Memories 🎮

Today we welcome Elin into the Games Freezer and learn more about her video gaming history.

Elin is one of our fave Twitter retro gaming peeps and she lives in beautiful Sweden with her awesome video games & console collection.

Let's sit down with a nice glass of whisky and have a chat in the Freezer...

🕹️ Kingdom Of Carts: The Paris Return 🕹️ @kingdomofcarts @BrittRecluseuk

I wrote an article on our previous retro gaming sojourn to Paris (one of Faye’s favourite places) last year and commented on the price there and the gaming culture of Paris in general, however, we didn’t really know what to expect on that occasion.

This time, we built the holiday specifically around our love of gaming and so we were able to visit more places and also plan our treks more (we ended up clocking over thirty miles of walking in three days!) than our previous trips.

⚔️ Conan Exiles - PS4 - Ten Minute Taster "My Arachnophobic Hero!" ⚔️ #ConanExiles

"⚔️Wander the Conan inspired wasteland in Conan Exiles on the PS4 with me as I build my 1-bed starter home 

with wonderful views and then go hunt some spiders...🕷️" 

⚽️ Episode 10. SNES Football Games Were Shite - Hat Trick Hero 2 - Taito - 1994 ⚽️

🎮 "SNES Football Games Were Shite Jumps onto a bullet train to Japan and visits Hat Trick Hero 2 land and the mystery of the pesky Hyper Super Shot, 

will there be turds?" 🎮

📖 3 Video Games Inspired Books By Kari Fry That Will Blow Your Mind! 📘

I've been poking around the internet as usual and i've found 3 books on the FanGamer website which are going straight on my Fathers Day, Birthday and Christmas list...

I think you are going to love them too!

👕 Primark Are Launching An Awesome Set Of Retro Gaming Apparel This Saturday! 👕 @ReplayEvents #Retrogaming

Games Freezer have been invited to the May 12th launch of a new Primark retro games inspired clothing range at the flagship Primark Store in Manchester City Centre.

We've taken a look at the range and it looks awesome!

⚽️ Episode 9: SNES Football Games Were Shite - FIFA 98 Road To World Cup - EA - 1997 ⚽️ #Retrogaming #SNES

🎮 "The SNES Football Games Were Shite Train Steams into France this week and visits EA for a 4th and final time with FIFA 98 Road To The World Cup! Expect Turds and Terrible Commentary" 🎮 

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⚽️Things I Miss in Video Games - "Championship Manager Hot Seat Sessions"⚽️

As I’ve got older I’ve begun to realise how precious time is to us all.

When we’re younger it seems we have all the time in the world to do whatever we want and we take it for granted.

This is especially true for playing video games.

⚔️ Ten minute Taster - City Of Brass - PS4 - "No Arms Mcgraw's Revenge!" 💀

🎮"I'm taking on the City Of Brass today which is full of undead skeletons, loot, No Arms McGraw and genies what's not to like?"🎮

☆ Review: Max: The Curse of Brotherhood "The modern Penny Crayon" ☆ @BrittRecluseuk #IndieGame #GameDev

Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

Developer: Press Play

Rating: Ice Cool

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (M:TCOB) is the sequel to the 2010 game Max and the Magic Marker. The game was originally released in 2013 and in the last few months it has been ported to both the Switch and PS4. 

Whilst I had a really good time with the game throughout its 6-8 hour campaign, there was one thing that burned my family photo-album on my birthday throughout…the framerate. 

It wasn’t enough to massively hinder my enjoyment but I must admit that I know the game would have benefitted hugely from a push from 30 to 60 fps.

⚽️ SNES Football Games Were Shite - FIFA 97 GOLD - 1996 - EA ⚽️

☆ Britt is a Self Confesed Video Game Animation-iac ☆ #Retrogaming @BrittRecluseuk

I recently reviewed a game called The Thin Silence which had the most amazingly lethargic ‘kick’ animation that I’ve seen in a game, I found it mesmerising and often I would just randomly kick things in the game to see that wonderful animation in action (booting generators also had a nice accompanying rattling sound effect). 

It dawned on me as I happily booted my way through the (very good) game that over the years there have been quite a few animations in games that I just found really pleasing to watch, almost therapeutic even, and I wondered if it was something that all gamers experience with certain games.

☆ Review: The Thin Silence "An introspective, narrative-driven puzzler" ☆

Game Title: The Thin Silence

Developer: TwoPM Studios

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Ice Cool

The Thin Silence puts the player in control of Ezra Westmark, a soldier who wakes up in an underground cave system, refusing to face reality and haunted by his choices, he begins the journey upwards. 

It’s a very deliberately-paced game that slowly unfolds the story to the player very carefully as they make progress.

🏀 Retro Review: Space Jam - PS1 "Jordan's Motivation To Return To Basketball?" 🏀 #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

This Space Jam video game is based on a movie by the same name that I am pretty sure I saw in theatres and remember very little about; partially because that was the only time I saw it, and I know very little about Michael Jordan or basketball as a whole, so it never kept my interest. 

I considered re-watching the movie for this review, but couldn’t find anyone I knew that actually owned a copy, so not sure what that says about the movie or my friends. It is a simple concept though, with the world-famous Looney Tunes meeting real-life NBA players—mostly just MJ after he decided to do baseball—and play a game of intergalactic proportions: Tune Squad vs Monstars, where the stakes are…

I honestly don’t recall, but I’m sure they’re big. The movie, however, was a hit, to the point that Hollywood is still talking about a sequel to this day, so I’m a little surprised there is only one Space Jam video game.

👑 Review: Chess Ultra "Pour a nice glass of Malbec and get that grey matter twitching" 👑

Game Title: Chess Ultra
Developer: Ripstone
Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Rating: Ice Cool

Ripstone have developed a video game that takes the essentials of the game of Chess, refines the various aspects of it and distils it almost perfectly onto the Nintendo Switch.

⚔️ Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion ⚔️ #AdventureTime

First Official Trailer Released for Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion

An Original Adventure Time Story Coming to Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on July 17 in the US and July 20 Globally

⚽️ SNES Football Games Were Shite - FIFA 96 - 1995 - EA ⚽️ #Retrogaming

🎮 "The SNES Football Games Were Shite Roadshow trundles on and this week it visits EA again with FIFA 96.... was it a turd or could I polish it?" 🎮 

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⛵️ Review: Solo "A game about love, crafted with love" ⛵️ #GameDev @TeamGotham_

Game Title: Solo

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Developer: Team Gotham

Rating: Ice Cool

Release date – April 26th 2018

Solo is a video game featuring a sailor traversing an archipelago, solving puzzles and musing on love as he works his way across the scenic islands. I instantly warmed to its tone and charms as I puzzled my way through the game.

Solo starts with you choosing your character and their relationship status (which alters aspects of the story, the choices are quite varied and should cater for everyone). Starting off at your house, your cheerful, rotund character soon sets sail for a distant archipelago and the game starts in earnest.

⚔️ The Swords Of Ditto - Ten Minute Taster - PS4 ⚔️ #GameDev @onebitbeyond #IndieGame

⚔️ "The first title from One Bit Beyond is The Swords of Ditto, the beautiful looking micro RPG that generates a new story, adventure, character and world every time you play. The Swords of Ditto will be published by Devolver Digital on PC and PS4 on 24th April 2018."" ⚔️

☆ Review: Beckett - "An acid trip into a Burroughs-esque dystopia" ☆ #IndieGame @TheSecretExp

Game Title: Beckett

Developer: The Secret Experiment

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Ice Cool

There’s no sugar-coating this, Beckett is a tough ride for all the right reasons.

Scottish developers The Secret Experiment pull no punches as they envelop you in the twisted, broken world of Beckett. 

As I played through I winced, felt queasy, and even occasionally found it overwhelming, but I was never bored.

☆ EGX Rezzed 2018 "Tim Schafer & The Lucas Games Ranch Nerds" ☆ @DoubleFine

This years EGX Rezzed was another rip roaring affair with so much indie gaming goodness to take in and such a great atmosphere.

Tobacco Dock is a brilliant venue for this highlight in my gaming calendar and I always look forward to visiting its dungeon like underbelly for the awesome leftfield collection and the brick cavern like gaming areas on the first floor to experience more mainstream indie delights.

For me this year there was a highlight of the show that really stood out for me.

It was an awesome talk from Tim Schafer about his video games writing / developing career which was a brilliant way to spend 45 minutes listening to an industry legend’s experiences at Lucas Arts and Double Fine.

☆ Review: Bombslinger - "Tough As Old Bombs!" ☆ #Bombslinger #Nindies @mode4games

If you hear anyone talking about Bombslinger then you will most likely hear them refer to Super Bomberman R in the same sentence as they are pretty much cousins but they are most definitely not the same and Bombslinger does not come across as a game trying to best Super Bomberman R either.

So, what is Bombslinger all about and is it worth picking up for your Switch?

Well let's have a look shall we?

⚽️ SNES Football Games Were Shite - FIFA International Soccer - 1993 - EA ⚽️

🎮"Over the years of video games playing and owning a Super Nintendo I came to the realisation that the Super Nintendo was shit for Soccer games! They're all rubbish!"🎮

🎮"Join me as I trudge through the poo and serve up a steaming slice for you to consume in weekly portions"🎮

☆ The Sounds Gamers Will Never Forget ☆

Here's a video that I had fun pulling together of some of the sounds that as a gamer you will never forget.

See if you can spot your favourite video game amongst this lot...

☆ Review: Rally Racers - "Colourful Cartoon Karting" ☆ #IndieGame

Game Title: Rally Racers

Developer: West Coast Games

Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

Rating: Melting

Rally Racers is a fun if slightly bland family-friendly racing game with a ‘kart-style’ approach that I found entertaining in short bursts as well as also oddly addictive, despite it’s issues.

☆ Where Are My Friends? - PS4 - Ten Minute Taster "An intriguing game of an eyeball and his friends..." ☆ #IndieGame

🎮 An intriguing video game set in a strange time as you try and piece together some puzzles and answer the question that I ask myself on a daily basis.

Where Are My Friends?! ." 🎮

☆ Retro Games Collector Talks Grandstand 3600, The Lords Of Midnight and Peanut Butter & Nutella Sandwiches - Video Games Memories ☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Today we invite a Spectrum Fanatic and Retro Gaming community legend @RetroGamesCollector in the Freezer to answer some cool questions on his retrogaming past present and future...

☆ C64 Reloaded Talks VIC20, Elvin Atombender and Astro Wars - Video Games Memories ☆ @C64Reloaded #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Today we are lucky enough to have a C64 font of all knowledge in the Freezer.

Please welcome one of my fave Twitter peeps out there, Mr Martin Grundy aka @C64Reloaded

Martin's Twitter account is a constant stream of Commodore goodness with a splattering of all other Retro Gaming delights.

If you don't already follow Martin, you should and if you don't have one of his awesome retro gaming calendars you should get one!

Now sit back and relax and listen to Martin's Video Gaming Memories...

⚽️ SNES Football Games Were Shite - Episode 5: Elite Soccer - Rage - 1994 ⚽️ #Retrogaming

 🎮"Over the years of video games playing and owning a Super Nintendo I came to the realisation that the Super Nintendo was shit for Soccer games! They're all rubbish!"🎮 🎮"Join me as I trudge through the poo and serve up a steaming slice for you to consume in weekly portions"🎮

⚽️ SNES Football Games Were Shite - Episode 4: 1993 - Championship Soccer '94 - Sony ⚽️ #Retrogaming

🎮"Over the years of video games playing and owning a Super Nintendo I came to the realisation that the Super Nintendo was shit for Soccer games! They're all rubbish!"🎮

🎮"Join me as I trudge through the poo and serve up a steaming slice for you to consume in weekly portions"🎮

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☆ The Deep Freeze Number 4 (Mar 2018) – HeroQuest, Steven Seagal and Video Games Above TV ☆ @BrittRecluseuk @kingdomofcarts

In this crazy old Video Games Freezer we get up to a lot of stuff over the course of a month like picking our noses and scratching our bums, so Britt and I would like to share with you some of our gaming and other life stuff highlights and low lights of the month of March 2018.

Step into the Freezer and we shall share with ye...

☆ One Credit Classics Talks Ghouls N Ghosts No Death in 412 Takes and Laying Down In The Road! - Video Games Memories ☆ @1creditclassics #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

One Credit Classics is by far and away my favourite YouTube Channel Right Now!

The love for the games that are being beaten in one credit oozes through the screen with every video and I just had to get Mr 1 Credit on here to tell us more about what makes him tick as a gamer and obviously what his favourite sarnie is....

Let's jump in and let Mr 1 Credit spill the beans...

☆ Ten Minute Taster: Super Daryl Deluxe - PS4 ☆

🎮"Daryl is one cool dude with his hand drawn orange flares and orange headband to match. He's been placed into a High School that has a Bear for a pupil and it's down to you to get to the bottom of what is going on......Good Luck!"🎮

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🚲🔥🔥 Steel Rats - Gameplay Trailer "Destructive, Octane-fuelled Motorbike Combat and Death-Defying Stunts!" 🚲🔥🔥

🎮 ‘Tate Multimedia’ have revealed gameplay of their upcoming motorbike combat game ‘Steel Rats’. 🎮

🤟🏻 Review: Double Kick Heroes - "METAL RAWKS!" 🤟🏻 #IndieGame #GameDev

Game Title: Double Kick Heroes

Developer: Headbang Club

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Ice Cool

Double Kick Heroes (DKH) is easily one of the most fun rhythm games that I’ve played in recent years due to the (admittedly loose) story.  

The combination of Lucasarts style graphics, individuality, original music, tongue in cheek characters and solid gameplay really won me over.

⚽️ SNES Football Games Were Shite - Episode 3: Champions World Class Soccer - ACCLAIM - 1993 ⚽️ #Retrogaming

🎮"Over the years of video games playing and owning a Super Nintendo I came to the realisation that the Super Nintendo was shit for Soccer games! They're all rubbish!"🎮

🎮"Join me as I trudge through the poo and serve up a steaming slice for you to consume in weekly portions"🎮

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

⚔️ Ten Minute Taster: Minit - PS4 "Beware The Cursed Sword!" ⚔️ #IndieGame #GameDev

🎮 "The duck billed Minit guy finds a cursed Sword and is given a minute to explore the island before he dies and starts again. This game is brilliantly simple and devious...." 🎮

☆ Russty Russ Talks Hunchback, C64 Plus 4, Amiga & Jack Daniels - Video Games Memories ☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Hailing from the Isle Of Retroshire @Russty_Russ is one of our favourite Twitter peeps.

He manages to mix retro nostalgic TV listings with retro gaming posts seamlessly and you can always rely on that nostalgia fix from his awesome Twitter feed.

He's also a mega Teletext fanatic so is right on trend at the moment with the rise and rise of the Digitiser Show Kickstarter!

Let's get to know @Russty_Russ a little bit more with our delve into his retro gaming past, present and future!

☆ My Special Toys R Us Memories ☆

When I was growing up, Birthdays meant one thing……A TRIP TO TOYS R US to buy whatever I wanted!

Okay, let me clarify that. A trip to Toys R Us to buy what I had been asking for as long as it wasn’t too dear.

Looking back on it now I was a lucky kid!

This yearly ritual made Toys R Us a thing of legend as I only visited the place once a year. It made that trip through Jeffrey Giraffe’s Toy Store a magical time indeed.

I’d watched the adverts and sung the song and every year I got to walk the hallowed aisles of Toys R Us in awe of everything on offer. 

☆ Review: Urban Trial Playground (UTP) - "A Flipping Good Time!" ☆

Game Title: Urban Trial Playground

Developer: Tate Multimedia

Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

Rating: Melting

Urban Trial Playground (UTP) is a Nintendo Switch exclusive title that plays similarly to Redlynx’s Trials Fusion. A ‘pick up and play’ blast of fun with cool surf music, colourful summer locations and some serious stoppie action, although it does suffer from a lack of game modes and perhaps the shallowness of the gameplay isn’t for everyone.

🕹️ Which Video Games Were The Best Arcade To Console Conversions? 🎮 #Retrogaming

Back when the Arcades ruled the video games world the ultimate accolade was to be seen to produce an arcade perfect conversion onto home consoles and computers.

As a gamer you'd look out for the phrase arcade perfect in any review and you knew that was the game to buy if those immortal words were uttered.

It got me thinking about some of my favourite arcade to console conversions over the years and I have compiled a nice little top 5 to show off my fave arcade to console conversions.