🛤️🏞️ A Winding Path Nintendo Switch Review 8/10 "A Path to Light Your Way" 🛤️🏞️ #IndieGames #GameDev

I’ve always been a sucker for black and white, sketchy, pen ‘ n ink art styles in video games. A recent example would be the wonderful Mundaun, although here, Mundaun’s folkloric, creeping horror is replaced with breezy 2D strolling and featherweight puzzling, combined with calming music and audio to create a relaxing atmosphere as you make your way through the world.

A Winding Path starts with your character outside a farmhouse, near a scarecrow and some fields. Viewed from the side, the sketched world is captured in an expressive format, with the sounds of wind whistling through the fields and trickling water blending well with the penmanship that makes up the visuals.

💥 No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle Nintendo Switch Review 8/10 "Some Of The Best Bosses In Gaming" 💥 @PixelHunted

You can’t talk about No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle without discussing the first game. 

Suda51’s 2007 punk demo tape of a game was all unsanded edges, wonky controls, and enthusiastic but half-baked mechanics. 

All that was delivered was a healthy serving of passive aggression towards the player, forcing them to grind through intentionally tedious minigames to earn the right to fight a selection of ludicrous bosses.

This made it something of a surprise when No More Heroes was a monster hit on Wii. Three years later Desperate Struggle landed, with the franchise’s ‘difficult second album’ a smidge more conservative but way more polished.

Does it being ‘better’ sacrifice part of No More Heroes’ soul?

The debate has been raging since Desperate Struggle landed in 2010, with many fans still salty that the sequel dares to be… * gasp * f-fun?

🕹️ Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium XSX Review 8/10 "More gold from the big guns" 🕹️

The original Capcom Arcade Stadium was an absolute pleasure, nigh-on perfect versions of some glittering jewels from throughout Capcom’s illustrious career. 

This, the second incarnation understandably pulls out some curios and oddities from their catalogue but also focuses on some key franchises (Darkstalkers, Street Fighter) as well as bringing some real hidden gems into the limelight.

⚔️🪓 Video Game Fables PC (Steam) Review 8/10 "Laugh as You Level" ⚔️🪓 @MomijiStudios #IndieGames #GameDev

It’s always a pleasure to come across a game that has been created as a labour of love, and Video Game fables is very much that.

Developed by one-man team Momiji Studios (with music provided by Levc EGM), Video Game Fables is primarily a turn-based RPG with an open-world structure, but is also packed with mini-games and asides – from the website:

"Video Game Fables" is a fun, light-hearted RPG adventure set in an abandoned RPG game world that hasn't had a player in decades.

The world's script gets completely ruined by someone calling herself "The Forsaken Princess."

It's up to Aru (the world's princess), Nate (an NPC aspiring to be a hero), and Tator (the villain's son) to get things back to normal...or maybe change everything forever.”

🥷 Shadow Gangs Dreamcast Review 8/10 "More Ninja Action Than You Can Shake a Katana At!" 🥷 @ShadowGangs @WaveGameStudios #IndieGames #GameDev

The next step on WAVE Game Studios’ quest for Dreamcast world domination, Shadow Gangs is a 2D platformer (mostly) that takes a lot of inspiration from the arcade classic Shinobi, in terms of visuals and gameplay.

You are Master Dan, a ninja master who sets out to take down a ninja army and rescue his family in a plot that’s so ninja-centric that it feels like it was written by Godfrey Ho. Good. 

🏯Bright Memory: Infinite Xbox Series X Review 8/10 "I'm No Cosmologist" 🏯 @FYQD_Studio #IndieGame #GameDev

I'm no cosmologist, but I'm reasonably sure that if a black hole opened up in the sky then we would all be dead in very short order. However, this is the event that kicks off Bright Memory: Infinite, and by the end of the game (which is only about 2-3 hours), everything is broadly similar to the way it was at the start. 

Although you have killed quite a few people, as well as some unexpected historical warriors, in that time, as well as engaged in a gun battle on the wings of a plane that is being sucked into the said black hole.

👹👺🎎 Pocky & Rocky Reshrined PS4 Review 8/10 "My Pixels Bring All The Boys To the Yard" 👹👺🎎 @Natsume_Inc #Retrogaming #Retrogames #PixelArt

If you loved the original SNES games then you'll adore this!

Pocky and Rocky Reshrined sits somewhere between a sequel and a remaster. With the opening stages being a re-run of the original SNES games and only as you progress through the levels does it then deviate to a different and even confusing new story. To be fair to the game beyond those early levels this is definitely a NEW Pocky & Rocky game and maybe those early levels were in there to get the nostalgia glands flowing with nostalgia juice before the new stuff kicks in.

🎃👻The Curse of Illmoore Bay Mega Drive Review 8/10 "16-bit Halloween Magic" 🎃👻 @alteredimension #Retrogaming #RetroGames

Purchase link -

https://www.second-dimension.com/catalog/the-curse-of-illmoore-bay

Developer – Second Dimension R&T, LLC

New Mega Drive games always feel special, whether they push the little black box to the edge of its capabilities or perhaps capture an earlier period of its shelf life. The Curse of Illmoore Bay is a title that feels like it captures the essence of Sega in 1993/4 with its platforming action, visual style and kiddy-creepy approach.

🔥 POSTAL Dreamcast Review 8/10 "An impressive port with a wealth of features" 🔥@WaveGameStudios #IndieGame #GameDev

Developer: Dan Redfield (Chinchilla Retro)

Purchase Link - Here

Wave Game Studios continue their impressive run of Dreamcast releases – I believe it’s one a month! - with this, the physical version of Running With Scissors’ 1997 title, POSTAL.

🔵🟢🔴 In the Dark Game Boy Review | 8/10 "A surprisingly fiendish and simple puzzle title that feels right at home on the Game Boy system" 🔵🟢🔴 @BitmapSoft #IndieGame #Retrogaming

Developed by Binary Sonata Studio | Published By Bitmap Soft

The minds behind a plethora of new releases on classic systems, Bitmap Soft have games across a multitude of platforms, from Amstrad CPC through to the Mega Drive.

The first handheld release I have covered in quite some time, In the Dark’s simple premise, means that it’s a great ‘dive in ‘n out’ puzzle title for your Game Boy.

🐔🐴Chicken Police- Paint It Red Xbox Series X Review 8/10 “A clucking good noir” 🐔🐴 @ChickenPoliceG #IndieGame #GameDev

I’m sure my reaction to first hearing about Chicken Police mirrored a lot of others, “What the hell is Chicken Police?”. I then looked it up on Google and realised that it’s a noir with anthropomorphic chickens. It’s a very intriguing and almost confusing idea, one which could easily be hit or miss.

🌺 Sephonie PC Review 8/10 "Sephonie was my first Analgesic game. It won’t be my last." 🌸 @han_tani #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

A two-person development team has no business making a 3D platformer. Why not settle for something a little more achievable like a visual novel, a flash game, or just firing up the ‘ol RPG Maker like so many budding game developers have before.

But Analgesic Productions - comprising Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittika - ignored the easy road and strode headlong into the fire with Sephonie. 

Surrounding them are the weatherbeaten remains of late 90s developers who tried and failed to crack the 3D platformer.

🔠 Mini Words Collection Nintendo Switch Review 8/10 "A fun way to learn and improve basic language skills" 🔠 @qubytegames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

The below text is from the developer’s site, and pretty much covers what is on offer in the game. It’s a great and fun little title to improve basic language skills, but not particularly challenging for those well-versed in the English language, as the game is aimed at younger players or those learning English.

That said, Mini Words Collection is a fun way to pick up certain words from the languages listed. Even on the harder modes, it’s clear that this is more of a fun learning tool, I liked it!

⚔️ Royal Frontier | PS4 | Review | 8/10 | “Choose Your Own Death” ⚔️ @RatalaikaGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Royal Frontier popped into our games code bucket and it was a title that immediately intrigued me with its classic looking pixel art style straight out of the SNES era which I am always a sucker for.

Royal Frontier is a Roguelite, Run Based, Choose Your Own Adventure (death), Pixel Art game with a ton of charm and an engaging turn-based battle system. As you might already be able to tell, I really liked my time with Royal Frontier (even though I didn’t think I would at first).

💥 Xenocider | Retro Sumus | WAVE Game Studios | Dreamcast | Review | 8/10 | "The first 3D Dreamcast title in 15 years" 💥 @WaveGameStudios #RetroGaming #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Purchase Link - https://www.wavegamestudios.com/shop/xenocider

Wave Game Studios are continuing to release a tidal wave of Dreamcast magic throughout this year, the most recently released title being Xenocider, a 3D rail shooter that tips the hat to Space Harrier… and then blows him away in a barrage of gore.

🪱 Tapeworm: Disco Puzzle | Dreamcast | Review | 8/10 "A game that will worm its way into your heart" 🪱 @LowtekGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev #RetroGaming

Lowtek’s previous title, Flea! Was very much loved in the GF towers, especially by me. With addictive gameplay, crisp visuals, smooth animation and music that was of Bubble Bobble-level catchiness, it was very much a winner.

I’ve been following the development of Tapeworm for some time, and even picked up the t-shirt from Lowtek Games’ website as I loved the image and yes, the pun.

Of course, the proof is in the pudding….can the finished game stand up to the high quality of the pun-title, premise… and developer Alistair Low’s Tik-Tok videos?

Yes, yes it can.

🤖 Primordia | Nintendo Switch | Review | 8/10 | "Sounds Like Heaven" 🤖 @WWSGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Primordia managed to slip by me upon its initial release - which is strange, as a post-apocalyptic, cyberpunk, point and click adventure game sounds like heaven! 

Now that it has been ported to Nintendo Switch, I thought it would be a good time to jump in and see if it was my videogame version of heaven.

🐱 Kukoos | Lost Pets | PC | Early Access | Review | "A 3D Platformer Made With Love" 🐱 #GameDev #IndieGames #IndieGame

 

Kukoos is a 3D platformer that is a clear love letter to the classic 3D platformers that have come before it but also with enough of its own magic to really bring alive the genre again on this PC release.

Kukoos is currently in Early Access on Steam and I have been lucky enough to play the game after the devs fired over a copy a couple of weeks ago for us to take a look at.

👴🏐 Retired Men’s Nude Beach Volleyball League | PC | Review | 8/10 | "The Smartest Way To Justify A Crap Game" 🏐👴 @SodaDrinkerPro #IndieGame #GameDev

Snowrunner Games’ Retired Men’s Nude Beach Volleyball League contains the smartest way to justify a crap game I’ve ever seen. 

So let’s not beat around the bush: it delivers an absolutely godawful game of volleyball.

🌆Beyond a Steel Sky | Xbox Series X | Review | 8/10 | “A few technical problems don't dampen the wonderful story and charming characters” 🌆 @RevSoftGames #IndieGames #GameDev

To talk about Beyond a Steel Sky, I have to talk about its prequel - Beneath a Steel Sky - and how important it is to me. One of my earliest gaming memories was sitting next to my big brother, watching him play this strange but quirky point and click game. 

It looked like nothing I had ever seen before, I was 5 years old - so pretty much everything looked new to me - but this game was so visually different from the games that we usually played, as an adult; I now know this was my first experience of cyberpunk - a genre and style I would come to love. 

Beneath a Steel Sky was a game I had never revisited, the childlike wonder was still my only impression, that was until I got this to review; and after 26 years, I finally replayed it and boy did it stand up to my first impression, it’s simply amazing. So now after so many years, a sequel has arrived, could it capture the wonder of my youth or should it have stayed in the ‘90s?