Psychopathy Assessment PS5 Review 5.5/10 “A Game of Two Halves” 🥼🩻 @galacticcrows #IndieGame #GameDev

I went into Psychopathy Assessment completely blind, and the first 15-20 minutes deeply unsettled me, the experience made me squirm and feel nervous. The initial psychopathy assessment section really has a creepy vibe to it, the fact there is no explanation for what is happening, no explanation of the controls - it just starts asking you very interesting and thought-provoking questions about morality, justice, spirituality etc. and with only three possible options - yes, no, and unsure - it did lead me to think about them. 

Straight after this, the game moves to an interview between two people and I initially wasn’t sure if this was a design choice or a glitch, but the text for the dialogue was cut off at the bottom, and I couldn’t read some of the lines, the rest of the text is perfectly readable throughout, so I’m assuming it was done to add confusion - it is a really cool touch. The next section (which I won’t spoil here) is really unsettling as well, the music is wonderfully atmospheric and the VHS lines and flickers added to the horror vibe.

Deathless. The Hero Quest Xbox Series X Review 9/10 "A Deck Builder Based on Slavic Folklore" 🃏 @Deathless_TOR #indiegame #gamedev

I’ve been quite partial to digital card games recently, and whilst I’ve played some corkers over the last year, Deathless. The Hero Quest seems to be pulling me back more than most, it’s blend of beautifully expressive and smooth animations, rousing soundtrack and compulsive gameplay means that I find myself settling down for that golden sense of ‘one more try’.

Set in the fictional fantasy world of Belosvet, the game begins with a number of options to tailor your journey to your specific level of difficulty, as well as letting you decide which hero you will take on this epic quest first, will it be the sword and (surprisingly gun-like) wand-brandishing Alyosha? The towering Dobrynya, an armoured warrior who wields a huge sword and dragon skin covered shield? The sorceress Vasilisa, or perhaps the treasure hunter Varvara who tears into battle with a pickaxe and magic braid? Whoever you choose, fun is certainly imminent.

Trust GXT 409 Oxxie Wireless Gaming Earphones Review by Britt 🎧 @TrustGaming

We’ve recently received a selection of products from Trust which I’ll be covering over the next few weeks, the first of which is the Trust GXT 409 Oxxie Wireless Earphones.

I’ve been using these pretty consistently for over three weeks now, and I’m impressed with what the GXTrust Oxxie offers, in fact – they have usurped my previous day-to-day earphones due to their more balanced, yet still bass-heavy sound.

The earphones feel solid and robust, and the charging case - whilst it is plastic - also feels resilient, as well as being stylish in design. The case also handily holds a USB-C Bluetooth adapter for those platforms that require it.

HELLDIVERS 2 XBOX SERIES X Review 9/10 "A Veritable Cornucopia of War Crime Options" 🦟 @helldivers2

I had had my eye on Helldivers 2 since the PC launch last year, and had been itching for the promised Xbox release for a long time. The release actually got me to pay for an Xbox game for the first time in ages, Game Pass being what it is.

For the uninitiated, Helldivers 2 is a squad-based shooter, where you and up to three team-mates drop onto a planet to achieve your mission objectives before being airlifted to safety. These objectives range from 'take this thing here', 'blow this thing up' or 'defend this bit of ground while a thing happens', through to 'kill as many enemies as you can while staying as alive as you can'. It's safe to say that it's not a story-heavy game. 

However, there is some framing. You are a Helldiver, one the elite soldiers of Super Earth, sent to battle its enemies while championing liberty, spreading Managed Democracy and staying true to the cause. Of course, it's all camouflage over the fact that you fight for a totalitarian dictatorship, with the satire very reminiscent of Starship Troopers.

Kong: Survivor Instinct PS5 6/10 “An average game propped up by the king himself” 🦍 @7lvls #IndieGame #GameDev

🦍My only history with King Kong is going on the ride at Universal Studio with the most bored man I’ve ever seen manning the controls. I don’t know if it was his last day or the world was crushing his soul, but he was not selling me on how scary Kong was, his voice didn’t convey that Kong was a terrifying threat - more like he was bored, and lunch was coming soon. 

So, this is to say I don’t have much history with the franchise, and the little I did have didn’t paint Kong in the best light - though that’s not the big ape’s fault in all fairness. Could this game finally make a good impression and bring the King back to Kong?

Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek Xbox Series X Review 7.5/10 "Perfect For The Spooky Season!" 🔦 @PHLCollective @GameMillEnt #IndieGame #GameDev

The newest title from the Philadelphia-based developer PHL Collective, the classic spooky children’s franchise Goosebumps is getting the PHL treatment. 

The last game that I played by this development team was DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos which I covered last year, and much like this one, whilst it isn’t a trailblazer in the genre, the respect for the franchise in hand combined with a high quality presentation means that this is another great game to play with youngsters. 

The main difference being that whilst Cosmic Chaos was an entry towards an ARPG style of game, Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek acts as a gateway of sorts to the survival horror genre, much as the books will eventually pave the way to Clive Barker et al. Good!

Dark Deity 2 Nintendo Switch Review 9.5/10 "Sword & Axe LLC Shine Once More!" ⚔️🪓 @DarkDeityGame #GameDev #IndieGame

I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to cover the original Dark Deity on Switch back in 2022 when I awarded the game 9/10, having thoroughly enjoyed the experience… with the exception of the downtime between the turn-based skirmishes in which a light visual novel element crept in, and I found myself mindlessly skipping through paragraphs of seemingly endless dialogue and banter between the characters in my party. 

With this sequel, Sword & Axe LLC have found a way to tighten this aspect, blending in the more dialogue-heavy sections into the actual plot itself, making it a much more seamless experience, that makes the game feel more cohesive, and much more inviting and playable, with these scenes feeling as important in terms of unveiling the expanding tale as the core combat sections themselves.

The Edge of Allegoria Nintendo Switch Review 6/10 *A Game Boy-styled JRPG with a lot of effing and jeffing*🧑‍🌾 @its_avg_joe @CobraTekkuGames #IndieGame #GameDev

The Edge of Allegoria is an atypical Game Boy-esque JRPG in that, whilst it has the usual turn-based battles, top-down adventure vibe, and glorious chiptune music, the basis for the writing is a pretty vulgar crudeness that, whilst setting it apart from more generic titles in the same genre, means that your mileage will very much vary dependent on how amusing you find crass language.

Whilst there’s nothing offensive about The Edge of Allegoria, the story sort of sits in the background, and gameplay overall is pretty standard with the main hook in the combat being that you acquire certain masteries of weapons after using them for a short while that broadens your arsenal of attacks against monsters that have physical. Magical, and elemental abilities. 

There are some nice visual flourishes, such as the overall colour palette changing as you get poisoned or wounded etc. with the music being the usual jaunty GB fun, but the very thing that sets The Edge of Allegoria apart – its use of adult language and humour – makes it a game that people will either click with or find tiresome. 

"50 Indie Games That Changed The World" Book Review By Britt 🎮 @BitmapBooks #IndieGames #GameDev

Another day, another glorious release from Bitmap Books! As someone who finds the indie game scene absolutely vital, when I initially caught wind of this book a few months ago, it was instantly close to my heart. That said, with hundreds of video games released each month, I was intrigued as to how the fifty games covered in the final release would be selected as it appeared to be a bafflingly monolithic task that seemed destined to end in myriad keyboard warriors tearfully ruing that their dearly beloved indie game wasn’t included. 

I mean ‘changed the world’ is a pretty hefty sentiment. And after reading the book, whilst – inevitably – some games included aren’t my jam, the beautifully written histories, interview snippets, and summaries that sum up the sheer impact of said game on the overall industry is hard to argue with, making this a surprisingly bold – if not definitive - tome on some of the most influential games ever released.

Chronicles of the Wolf Xbox Series X Review 9.5/10 "My New Favourite Metroidvania" 🐺 #IndieGame #GameDev@PQubeGames @Migami_Games @PixelHeart_eu

I was introduced to Migami Games through their 2020 title Wallachia: Reign of Dracula, which I reviewed back in 2021, which was a throwback to 16-bit era arcade action games. They have a rich history with Castlevania fan games, and when this was initially released, it slipped me by due to us having an extremely busy time here at the Welsh branch of GF. 

Re-discovering it recently, it turns out that I was a fool, a damn fool for skipping over Chronicles of the Wolf upon its release back in 2023 as it’s very clearly one of my games of the year, blending as it does nostalgia of the past with an eye on modern design. 

Honestly, I’ll say this at the start of the review, aside from the fact that this leans heavily on Castlevania in most ways, and some people may find this aspect a little too close for comfort (it doesn’t bother me in the slightest), I have nothing at all to critique about Chronicles of the Wolf, it feels like the perfect throwback game in the Metroidvania style.

Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 Xbox Series X Review 8/10 *Spooky Match 3 Action!* ⏹️🔼⏺️ 🦖 @StrangeScaffold #IndieGame #GameDev

I had no idea what to expect when I was installing Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3, but it very quickly became apparent that I was going to love it. 

A hybrid game that blends traditional Match 3 style gameplay with light horror-comedy elements in a setting that becomes very meta very quickly, it initially feels like a hodgepodge of ideas on paper that somehow works surprisingly well together in practicality!

Heading Out Xbox Series X Review 8 /10 "drive your fears away" 🚗💨 @SeriousSimGames @CrunchingKoalas #IndieGame #GameDev

Heading Out single-handedly saved my entire weekend recently, I had a rare free day and fully intended to veg out on the couch, getting slowly tipsy on bourbon whilst diving into some gaming gold. Unfortunately, the gaming ‘gold’ that I initially decided upon was the recent Game Pass title ‘Dragon Age: Veilguard’ which I’ve been keenly awaiting since release last year, having been a huge fan of the previous Dragon Age games. Within a couple of hours, I was deflated, morose, underwhelmed…and quite frankly uninstalling Dragon Age: Veilguard quicker than Oliver Reed can get the free drinks vouchers out of his pocket at a wedding.

Having no intention of playing further through the insipid, tedious game, I was flustered as to where to turn next, my Saturday plans lay in ruins. It was then that I remembered I had been sent the review code for Heading Out and decided that it could be a saucy palette-cleanser, and indeed it was, thank you, Serious Sim!

Canine PS5 Review 7/10 “All Charm and Some Bite” 🐺 @PuKoStudio #IndieGame #GameDev

I’m going to start my review of this horror game by not talking about gore, or darkness, or being scared… but about charm. Now, when talking about things that one finds important in a game, charm isn’t usually at the forefront - but I find that it can go a long way, and I found both Canine and its overall message really charming, there is a real sincerity to it, the love for both horror and dogs shines through and although without it Canine would still be enjoyable, the heart makes it much more special.

You play as a boy who has lost his dog, Tomy, I want to at this point inform both spell check and my editor - it is just Tomy with one ‘m’ (noted, maybe they named him after a much-loved Japanese toy company? – ed). You find out he has been taken by a company called Umbral. It is not really a spoiler to say this, as they are a company in a video game which means they are as evil as… well companies in real life, I suppose - so very quickly you realise that you need to get your dog and leave. In most horror games you have a weapon to defend yourself, such as a handgun or perhaps shotgun, heck - in Resident Evil you even fire a rocket launcher! 

Echoes of The End Xbox Series X Review 7/10 "a visually stunning action-adventure title that fails to entirely engage" ⚔️ @MyrkurGames @deepsilver #IndieGame #GameDev

Myrkur Games began work on Echoes of the End back in 2016, and that length of time and dedication shines through in a lot of the visuals and audio work, but the core puzzling that makes up the bulk of the gameplay feels somewhat inserted, and actively works against the games’ strengths, meaning that each area soon stops feeling exciting and evocative, as you instead grit your teeth and wonder what contrived puzzle you’ll have to work your way past in order to proceed further through this genuinely beautiful and desolate world.

Echoes of the End begins with Ryn, our heroine, and her younger brother Cor, as they make their way through a rocky, mountainous region of their land of Aema. Ryn is a ‘vestige’, a person who has magical powers feared by the majority, leaving her a fiercely independent spirit who prefers solace to the city. Cor, on the other hand, is a youthful optimist that seeks out adventure naively, often at his own risk. As the game begins, we find that large, vital crystal formations called ‘wards’ have begun to be destroyed, and whilst trying to find out what is causing this, Cor gets kidnapped, leaving Ryn to try and locate him with the help of Abram, a mysterious older adventurer that luckily happens across her path just as her brother is taken away.

Britt’s Mini Review Round Up! - Ringlorn Saga, HeistGeist, Party Party Time 3, Doodle World Deluxe, Rally Arcade Classics 📝💻🎮 #IndieGame #GameDev

It’s been another one of those periods, where we have simply received too much indie gold, and things are piling up here at the Welsh branch of GF! Below you’ll find some snappy articles on games that we’ve played recently, as well as our thoughts on them. Hopefully, something will catch your eye, and in no time at all a personal indie darling will be curled up on your Switch (or Steam Deck!) tonight.

📝Game Title – Ringlorn Saga

💻Developer – Graverobber Foundation

🎮Platform Played -  Switch (also available on – PS4, PC, Linux)

🗣️ “classic bump ‘n slash gameplay with CRT pixel visuals”

"I have to admit that I don’t usually use filters when I play games on modern televisions, but the warmth of the CRT in Ringlorn Saga completely won me over. A game that doesn’t outstay its welcome at a few hours in length, Ringlorn Saga puts you in the leathery boots of a prince that has collapsed after making his way through a magical barrier in a bid to follow in the footsteps of his father, the king, and must track him down in this strange land. Very much a throwback to Japanese adventures of the mid-80’s, the combat boils down to you choosing which attack works best (slash/stab/shield bash) and then walking into the enemy to chip away at their health, timing is key!

Whilst the extremely old-school gameplay will be a huge positive to some, others may perhaps furrow their brows at the grindy gameplay, the classic 8-bit visuals and absolutely wonderful soundtrack can’t be ignored, resulting in a game that not only captures the vibe of the vintage titles that it apes, but pulls you in with some seriously glorious music as well, good!"

Spy Drops PC Review 4/10 "Shadow Moses Island is burned harder into my brain than most of my actual memories." 🕵️‍♂️ @Hello_from_RNC #IndieGame #GameDev

Is imitation the best form of flattery? Rainy Night Creation’s Spy Drops coyly bills itself as being “inspired by stealth action from the 90s" but glancing at it for a second reveals the truth. This is Metal Gear Solid, slavishly recreating the 1998 PlayStation classic’s visual, audio, and atmospheric aesthetic.

I’ve played Metal Gear Solid more times than I can count, from its original launch up to the recent Master Collection re-release. I’ve played through the entirety of the Special/VR Missions add-on twice. The layout and vibe of Shadow Moses Island is burned harder into my brain than most of my actual memories.

Our Summer Festival 2 Nintendo Switch Review 7/10 "A Bunch of Mini-Games Set in a Japanese Festival" 🎈 @SAT_BOX_2011 #IndieGame #GameDev

We’ve covered a few Sat Box games here at GF, with the most recent being the very enjoyable Desktop Golf. This newest title takes us away from the links and instead plonks you and up to three other players in a Japanese festival in which you will find yourself doing everything from fishing through to dancing, and even cooking!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown Xbox Series X Review 8/10 ‘Turtle Renaissance’ 💙🐢 @StrangeScaffold #IndieGame #GameDev

Leonardo leads.

Donatello does machines.
Raphael is cool but crude.
Michelangelo is a party dude.

Anyone (over forty) knows this to be true. Though “doing” machines is not something one ought to interrogate too closely. Anyway, I, like everyone I knew at school, loved the Turtles (NB. ‘Ninja’ in America, ‘Hero’ in soft-shelled Britain). And this game from Strange Scaffold promises to bring back the radicalness of the teen greens and blend it with turn-based tactics.

I am a great fan of the XCOM and Rabbids games, and as a starting point, TMNT:TT (as I’ll snappily refer to it) can be summed up as just that, a mix of those two. It’s not as detailed as XCOM, and it isn’t as silly and fun as Rabbids, but it manages to succeed on its own terms.

Psygnosis: Games People Play - Tome One - Book Review By Britt – Author - Christophe Boucourt / Publisher - Editions 64K 🔖📖 @editions64K

This is the first book that we’ve covered from French publishing house Editions 64K, and after reading it, I very much hope that it isn’t the last! For those out there with an interest in the early days of computing – and especially the Amiga – Psygnosis: Games People Play – Tome One covers the beloved UK developer / publisher Psygnosis from the days of their original formation right up until the mid-‘90s, leaving you thirsting for more, as Tome 2 promises to take us from 1995 through to the eventual studio closure in 2012.

First off, Editions 64K are a pleasure to work with and take their processes seriously, the book turned up swiftly and was incredibly well-packaged, almost to Bitmap Book levels of safety, with thick polystyrene corners ensuring that even during a bumpy delivery ride, your book will turn up in pristine condition. The cover of the book is mostly black, with a bold and stylish classic Psygnosis logo taking centre stage. ‘Psygnosis Tome One’ in a classic Psygnosis typeface runs down the spine, with the close-up ‘Owlface’ logo on the back, with a couple of blocks of synopsis text below.

Giant Machines 2017 Xbox Series X Review 5/10 *Big machines with big problems* 🚜

Recently released on X Box Series X, Giant machines 2017 comes from Polish studio Code Horizon, also know for The Way, 911 Operator, and Gold Mining Simulator. This being a title from 2017 means that it is showing its age somewhat, in terms of the visuals, but there also other, more serious issues that wind up making what could have been a wonderful trip through over-sized construction vehicles in various situations a plodding, technical mess that boils down to performing repetitive manoeuvres whilst hoping the controls don’t freeze up on you.

The game begins with a pretty solid opening, yes it all feels very ‘assety’ – par for the course with a lot of ‘simulator’ type games – but the Southern American drawl that acts as your mission co-ordinator comes over the radio and tells you that you need to get into a transport cart and head on over to an enormous structure to prepare it for silicon ore mining. Leaving the vehicle shed, there is an incredible sense of scale as you flick through the radio stations on offer and trundle across the empty desert ground to the excavation machine, first fixing a hose, then moving lining it up for the mining, drilling, filling up the haulage truck, and finally getting the ore out of the complex. Played mostly in first person perspective, with various cameras selectable when on a vehicle / machine, the sounds of construction work really well, with each machine having a real sense of weight and power to them. It’s when you want to actually ‘move’ them that the real problems come into play.