Heavy on the pop culture references, smoky jazz and cigarettes, Pecaminosa is a game that really sucked me in hard, like the first cigarette of the morning along with a hot cup of coffee but it did lose focus in the latter sections, maybe all that whisky started to make things a bit wobbly...
9 Jun 2021
8 Jun 2021
🐦 A Short Hike (& Vinyl soundtrack) | Review | Nintendo Switch | 9.5/10 | "An Awesome Slice of Whimsical Freedom" 🐦 @adamgryu #IndieGames #GameDev
A Short Hike was a game that passed me by upon release. During my recent run of various articles and interviews with those involved in VGM, I struck up a conversation with Stumpy Frog Records (awesome guy) when purchasing The Cat Lady (awesome record, awesome game) and ended up receiving the soundtrack for A Short Hike*.
During the brief period that the record was in transit, I took the opportunity to play A Short Hike so that I had context for the accompanying vinyl soundtrack and the stars really aligned here, as I ended up having a memorable couple of hours with a real gem of a game that I heartily recommend.
🥊💥 5 Of the Best Beat ‘Em Up Games for Your PC 🥊💥
Beat ‘em ups, or so it would seem, are timeless; sitting down, grabbing your console or getting your fighting fingers at the ready on your PCs keyboard, and beating the virtual living daylights out of someone, appears not to have gone out of fashion. Selecting a badass character, getting into their mindset and wiping out opponent after opponent, is fun and harmless, and can help you vent your pent-up aggression in a safe and socially acceptable manner!
7 Jun 2021
💥 Huntdown | Review | PC | 9/10 | "Buy This Game" 💥 @HuntdownGame #IndieGames #GameDev
So, here goes.
🎮 The Gioteck AC2 AMMO CLIP PS5 & XBOX Charging Packs 🎮
Another piece of cool Gioteck hardware for you all to salivate over...
The Gioteck AC2 AMMO CLIP charging packs provide unlimited power for next-gen consoles players.
The AC2 AMMO CLIP lets players stay fully immersed in the action and focused on their game.
6 Jun 2021
🧛♀️ Resident Evil: Village | Review | PS5 | 9.5/10 | "The Perfect Game to Celebrate 25 years of Resident Evil" 🧛♀️ #ResidentEvilVillage
Resident Evil: Village was always going to be interesting for me, as I thought six was too action-orientated and I found seven too heavy on the horror.
Now, I will admit that when I played seven, I had lost interest in both horror and gaming so I think that heavily skewed my opinion of the game, though I will say - even though I had issues with seven at the time, I understood that Resident Evil as a franchise needed a new direction in both story and gameplay, such as when four was released which moved to the over-the-shoulder camera with a story that was firmly tongue in cheek, accentuating the B-Movie horror qualities of the series. It was what the franchise needed and after six, it was clear they once again needed a new direction.
So, enter Resident Evil Village. Was I going to feel it was too heavy on action/horror… or was it going to be like the tale of Goldilocks, and everything was going to be just right?
5 Jun 2021
🦜🏴☠️ King Of Seas | PS4 | Gameplay | ten Minute Taster | "Pirate Booty Ahoy!" 🦜🏴☠️ @3DClouds #IndieGames #GameDev
An epic adventure awaits you in a fantastic world, dotted with fights, lost islands and treasures.
A universe that will keep you anchored as you struggle to become the king of all pirates.
4 Jun 2021
🕹️ Meet the UK Events owner turning Milton Keynes into a Retro Gaming Arcade Hotspot | Opens Friday 4th June 2021 🕹️ @thepixelbunker #Aracde #MiltonKeynes #RetroGaming
It’s every gamer’s dream to have a whole host of Retro Arcade cabs in one exciting space. For Pixel Bunker Arcade’s owner Andy Brown, who also heads up Replay Events, it’s his 2021 reality.
From After Burner to Wonder Boy, this place has it all - and it’s not been without its challenges either. But Andy has many years of experience delivering Retro Gaming events with his PLAY Expo consumer gaming shows across the UK to now bring a more permanent residence to the heart of Milton Keynes.
⚔️🛡️🧞♂️ Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World | PS4 | Review | 7/10 | "A Fun Frolic Through The Missing Link Of My Wonder Boy Journey" ⚔️🛡️🧞♂️ @WonderBoyWild @ININ_Games
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is essentially a remaster of the original 1994 Wonder Boy IV for modern consoles.
A few years back we had the return of Wonder Boy when The Dragons Trap came out to critical acclaim and now we are looking at Asha’s turn in the limelight!
Wonder Boy has featured heavily in my gaming education over the years as one of my first gaming memories was playing Wonder Boy on my cousin’s commodore 64 back in the 80s and then my first game on my SEGA Master System was Wonder Boy in Monster Land which I purchased from the classified ads in the local paper. More recently I played the remake of Dragons Trap which was a delight and really well made.
I love to see these remasters and remakes when they are done right and I’m happy to report that Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World has been done to near perfection with a dash of peppercorn sauce, peas and creamy mash potato.
3 Jun 2021
💭 Don’t Forget Me | Review | PC | 2/10 | "As far as game titles go Don’t Forget Me isn’t half bad" 💭 @PixelHunted @TheMoonPirates #GameDev #IndieGames
As far as game titles go Don’t Forget Me isn’t half bad.
There’s an air of mystery: who might I forget… and why?
But after playing the game it feels unhappily ironic as I will never think about Don’t Forget Me ever again once I wrap up this review.
🍅 New Commodore Amiga Game Turbo Tomato Has A 31st July 2021 Release Date! 🍅 @nivrig #IndieGames #CommodoreAmiga #RetroGaming
THE GARDEN, a pastoral haven. The sun shines, the birds sing, the grass grows and the fruits, vegetables and other creatures live peaceful and happy lives.
In this idyllic place live brother and sister Turbo and Nitra Tomato, enjoying the simple life with their friends.
But all is not as it seems...
Five a day? Come get some!
2 Jun 2021
📸 Umurangi Generation | Review | Nintendo Switch | 7.5/10 | "A Unique, Creative and Atmospheric Experience" 📸 @UmurangiGame #IndieGames #GameDev
The Switch version of Umurangi Generation comes with extra DLC that includes 4 additional stages as well as over an hour of extra music, good. More on Thor High Heels’ audio skills later!
❗️ Say No! More | Review | Nintendo Switch | 7/10 | "A Game That Says Something" ❗️ @SayNoMore_Game #IndieGames #GameDev
It feels like it’s been a long time since I covered a more ‘experiential’ game and Say No! More is definitely in this camp.
An idiosyncratic title that casts you as an intern on their first day on a new job, gifted with the ability to only say ‘no’ in various ways - or occasionally, nothing at all - Say No! more is a fun and gently empowering game that approaches its goal with an open and embracing heart.
⚒️ Spelunker HD Deluxe Will Be Available as a Limited and Collector’s Edition for Pre-Order from Sunday, June 6th at Midnight ⚒️ @TozaiGames #RetroGames #IndieGames
Strictly Limited Games brings an awesome and addictive platformer from the 80s - from legendary developer TOZAI - to PS4 and Nintendo Switch!
Retro fans need to prepare themselves for a real challenge.
Spelunker HD Deluxe will be available as Limited and Collector’s Edition for pre-order from Sunday, June 6th at midnight (CEST) at the Strictly Limited Games Shop!
The digital version for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 will follow in Q3 2021 by ININ Games.
>> Let’s start on another adventure! <<
1 Jun 2021
🎧 H3 EPOS Closed Acoustic Gaming Wired Headset | ICE COOL | "I was intrigued as to the leap in quality a £100+ headset would make" 🎧 @eposaudiogaming #GamingHeadset #ThePowerofAudio
Having covered a few headsets between the £20-£50 price bracket from various brands and listening to dozens of hours of games, podcasts and music through them all, I was intrigued as to the leap in quality a £100+ headset would make and if it would even be that noticeable in the grand scheme of things.
Yes, yes it is.
30 May 2021
🎶💿 Games Freezer Interviews: BlipBlop VGM On Wax 🎶💿 @blipblopwax #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl
29 May 2021
📀🐸💿Games Freezer Interviews : Stumpy Frog Records 💿🐸📀 @stumpyfrogrecs #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl
Tying in nicely with my recent articles on video game vinyl as well as our interview with Harvester Games’ mastermind Rem Michalski, this interview with Stumpy Frog Records came about as I happened across them on Twitter due to them promoting The Cat Lady vinyl soundtrack.
That soundtrack very quickly came to be a favourite and I had a really great experience as a customer with Stumpy Frog to the point that I wanted to learn more about them, hence this interview.
Whilst they only have a couple of releases under their belt, there’s a lot of gold bubbling in preparation and I can absolutely vouch for their quality, customer service and professionalism.
28 May 2021
🔋 Venom Twin Docking Station (XSX/S & One) & Venom USB Hub for Xbox Series X/S/One | Rating: Ice Cool [GF Recommended Purchase] 🔋 @VenomGamingUK #XboxSeriesX
A sleek and well-designed docking station that does its job well at a fair price, the Venom Twin Docking Station is a GF recommended purchase for your controller charging needs.
27 May 2021
🤡 Strangeland | Ten minute Taster | PC | "Scary Times In A Strange Land" 😱 @WWSGames #IndieGames #GameDev
26 May 2021
⚔️🏰 Legend Of Keepers | PC | Ten minute Taster | Gameplay | "Heroes Scaring Simulator" ⚔️🏰 @studio_goblinz #IndieGames #GameDev
25 May 2021
🏰 SIEGE SURVIVAL: GLORIA VICTIS | PC | GAMEPLAY | TUTORIAL 🏰 @SiegeSurvival #IndieGames #GameDev
"A medieval city under siege and a handful of civilians are all that keep the walls from falling. Mixing survival strategy and resource management, build your camp, craft supplies, and scavenge the occupied city to supply the last troops holding back the invaders."
💻 Best of 2021: Top 6 Browser Games 💻
“Another blog on games and how they are the perfect panacea for our boredom.”
“Yes, you are right but don’t bounce off. This blog is different. I promise! Give me 10 more seconds, and I’ll tell you how this blog isn’t like your usual gaming blogs.”
24 May 2021
🩸 Outbreak: Endless Nightmares | Review | 2/10 | “I was completely on board with this game...until I played it.” 🩸 #IndieGames #GameDev
I always like to start my reviews by explaining my relationship to the game, genre or franchise etc. and I feel in this review it’s especially important as I am very specifically the target audience.
It is a game trying to capture the aesthetics, gameplay and vibe of the late ‘90s horror games. I love those games - Resident Evil 2,4 and Silent Hill 2 are in my top 10 games of all time so I was completely on board with this game.... until I played it.
23 May 2021
🎩 Lunch With Professor Layton 🎩 #NintendoDs #RetroGaming
A few years ago my daughter had reached the age to get her first console and after doing my research I felt that at the age of 5 a 2DS would be perfect, and it was. We played a lot of Animal Crossing New Leaf together and totally enjoyed our time with the 2DS but then everything changed in 2017 when I got my Nintendo Switch. It was at that point that my kids wanted to play my Switch way more than the 2DS and the poor old 2DS was resigned to its fate to live on a shelf next to the DSi.
Meanwhile, I fast forward to 2021 when for some reason I got the hankering to play a Professor Layton game as I had never got round to playing Professor Layton before and it has been a franchise that I have admired from afar.
22 May 2021
🚗🚗🚗 Total Arcade Racing | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7/10 | "Total Arcade Racing Takes its Cues from The Retro Racing Classics" 🚗🚗🚗 @CasualGames_nu #GameDev #IndieGames
Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off-Road had one of the clunkiest names of any game I've ever played, but it was great back in my Amiga days.
Super Sprint too. Total Arcade Racing takes its cues from both of these classics and does a good job in bringing the multiplayer pain to the Switch.
21 May 2021
🕹️ Mega Man the Wily Wars Available for Pre-Order for Genesis/Mega Drive! 🕹️ #RetroGaming #MegaMan
Retro game fans can look forward to a really special collection coming from CAPCOM.
Mega Man: The Wily Wars combines three awesome titles to play: Mega Man, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 for Genesis/Mega Drive.
The Collector’s Editions featuring some very special and carefully selected items will be available for pre-order for one month - from May 21st, 4pm (CEST) to June 21st at the Strictly Limited Games Partner Store.
💿 Video Game Vinyl Fantasies | #1 | Britt Recommends 💿
Having got into vinyl around ten years ago upon inheriting my late grandfather’s record player, it was only upon the release of Streets of Rage 2 via Data Discs (in 2017-ish?) that I began dipping into picking up video game soundtracks with any regularity.
At first, it was just the Data Discs releases that intrigued me; Outrun, Golden Axe, Sonic Mania, Shinobi etc. but I soon got hips deep into the scene and began learning of some really cool labels that were releasing some serious gold.
In this article, I thought I’d shine a light on the labels and releases that really stand out for me and will include links in each section. Whilst this list isn’t exhaustive, it does pretty much sum up the records that are entrenched in my mind at the moment.
Maybe the next article would be the soundtracks I’d dearly love to be released in vinyl form, who knows?
For now, enjoy and please, let me know if there are any that I’ve missed!
20 May 2021
🎞️📽️ Mortal Kombat Movie Review (2021) 🎞️📽️ #MortalKombatMovie #MortalKombat
The Mortal Kombat franchise is quite the behemoth, a string of games and spin-off titles since the early ‘90s that number over well over a dozen followed by two movies, an animated series and more recently, a collection of short online episodes.
As a more casual fan of the franchise – I like the original game, ‘95 movie and enjoyed a tickle at the most recent game – I was intrigued as to the approach this film would take, especially with the more visceral, over-the-top, recent entries in the videogame series.
It turns out that this particular incarnation of Mortal Kombat has some really golden moments in terms of fight sequences and nods to its gaming roots but tries to cram too much into its running time and ends up rushing through sequences and dancing between characters in a bid to keep all the razor-edged plates spinning.
19 May 2021
🐙 The Sinking City (enhanced) | Review | Xbox Series X | 8.5/10 (Ice Cool) | "The Best Lovecraft-Inspired Game Yet?" 🐙 @Frogwares #GameDev #IndieGames
Released to relatively positive reviews back in 2019, Frogwares’ The Sinking City wasn’t exactly a technical marvel, with most of the negativity focusing on the lengthy loading times and visual issues such as screen-tearing and an unreliable frame rate.
I fully intended to play the game upon its original release but it somehow slipped through the cracks and so I had no preconceptions of the title going into this review. I’m pleased to say that this enhanced version of The Sinking City really does seem to solve all the technical problems that it seems people had with the 2019 release and to me, stands up as one of – if not THE - best games based on Lovecraft’s works.
18 May 2021
🕵️🔪🩸 Hitman 3 | PS5 | Review | 9/10 | "A Fitting End To The World of Assassination Trilogy" 🕵️🔪🩸 @Hitman @IOInteractive
The Hitman series is one that I've played and loved for about 15 years and the 2006 entry Hitman: Blood Money specifically is one of my favourite games of all time.
The series has always been about the creative kills; drop a piano on an unsuspecting criminal, poison the mob boss’ morning gin, dress up as a clown and beat a villain to death with a frying pan at his child's birthday party etc.
It’s a series about creativity, of how cunning or sadistic can you be? My strategy would always be - try to plan something clever. Fail. Panic, ending up with bursting into a room, shooting the target and then hiding in the nearest bin.
📼 Tape Recovery Simulator 96K 📼 @cawigames #IndieGames #GameDev #RetroGaming
Tape Recovery Simulator 96K is a game focusing on recovering data off of reluctant old tapes.
During the 80's and early '90s, the audio analogue tape was one of the main storage mediums with a capacity of 600 Kb stored as actual sound.
It wasn't very reliable, to begin with, since tapes and tape recorders varied greatly in quality and compatibility.
If not stored properly, tapes have a tendency to degrade over time, especially if left near strong magnetic/electric fields (like cathode monitors/TVs, speakers, children, power sources, power plants, EMP bombs, any kind of star, ...).
Sometimes, some of the data can still be recovered even after decades of mistreatment.
Tape Recovery Simulator 96K builds new game mechanics around old data recovery tricks.
Caffeine Withdrawal Games’ philosophy is “games you haven’t played before” and TRS 96K is the perfect example of it.
17 May 2021
🐈 Rem Michalski - Harvester Games Interview 🐈
I’ve had the opportunity to interview some very cool people for Games Freezer in the past and the man behind Harvester Games – Rem Michalski – has been on my radar for a while. Having inhaled his games; Downfall, The Cat Lady and Lorelai (collectively known as ‘The Devil Came Though Here’ trilogy), I was casually checking up on possible release dates for his next project, Burnhouse Lane, when I stumbled across a limited vinyl release of The Cat Lady soundtrack through Stumpy Frog records.
After purchasing the album as quickly as physics would allow, my mind drifted back over Harvester Games’ output and it freshly dawned on me that they are good. REALLY good.
It’s always awesome to find out that the people behind adored creations are good folk and this was very much the case here, Rem is a cool guy that makes extremely memorable, high-quality games that everyone should play, quite frankly.
16 May 2021
💥 Star Renegades | Nintendo Switch | Ten Minute Taster | Gameplay | "The Stars Are The (break) Limit!" 💥🚀 @starrenegades #GameDev #IndieGames
A service robot named J5T-1N has arrived in your dimension to warn of impending doom from an overwhelming force known as the Imperium.
Fight for survival across a procedurally generated and emergent mission-based campaign through a reactive, tactical turn-based battle system that emphasizes interrupts and counters. Standing in your way is an Intelligent Adversary system with enemy officers that evolve and move up in the ranks.
As your band of heroes fall in the fight against invading Imperium and hope is all but lost, J5T-1N must be sent to the next dimension with everything you’ve learned to give the next group of heroes a chance to prevail. Each dimension and each playthrough is unique, challenging, and never the same.
15 May 2021
💣 Warpips | PC | Ten Minute Taster | Gameplay | Tutorial | "Pixel Pummelling Action!" 💣 @WarpipsGame #IndieGames #GameDev
14 May 2021
👎 Ploid | NES | Review | 4/10 | "It’s not very good " 👎 @PixelHunted @NapeGames #Nes #IndieGames #GameDev
But how do you evaluate an elephant’s painting?
This is the conundrum presented by Nape Games’ Ploid, a new NES game that runs on original hardware.
13 May 2021
👍🚗💨 Hitchhiker | Review | XBOX SERIES X | 6.5/10 | "A Slightly Surreal Trip With Some Bumps in The Road" @MadAboutPandas 👍🚗💨 @Hitchhiker_Game #IndieGames #GameDev
Hitchhiker is a great premise; you are a mysterious passenger trying to piece together your past through surreal journeys with a mix of drivers. The enclosed space meaning that puzzles must be inventive to be interesting and the idea of working out your history and motives from rolling conversations that come from possibly unreliable narrators is a solid start.
Unfortunately, Hitchhiker unravels slightly around the halfway mark, meaning that the last ninety minutes or so don’t stand up to the initial intrigue that propels the game forwards.
🔫 Narrative FPS Puzzler Claire De Lune Has 3 New Gameplay Trailers 🔫 @TacticStudios #IndieGames #GameDev
Announced in 2015, narrative FPS puzzler Claire de Lune has received not one, but three new Gameplay trailers!
With gameplay totalling more than 20 minutes, players get a glimpse at what Claire de Lune has to offer on its very own proprietary engine.
12 May 2021
🏘️ Before We Leave | PC | Ten Minute Taster | "Those Pesky Elevators!" 🏘️ @BalancingMonkey #GameDev #IndieGames
11 May 2021
💥 XIII Remastered | Review | PS5 | 3/10 | "A Very Unlucky Number" 💥
XIII was a game I had never played but it has always been on my radar. It’s a game I that I could see a screenshot of and instantly identify but never dipped my toes in, so when I saw it recently on sale, I thought - after 18 years, let’s finally give it a try and I picked up the remastered version.
Well, I was hoping for an action-packed, highly stylistic thrill ride… That is not what I got. This remastered version just feels soulless. It has a real emptiness and everything about it feels hollow.
10 May 2021
🏔️ Insurmountable | PC | Gameplay | Ten minute Taster | "Beware The Herb Goats!" 🏔️ @Insurmountgame #GameDev #IndieGames
9 May 2021
🤖 Orbital Bullet | PC | Gameplay | Ten minute Taster | "Run Circles Round Those Robots!" 🤖 @SmokeStab #GameDev #IndieGames
8 May 2021
🎲 Ashwalkers: A Survival Journey | PC | Ten Minute Taster | "A Mysterious Point & Click Adventure" 🎲 @DearVillagers #IndieGames #GameDev
7 May 2021
🤖 Terminator: Resistance Enhanced | PS5 | Review | 7/10 | "Saviour of humanity or just another game to be terminated?" 🤖 @Reef_Games #GameDev #IndieGames
I really love the Terminator franchise and by that I mean I really love the first two films, the rest of the franchise consists of a lot of lows but those first two films are such highs. This game sums up the franchise well, as it has great highs and low lows.
6 May 2021
🐺 Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood | PC | Review | 7/10 | "All This Began To Add Up Into A Good Time"🐺 @DevespressoG @PixelHunted #IndieGames #GameDev
When I get to hell they’re going to be playing electro-swing. If you haven’t had the pleasure, this is a music genre that dropped right out of the devil’s arsehole: an unholy jazz-era pastiche of big beats and brass primarily enjoyed by twats with overly groomed moustaches, waistcoats and top hats. I would rather have needles jammed into my spine.
Scarlet Hood and the Wicked Wood opens with electro-swing. Its heroine is the lead singer in a band called *sigh* Foxtrot Bop (they all have terrible names like this) and we meet them on their way to their make or break gig. This is, to say the least, not a promising beginning. My tolerance levels for this garbage are measured in seconds rather than hours and I strongly considered tapping out right then and there.
Then a tornado whisks Scarlet Hood off to an Oz-like fantasy land and, save for a few unpleasant tootly moments on the repetitive soundtrack, the awful electro-swing band plot is abandoned.
5 May 2021
📘 Bitmap Books – Game Boy: The Box Art Collection | Book Review By Britt | "an extremely tasty tome" 📘 @bitmap_books #RetroGaming #GameBoy
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Bitmap Books’ prior releases and so was keen to get hips deep in this, their most recent project. The book definitely lived up to the weighty expectations and really feels of a high quality throughout its almost 400-page heft.
4 May 2021
🪔 The Official Release Date for Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is May 28th 2021 🪔 #IndieGames #GameDev
The official release for Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World for the Western retail release for both physical and digital Nintendo Switch and PS4 versions will be on May 28th 2021 for North America, Europe and Australia!
The retail editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 will be available for €39.99 / $39.99 / £34.99 and include the original Monster World IV exclusively.
3 May 2021
🖌️ Tools Up | Nintendo Switch | Ten Minute Taster | "Don't Cry Over Spilt Paint" 🖌️ @AllinGamesPub #IndieGames #GameDev
2 May 2021
🔎 The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark | Nintendo Switch | Review | 8/10 | "More Top-Notch, Spooky, Point n Click Shenanigans" 🔎 @spookydoorway #GameDev #IndieGames
I reviewed the original Darkside Detective back in 2017 (https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2017/10/review-darkside-detective-welcome-to.html) and found it a really fun and funny experience.
This sequel continues in very much the same vein, if you were a fan of the original, this is a smooth and high-quality continuation but the way in which the story begins and progresses, you’d need to be aware of the events of the first game to really understand what’s going on and get full enjoyment out of the experience.















































