🏝️🐒 It's Time To Return to Monkey Island 🏝️🐒 #RetroGaming #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Announcing Return to Monkey Island, 

the long-awaited follow-up to the legendary Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge by Ron Gilbert's Terrible Toybox in collaboration with Devolver Digital and Lucasfilm Games, coming 2022.

https://returntomonkeyisland.com/

📖 The Games Freezer Book Is OUT NOW! | The Pixel Art Compendium OF Video Games Consoles, Computers & Handhelds 📖 @gamesfreezer #PixelArt #SelfPublished

I've always fancied having my own video games book published and during lockdown 2020 I began a journey to write and illustrate my very first book. 

Today I proudly present to you The Games Freezer Book. A Pixel Art Illustrated Compendium of Video Games Consoles, Computers and Handhelds.

📖 Amazon Link: Games Freezer Book 📖

🚀This Means Warp | PC | Gameplay | "Overcooked In Space?" 🚀 @OutlierSocial #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

 

This Means Warp is a co-op space survival fun, Jim, but not as we know it. This Means Warp is an intense spaceship management rogue-lite experience for 1-4 players. Explore a procedurally generated universe, upgrade your ship, battle truly dangerous enemies and adapt your strategies to survive in a hostile universe.

🔪 Dread X Collection 5 Releases on Steam in April 2022 🔪@DreadXP_ #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Independent horror publisher and production company DreadXP is back to spotlight the second half of games included in Dread X Collection 5, the latest entry in its popular anthology horror game series.

Based around the theme of “entertainment”, the last batch of sinister titles included in Dread X Collection 5 invites players into the glitz and glam of Hollywood, a karaoke bar toilet, an abandoned daycare, a haunted puppet show, and even Finland in the year 1888... 

Are you ready for some terror?

🎶🎻 Saturday 2nd April | Two FREE Streaming Sessions | 8-Bit Symphony 2 is being recorded in Prague by the Czech Studio Orchestra 🎶🎻 @C64Audio #VideoGameMusic

8-Bit Symphony Pro Orchestra FREE Live Stream

On Saturday 2nd April, in two free streaming sessions, 8-Bit Symphony 2 is being recorded in Prague by the Czech Studio Orchestra! 

A successfully crowdfunded project, tune in to watch this world-class 80-piece orchestra playing pieces of music from such seminal games as Thing on a Spring, Defender of the Crown, Hunter patrol, Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts and Last Ninja as well as a Ben Daglish piece from the game Ark Pandora.

🎮💿📖 INTRODUCING THE WORLD OF CROIX-NOIRE | GRAPHIC NOVEL, ROBLOX GAME AND ALBUM LAUNCHED SIMULTANEOUSLY 💿📖🎮 @croixnoire1

Mike Batt, Jean-Charles Capelli, David Quantick, Mike Collins and DUBIT Games collaborate on a unique multimedia adventure

www.croixnoire.com

 

“Welcome to the armpit of the world. Did I say armpit? That’s way too kind. Think of somewhere lower down where the sun never shines.” 

Ace Hansel Jr, Guardian of Croix-Noire

 

Step into the world of Croix-Noire, but watch your back. This is not the safest place to be. 

Croix-Noire is one of the roughest areas in France, full of deadbeats, drug addicts and hookers. And that’s just the municipal library!

 

Spearheaded by huge names in the comic, game and music industries, the dangerous world of Croix-Noire will take the form of a 140-page graphic novel, a game hosted on the ROBLOX platform and a full-length music album. 

💿 Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy | Vinyl | Review | Mondo Records 💿 @MondoNews @pinchemoreno #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

https://mondoshop.com/collections/all/products/marvels-guardians-of-the-galaxy-official-video-game-soundtrack-2xlp

A very different beast to the last Marvel soundtrack I covered on the site (https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/10/spider-man-original-video-game.html) Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy takes the approach of having a double-disc setup featuring two incredibly different genres of music.

💀 Dungeons Of Dreadrock | PC | Gameplay | "Beautiful Pixel Art Dungeon Puzzle Rooms" 💀 @DoctorFunfrock #IndieGameDev #IndieGame

 

Dungeons Of Dreadrock revives the Spirit of 1980's home computer RPGs for contemporary audiences and platforms. Fight and puzzle your way through 100 hand-crafted levels into the ancient depths of Dreadrock Mountain. Relive memories of old-school dungeon crawlers from a new perspective.

🎙️ ROCCAT Torch | USB Microphone | Review | "GF Recommended!" 🎙️ @ROCCAT

https://uk.roccat.com/products/torch

Having covered – and been impressed by - the ROCCAT Magma keyboard last week, I was keen to check out the Torch - ROCCAT’s USB microphone, which comes with a mixer base.

Details:

• Sample/Bit Rate: 48kHz,
• 24-bit with optional selection for 44.1kHz
• Capsules: 2 × ROCCAT Proprietary ∅14 × 6.5mm condenser capsules
• Pickup Patterns: Cardioid, Stereo, Whisper (ROCCAT Proprietary)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Max SPL: 110dB
• Zero-latency 3.5mm, 4-Pole headphone socket

🗝️☢️ Dead Man's Diary | PC | Gameplay | "Lock Pick Simulator 2022" ☢️🗝️@TMLStudios #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

 
Dead Man's Diary drops you into a fictitious post-apocalyptic world, 15 years after a catastrophe, you have to leave your nuclear shelter and explore a world devoid of human life. 

On your own, you must find a way to survive (and pick a lot of locks)

💿📀 The Songs of Time (Vinyl) | “A Melancholy Tribute to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” | Composer: Daniel Collins (TPR) 💿📀@TheMangoMage

Record Label: Mango Mage Records & Respawned Records (a collaborative release)

Product Link -

https://www.mangomagerecords.com/products/the-songs-of-time-by-tpr-king-of-thieves-var?variant=39835808366797

“A Melancholy Tribute to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”

Being as loved as the Zelda franchise is, there are several takes on the music from the series out there, of which I’m most familiar with Mikel’s Zelda & Chill. Mango Mage’s The Songs of Time, composed by TPR actually acts as a fantastic companion piece to Zelda & Chill in that the groovy, night-time trip-hop of the latter leads beautifully into the hazy morning mellowness of the former. I found myself really letting the music of The Songs of Time wash over me in the mornings, sipping a coffee in the early sunshine, it perfectly matches that ‘dawn of the day’ mood with its tinkling, relaxing melodies.

🎮 Great Deals Currently Live on the GameSir Range of Mobile Game Controllers 🎮

GameSir is currently running a promotion across Amazon. 

In the UK, they have 15% off the T4 Mini game controller between March 21 to March 27 (ideal for travelling gamers or those with smaller hands!). 

In the US, Amazon has 15% off the X2 series of mobile gaming controllers from March 28^th to April 3^rd – available in Bluetooth and Type-C. 

📲📱 What Are The Kids Apps That Collect The MOST and LEAST Data? 📲📱

In this day and age, it's not uncommon for kids to have access to digital devices.

And there's no arguing that there are lots of gaming apps for kids to choose from.

 

But which apps collect the most personal data?

💿 Across The Worlds – Chrono Cross Wayo Piano Collection | Wayo Records 💿 @WayoRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl @WayRecordsJP

Purchase Link

“Created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Chrono Cross in November 1999 (Japan) and August 2000 (USA), Across the Worlds is an arrangement album licensed by the Japanese music right-holders Septima Ley and Procyon Studio (Yasunori Mitsuda’s company). This album is the concretization of a long time dream to create a high-class piano solo album featuring the music from the legendary game, arranged, designed and produced with veteran Japanese video game artists.

🎎 Shadow Warrior 3 | XSX | Review | 7.5/10 | "More Wang Than You Can Shake a Shotgun At" 🎎 @ShadowWarrior #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

I’ve had a pretty good time with the Shadow Warrior games since their reboot in 2013 and, upon finishing the second title, I remember being completely in the zone, pumped up for the third entry in the series.

Now that it’s here…I enjoyed my time with the game, but the changes to design and focus – whilst I can clearly appreciate their appeal to some – removed some of the joy for me.

🖱️ Trust Gaming Launches The Redex Low Latency, Wireless Gaming Mouse in The UK 🖱️ @TrustGaming

 Redex features a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 50 hours of continuous playtime and durable Kailh mechanical switches that last up to 80 million clicks.

Trust Electronics has announced the GXT 908 Redex low latency wireless gaming mouse with durable Kailh mechanical switches. 

The Trust GXT 908 Redex low latency wireless gaming mouse is available for £34.99 from Amazon.

🥚Egglia : Rebirth | Nintendo Switch Review | 6/10 | "You Gotta Break Some eggs To Make An Omelette" 🥚 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

I picked up Egglia Rebirth and I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. It's actually a redesigned mobile game that has had the trappings of mobile microtransactions removed and has been remade/remastered/rebirthed over onto the trusty Nintendo Switch where every single game that ever existed must now reside. 

So does Egglia's move from mobile to Switch land sunny side up or are we left with egg on our faces?

⚔️ Dark Deity | Nintendo Switch | Review | 9/10 | "A Shining Example of The Genre" ⚔️ @DarkDeityGame #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

A Kickstarter funded title from developers Sword and Axe LLC, released through Freedom Games - Dark Deity was brought to my attention through an innocuous press release.

Initially, upon seeing a few screenshots – and thus the anime-styled character portraits, combined with blocks of dialogue– I foolishly assumed that it was a visual novel and my expectations dropped accordingly…until I watched the trailer.

⌨️ ROCCAT | Magma Keyboard | Review | "GF Approved!" ⌨️ @ROCCAT #GamingKeyboard

Product Link - https://uk.roccat.com/products/magma

“The ROCCAT® Magma™ Membrane RGB Gaming Keyboard is ideal for RGBA enthusiasts seeking a competitive gaming keyboard. Its top plate is fully illuminated in 16.8 million RGB colours and AIMO compatible, making it ready for stunning lighting showcases. Featuring silent membrane keys, ROCCAT Easy-Shift[+] technology, a detachable palm rest and a low maintenance design.”

Features:

• 5-zone, 10-LED 16.8m colour RGBA backlighting

• Semi-transparent top plate

• Solid and responsive typing with silent membrane keys

• Advanced anti-ghosting technology

• AIMO lighting engine

• Detachable palm rest

• ROCCAT Easy-Shift[+]® button duplicator

• 2-year manufacturer warranty

A key part of any working or gaming day is the trusty keyboard. I’ve used dozens in my time, and a keyboard that isn’t up to scratch can affect everything, from constant typos to missed opportunities in myriad games – plus, using a keyboard that doesn’t feel right just removes the fun and flow from whatever it is that you are doing.

🧟 Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7/10 | "Lots of fun is pinball. And zombies!" 🧟 @ZingGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Pinball. Who doesn’t like pinball? The clanking, the bumpers, the desire to be on that top score leaderboard, the dreaded tilt. Lots of fun is pinball. And zombies! Who doesn’t like zombies? Well, obviously I’d rather they weren’t in my house or attempting to eat what little brains I have left, but as a cultural concept, zombies are great!

So naturally, when I heard that there was a zombie pinball game, I wanted in. Then I looked a bit closer... zombie pinball roguelike with tower defence elements, kinda?! WTF?! (Note to parents and younger readers – by this I mean Wow, That’s Fun?!). 

Naturally, I was fascinated and needed to know more. If you’re fascinated and need to know more, well, read on.

That’s kind of the point of me sitting here.

🐕 Samorost 2 | Soundtrack (Vinyl) | Tomas Dvorak (Floex) | "Dvorak’s singularly idiosyncratic approach can be felt in full force here" 🐕 @Amanita_Design #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

https://merch.amanita-design.net/products/samorost-2-soundtrack-by-floex-double-vinyl

The work of Amanita Design often features somewhere in my end-of-year lists, such is the quality of their releases, and this soundtrack from Samorost 2 is no different in terms of the quality and talent that it brings to the (turn)table.

🎶 Yann Latour Interview 🎶 @_YannLatour #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl #VideoGameMusic

Following my recent coverage of Yann Latour’s -very good - ENCODYA soundtrack, I was keen to know more about him, as I’d not previously been aware of his work.

He kindly responded and our subsequent chat is below, enjoy!

🤼 WWE 2K22 | XSX | Review | 7/10 | “Bad Times Don’t Last, But Bad Guys Do” 🤼 #WWE2K22 @WWEgames

I've always said that WWE games’ motto could be, ‘one step forward, two steps back’, every year they would add something new… while removing other modes, matches or making other aspects worse.

Now, it's almost impossible to make a game worse than WWE 2K20, it was a completely broken and buggy mess, so, like many - after a two-year hiatus I was excited to see if they could rejuvenate the franchise and clean up the mess that had plagued the previous entry.

I'm going to go through the modes in the order of how I played them, as I think it gives a good insight into the game and what makes it good, as well as what needs some more attention in the next entry. 

🐔🥔 No Place Like Home | PC | Gameplay | Early Access | "A Relaxing Sim With A Hoover" 🐔🥔 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

No Place Like Home - Humanity Trashed the Earth and left for Mars. Only a few remained. EXPLORE the world. Clean the environment, CRAFT with recycled resources. Domesticate animals. Rebuild your village. Restore the environment and run your own post-apocalyptic FARM as there is No Place Like Home!

⚔️ Edge of Eternity | PS5 | Review | 7/10 | “A Love Letter to Final Fantasy” ⚔️ @EoeGame @MidgarStudio #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Edge of Eternity started life as a Kickstarter project, the small French developer ‘Midgar Studios’ clearly took inspiration from Final Fantasies of old - I mean, the clue is in the name of the studio. Now, I have talked in a few reviews of how ‘love letters’ can go one of two ways, they can wonderfully create a new but familiar experience, or they can just be a carbon copy with little identity of their own.

Edge of Eternity has flaws that are revealed very early on. Technical issues were clearly visible, you can see that Edge of Eternity is made on a small budget, character animations are awkward, draw distances and texture pop-in occurs, but despite all the technical flaws, I found the game quite charming with a lot of interesting ideas. I will say that not all of them land, but on the whole, it was an experience I enjoyed, and I feel that the game captured the magic of older JRPGS, whilst still feeling fresh.

🤠 Unavowed | Nintendo Switch | Review | 9.5/10 | "Taking The Crown" 🤠 @WadjetEyeGames #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

I was asked, “do you want to review a game called Primordia?” -which I did, and it was a great game – and then I had a message that read, “I got excited and grabbed an Unavowed code for you as well.” - so this game was a complete surprise for me, I knew it was one of my brother's favourite adventure games, which meant it had lofty expectations.

Having huge expectations is always a double-edged sword, it’s great that a game is held in such high esteem, but if you don’t enjoy it as others have, there is a huge let-down and that sometimes creates a bigger negative feeling towards the game - anyone who is on Twitter can attest to this.

Luckily, Unavowed is an absolutely amazing game, and now holds the crown of being my favourite graphic adventure game of all time, sorry The Secret of Monkey Island, it has been a good 31-year streak.

🪱 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.

📷 Martha is Dead | XSX | Review | 7/10 | "The Lady of The Lake" 📷 @WiredP #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Set in Tuscany during wartime (1944), Martha is Dead is a dark and sinister rural horror title that covers a lot of ground that will have players clearing their throat or possibly adjusting their spectacles in discomfort, as this isn’t a game that shies away from visceral thrills.

🏎️🌪️ Moto Roader MC | PS4 | Review | 6/10 | "Burnin' Retro Rubber!" 🏎️🌪️ @RatalaikaGames #Retrogaming #IndieGameDev

Moto Roader was originally released in 1989 as a futuristic racing game developed by NCS for the PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16.

Since then it has been ported over to the Wii and Wii U Virtual Consoles. Now in the year of video games 2022, we have a port that is hitting Xbox, Switch, PS4 and PS5.

🤼‍♂️ Action Arcade Wrestling | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7.5/10 | "Ric Flair controversially won, causing my nan, in her 60s at the time, to shout abuse at the TV. " 🤼‍♂️ @AAWGame #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

If you grew up in the late 80s-early 90s, you either got wrestling or you didn't. I have memories of watching WWF (as it was) on a Saturday at my dad's house, with characters like Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake, who did actually cut his opponents' hair off from time to time, or Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, who brought snakes with him to ringside (pretty sure neither would happen these days). 

I also remember watching the 1992 Royal Rumble at my grandparents' house, where Ric Flair controversially won, causing my nan, in her 60s at the time, to shout abuse at the TV. 

With family like this, it's not surprising that I'm one of the ones who got it.

🏐⚽️ Bang On Balls Chronicles | PC | Gameplay | Early Access | "Watch Me Bang My Balls" ⚾️🏀 @bangonballs #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Bang-On Balls: Chronicles is an oddball of a 3D platforming game with a collect-a-thon spin! Become a reckless hero as you do missions, collect items and search for secrets rolling through various (inaccurate) historical events!

🔊 Tronsmart Bang 60 Watt Portable Speaker with Light Show, Patented TuneConn™ Technology and Four Drivers 🔊

I just saw this speaker press release pop into the Games Freezer mailbox and now I'm excited about the launch of Tronsmart’s newest speaker, the BANG 60W.

The new speaker has some great features with Built-in Power Bank and the ability to link with up to 100 other Bang Speakers, for amplified sound.

The Bang 60W is IPX6 Waterproof and also comes with a built-in Power Bank. 

How handy is that?

🤖 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.

📷 35mm | PS4 | Review | 4/10 | "The very last task you’re given is to find three batteries hidden in a city..." 📷 @PixelHunted

When the apocalypse arrives it’ll probably be kinda boring. Games like Fallout, The Last of Us, and Days Gone are all razzle-dazzle combat, world-changing drama, and malformed flesh-eating monsters to mulch.

Contrast that with 35mm, in which I spent an hour trudging through an abandoned village trying to find a bucket so I could use a grubby broken-down well. Let’s face it, that’s probably a more realistic scenario for you if civilisation collapsed.

💿💽 ENCODYA | An Original Soundtrack by Yann Latour | Vinyl Review 💿💽 @_YannLatour #vinylrecords #videogamemusic #videogamevinyl

I’ve covered a lot of records over the last few years, but ENCODYA stands out as one of the most memorable. An almost purely ambient release devoid -for the most part – of beats, drums or percussion, the layers of mood and scene are punctuated by guest spots of organic instrumentation that add character and identity whilst never deviating too far from the focus on melodic simplicity.

An album that really set me in a (much appreciated) zen-like state. Good.

🐔🥔 No Place Like Home | PC | Gameplay | Early Access | "A Relaxing Farming Sim With A Hoover" 🐔🥔 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

No Place Like Home - Humanity Trashed the Earth and left for Mars. Only a few remained. EXPLORE the world. Clean the environment, CRAFT with recycled resources. Domesticate animals. Rebuild your village. Restore the environment and run your own post-apocalyptic FARM as there is No Place Like Home!

🤖 Blackwind | Xbox Series X | Review | 3/10 | "Groundhog Slay" 🤖 @drakkardev @maxharvey79 #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

My first impressions of Blackwind were positive. I’m a fan of the mecha anime aesthetic, and the story of a boy having to use a super-powered robot suit (à la Titanfall) to battle enemies and rescue his father, was an appealing prospect. The voice acting is a little cheesy, but I felt like it set the scene well, with an AI voice in the suit giving instructions that worked as a tutorial without that being too contrived.

But. 

BUT.

⚔️ Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection | Six games - 21 versions - In One Limited Edition Collection ⚔️ #Retrogaming #WonderBoyCollection

Strictly Limited Games is looking forward to the pre-order start for the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection on March 6th.

In the course of this announcement, they also revealed the extensive list of games that will be included in this very special collection of one of the most influential series from gaming’s past.

⚽️🥅 GOAL! - The Club Manager | "A Challenger For The Football Manager Crown?" ⚽️🥅 @Toplitz_Prod

This is an interesting piece of news about a Football Management sim that passed me by and is now ready for a reboot...

First released in 1993, the series is considered a milestone for realistic sports management mixing tactical depth with deep involvement in all areas of the club from finances to stadium extensions and a deep youth system while adding a healthy dose of humour. 

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, 2tainment and Toplitz Productions are looking forward to working together on this title to deliver a memorable experience as a club manager to gamers.

🥊KAO The Kangaroo | PC | Gameplay | The 3D Kangaroo Platformer 🦘 @Kaothekangaroo #IndieGameDev #IndieGame

 

Inspired by the golden age of 3D Platformers, Kao The Kangaroo returns in a whole new adventure! Embark on an epic journey, master magical gloves, explore lush environments and take Kao through his most grand tale yet!

🦖Elex II | XSX Review | 6.5/10 | "More RPG action from the team behind the Gothic and Risen series" 🦖 @Piranha_Bytes #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

When I came across Elex in 2017, it really made an impact on me. I resonated with the dry humour that was scattered throughout the game and, whilst it had technical issues, the sense of character that ran throughout made it stand out from the crowd, despite not being a graphical showcase.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this sequel and, whilst it retains the humour and fixes some problems that were present in the first game, I couldn’t quite relax fully, due to some vague mission design and implementation which ultimately marred the experience.

📷 Martha Is Dead | PC | Gameplay | First 20 Minutes | "A Massive Twist Within The First 20 Minutes!" 📷 #IndieGames #IndieGame #GameDev @MarthaisDead @LkaGames @WiredP

Martha Is Dead is a dark first-person psychological thriller, set in 1944 Italy, that blurs the lines between reality, superstition and the tragedy of war.