Little Kitty, Big City XSX Review 7.5/10 "The purr-fect game to play with kids" 😸 🏙️ @LittleKittyGame #IndieGame #GameDev

It’s an interesting time in our household, as we have a three year old son who is just getting his feet wet in terms of gaming. I always keep an eye out for suitable releases to enjoy with him, and when we received the press release for Little Kitty, Big City, my dad-gaming eyes lit up. What we ended up enjoying was a wonderfully cute, fun game that wasn’t without its flaws, but the charm and family factor shines through, meaning that you’ll have a great time if you approach little Kitty, Big City with an open and curious mind...much like a kitten, in fact.

Little Kitty, Big City begins as very much a story of highs and lows, there you are – sunning yourself on your owner’s balcony when disaster strikes and you find yourself falling to street level, many floors below. Your quest? To get back to your favourite napping spot!

Skeler Boy Nintendo Switch Review 6.5/10 "a pop culture, pixel mystery" 🔦 @MANIACBOYSTUDIO #IndieGame #GameDev

Skeler Boy comes at us from Maniac Boy Studio, a Spanish studio that certainly know how to create a great-looking, atmospheric world, but lose some lustre due to a poor translation and some seemingly hurried concepts.

The titular Skeler is a young man searching for his missing girlfriend, Megan. Set purely at night, Skeler roams the city and surrounding locations in a bid to get to the bottom of what has happened to his girlfriend as he swirls further and further into a vortex of - possible – madness. It’s a simple and yet robust premise for some good old-fashioned creepiness in this top-down pixel adventure. 

The vast majority of the gameplay comes from discovering ways to move past certain obstacles, such as locating wire cutters for a fence, or working out how to get access to a boat to cross a river etc. the pacing is pretty solid, and the adventure will only take a couple of hours to see through to the end.

Loretta Xbox Series X Review 8/10 “Spiralling Down” ☠️🍶 @yabutuzoff #IndieGame #GameDev

Set in 1947, you control Loretta - a housewife who has murdered her husband, having finally had enough of his drinking, gambling, cheating ways - and decided to take matters into her own hands.

The game opens with a detective investigating his disappearance, he has come to question Loretta and have a look around the farm and it is here where we gain control of the titular character.

Early on you are presented with the choices that will shape her fate, I made the decision to try and poison the detective and… well… let’s just say it ‘didn’t go well’.

Throughout your time with this game you will get the chance to make important decisions such as should you higher your kill count or resist your murderous temptations and see if you can break free, and escape your current predicament.

The Next Dragon Age Video Game (Formerly Known As Dreadwolf) Has A New Name! ⚔️

BioWare Studio’s General Manager and Executive Producer on Dragon Age, Gary McKay, published a blog post this morning sharing some new news around the next Dragon Age game - which has a new name.

In the blog, Gary reveals the new title Dragon Age: The Veilguard and provides background and context on their decision to change the name.

Each of the seven unique characters that make up your companions will have deep and compelling storylines where the decisions you make will impact your relationships with them – as well as their lives. 

You’ll unite this team of unforgettable heroes as you take on a terrifying new threat unleashed on the world. Naturally, the Dread Wolf still has an important part in this tale, but you and your companions – not your enemies – are the heart of this new experience.

So, to capture what this game is all about, we changed the name as the original title didn’t show just how strongly we feel about our new heroes, their stories and how you’ll need to bring them together to save all of Thedas.”

We proudly introduce to you Dragon Age™: The Veilguard.

Also, as promised on Dragon Age day last year, the team at BioWare has also set the date for the official gameplay reveal for Dragon Age: The Veilguard on June 11 at 8:00 am PT at the at the Dragon Age YouTube channel where they’ll be showcasing 15 minutes of gameplay from the opening moments of the game.

LINKS:

Dragon Age Day 2023 – BioWare Blog

https://www.youtube.com/@dragonage

The Next Dragon Age Has a New Title – BioWare Blog

Coffee Talk EP.2 – Official Soundtrack Vinyl Review By Britt ☕️📀@blackscreenrec #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Having played – and enjoyed – the Coffee Talk games on Switch, I was excited to get the chance to really delve into the soundtrack, as I’m a big fan of hypnotic, trip-hop music – and the music was such a big part of Coffee Talk, enriching the atmosphere off the game without being intrusive or too abstract.

The nascent (well, to me at least!) ‘cosy’ genre revels in acting as a digital hug to its fans, and the music of Coffee Talk excels at this. It also arrived at a great time for me personally, as it was quite a stressful time related to family illness, and I’d had trouble settling on something to listen to as I worked, in my then-current state of mind my usual podcasts seemed irritating, familiar music grated on me, and I lacked the energy to seek out fresh sounds.

And so, when Coffee Talk Ep.2 arrived, it was a balm to my ears and mind, turning out to be exactly what I needed.

KUDZU Nintendo Switch Review 8/10 "A great title with Game Boy Roots" 🕹️ @PFBStudios #IndieGame #GameDev

Originally released as a physical Game Boy cartridge and now ported to the Switch, Kudzu – especially at its current price point – feels a steal for those who have a soft spot for adventures on Nintendo’s classic handheld.

The player takes control of tea-loving gardener protagonist Max, who goes off on a quest in search of his master, Zoen, who has seemingly lost his mind and wandered off into the ever-expanding fields of Kudzu that surround their home town.

Felix The Cat Nintendo Switch Gameplay 🐈 #RetroGaming

 

Rich takes a leap into Felix The Cat on the Nintendo Switch as it comes back for a remaster. The Platforming is tough and it's retro, just the way we like/hate them. Watch Rich play the NES, Famicom and GameBoy versions as he struggles with precision jumps and enemies nipping at his heels!

Rainbow Cotton Review 3/10 By Pixel Hunted "Seeing Rainbow Cotton back on sale is genuinely surreal" 🧹🧙‍♀️ @ININ_Games

You really can’t polish a turd. We live in a renaissance for video game remasters, remakes, and re-releases, where even the most obscure titles can be given a lick of paint and sent out into the wild world of digital storefronts.

But, even in a world where the likes of Baten Kaitos, Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninjas and Famicom Detective Club have been exhumed from their mouldering gaming graves, seeing Rainbow Cotton back on sale is genuinely surreal.

Bootleg Steamer PC Review 7.5/10 "Booze Overboard!" 🚢🍸🍷🍺 @TeamJunkfish #IndieGame #GameDev

Rich gives his verdict on the 1920s Prohibition Booze smuggling Sim Bootleg Steamer on the PC. Can he become liquor slinger and make a tidy profit?

Puppet Seed PC Gameplay @PuppetSeed #GameDev #IndieGame

Rich tries Puppet Seed and collects humanoid and monster companions from 8 races, each with their own regions, settlements and elemental affinities. Spend stat and skill points to gain new abilities for your team and player character. Mix different squad compositions in real-time combat while exploring on foot or by vehicle.

Stacklands for Nintendo Switch | The First 20 Minutes 🃏 @sokpopco #IndieGame #GameDev

🎮 Rich plays Stacklands which is a village builder where you stack cards to collect food, build structures, and fight creatures. 

Dragging a ‘Villager’ card on top of a ‘Berry Bush’ card spawns ‘Berry’ cards that villagers can eat to survive! Dive into this card-based construction and management game, and create your own thriving village. Available now on Nintendo Switch! 🌟🏰🃏

Brawl Stars best build for Colette: Star Power, Gadget & Gears ⚙️🌟

This comprehensive guide will delve into the optimal Gadget, Star Power, and Gear selections for Colette, empowering you to harness her full potential across various game modes. With Colette's unique ability to inflict damage proportional to her target's health, she emerges as a potent contender against all Brawlers within the dynamic realm of Brawl Stars.

If you want to get the Colette, but don't have enough Gems, brawls stars top up is a good choice for the players.

Galacticare PC Gameplay "Theme Hospital In Space!" 💊💉🩺 @Galacticare #IndieGame #GameDev

Rich takes his first steps into the galaxy of Galcticare as he builds his first set of treatment rooms IN SPACE! Rich Says: "Theme Hospital & 2Point Hospital in space with a lovely dose of humour. The game is not overly complex and breezes along at a decent pace in the first hour of play. Lovely design and a great tutorial. I think I'll be putting more hours into this in the future."

Bridging the Gap Between Retro Gaming and Modern Sports Betting🕹️🪙

Remember the excitement of playing your favourite retro games back in the day? Those pixelated graphics, simple yet addictive gameplay, and the sheer joy of setting a new high score. Now, think about the thrill of placing a bet on your favourite sports team, eagerly watching the game unfold, and seeing if luck and strategy are on your side. 

While these two activities might seem completely different, they share surprising similarities that captivate both gamers and bettors. If you're curious to see euro 2024 odds, you'll find that blending these interests can be a fun and engaging experience.

MEGA REMIX MAN (2).exe Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee 💿📀 @RoboRobMusic #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Firaga Records and Materia Music combine once more to bring us the second instalment of producer RoboRob’s take on music from Mega Man. As with all Firaga releases, the presentation is the first thing you notice. 

The single clear vinyl record comes in a very nice gatefold jacket and illustrated inner sleeve, both by Leon Tukker. Ten tracks are presented here from across Capcom’s series, mainly the numbered instalments but with one from outlier Mega Man & Bass. 

VGM Essentials: Halloween Vinyl Review By Lo Fi Lee 💿📀 @FiragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

We’re back with another instalment in Firaga Records’ VGM Essentials series, this one taking on the spooky side of remixing with ten tracks split across a single disc. Artwork and presentation are of the usual high Firaga standard, with a printed jacket with artwork by Gingko housing a record pressed on pumpkin orange vinyl in a plain black sleeve.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 “Quack the case!” 🦆 @happybroccgames #GameDev #IndieGame

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a fan of short adventures that can be enjoyed of an evening, and, being a bit burned out on huge games at present, the case files of Eugene McQuacklin, duck detective extraordinaire was of huge appeal to me, I’m also a keen salami fan, so there was no way that Duck Detective: The Secret Salami couldn’t NOT be amazing, quite frankly.

Video Game LOFI – Celeste | Vinyl Review By Britt "recommended listening for lazy Sunday afternoons or boozy, woozy evenings" 🍓@nokbient #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Games can mean a lot to people, anyone who has read my Tux and Fanny review will know this. Celeste is a game that several of my close friends hold dear, and often refer to when discussions of ‘the best games ever’ crops up. As such, I was acutely aware of the regard in which Celeste is held, the soundtrack especially – and so I was curious how the music would be treated here by Nokbient.

From Nokbient’s Bandcamp:

Just breathe.

You can do this.

Slow down with ephemeral beats and drifting melodies, and wave-dash lofi melodies from Celeste Mountain directly into your subconscious. Join producer Nokbient as they explore a chill reimagining of Lena Raine's soundtrack to the 2018 indie game phenomenon Celeste by Maddie Makes Games.

"Special thanks to Rob Anderson and Bas van den Eersten for their help on this album. Without your friendship and incredible musical ability, this album wouldn't have happened. You have truly elevated this project to a whole new level, and I can't thank you enough for that. Additional thanks to Lena Raine and the entire Maddy Makes Games team for their incredible work on Celeste, an experience which touched my heart and helped me get through a difficult moment in my life, and one I strived to honor with this album. From the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone. Made with love for those who listen." - Noel Keith (Nokbient)

Return to Monkey Island gets its first merch line, and it’s available NOW! 🏴‍☠️ @terribletoybox

🏴‍☠️ Ahoy, Monkey Island fans! Terrible Toybox’s Return to Monkey Island delighted fans and critics alike when it launched in 2022, and now they are thrilled to keep the adventure alive with some fantastic merch.

🌟 Devolver Digital and Laced, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, proudly unveil an overflowing treasure chest of Return to Monkey Island clothing, accessories, and other goodies—available now!

👕 Want shirts? We’ve got 'em! Wrap yourself in threads featuring the infamous evil ghost pirate LeChuck, the fast-talking ship salesman Sam T. Stanman, the all-powerful demonic skull Murray, and even the iconic Big Whoop Amusement Park.

🏖️ Planning a Return to Monkey Island themed beach party? We’ve got you covered! Grab a beach towel adorned with the fishy emblem of the CHUM, or sip an ice-cold beverage from one of our tastefully designed drink glasses.

Get ready to set sail and embrace the nostalgia! 🌴🍹🗝️

[Explore the Return to Monkey Island merch here!]

INDIKA PC Gameplay "This Nun Is On The Run" 📿✝️ @11bitstudios #IndieGame #GameDev @Odd_Meter_Games

Rich takes a look at Indika the new game from 11 Bit Studios and finds out that there's more to taking water from a well than meets the eye...