Britt’s Nintendo Switch Mini-Review Round Up: PART 1 🎮 #IndieGames #GameDev

We get sent a lot of games here at GF, and as we are such a small team it’s sadly inevitable that we don’t get around to fully covering every game that is kindly sent to us. The below are a selection of titles that have been on the pending pile for far, far too long, and so I thought I would shine a light on them. As these reviews are far shorter than our usual coverage, I won’t be scoring these numerically, just highlighting them for fans of the genre and mentioning any stand-out features – hopefully we come across a couple of hidden gems!

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | PC Gameplay | "BEWARE OF THE DOGS!" ⚱️🏺🗿 #IndianaJonesandTheGreatCircle

Rich dons his fedora and packs the whip into his waistband as he decides to take on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on the PC.

In this Ten Minute Taster Rich takes on the Fieldwork mission of Rescuing Sidney from the clutches of the "Blackshirts" in The Vatican...BEWARE OF THE DOGS!

Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable Meta Quest 3 Review 3/10 "Broken blades won’t do in battle!" 🪝 @UNIVRSstudios #IndieGame #GameDev

Two glass snails, a framed picture of my girlfriend’s nephew, a small model frog, several Christmas tree baubles, and the temporary disablement of my left little finger. This was the price of Attack on Titan VR, the Quest title that’s easily the most physically destructive game I’ve ever played.

In game, I’m a graceful sword-wielding warrior, acrobatically swooping around a city to plant precision blows on rampaging titans. In reality, I’m obliterating my mantlepiece for the second time as my increasingly exasperated partner tells me to go out and buy some superglue to piece together the shattered remains of her ornaments. Is calling this game “Unbreakable” some kind of sick joke?

Is Crypto the Future of Savings? Insights from Biden's Executive Order 🪙

There is no doubt that cryptocurrency has emerged as a force in the last few years, more especially, the use of blockchain technology. With many investors showing much interest in the future of cryptocurrency. 

The recent executive order on digital assets has further illuminated the potential of this new technology and how it can actually help in securing the future.

However, volatility and regulatory concerns remain serious issues when it comes to its future as a common tool for savings.

In this publication, we will examine the significant advantages of crypto as a form of savings and the potential risks involved. This article will focus on the regulatory landscape of crypto in relation to the Executive Order on cryptocurrencies signed by US President Joe Biden on March 9, 2022.

Neo Harbor Rescue Squad PS5 Gameplay "Saving Lives With Mini Games" 🐬🚑 @bancyco #IndieGame #GameDev

Neo Harbor Rescue Squad is a game that lets you live the life of a rookie paramedic through frantic minigame action and a wild, funny story. You'll juggle waves of patients with a battle-like triage system, master dozens of treatment minigames, and aim to win the city's recognition from the rival fire department. 

The game features over 50 minigames with multiple difficulty variations, allowing for hundreds of combinations. It's available on PS5, PS4, and Steam. 

If you're into action-packed medical simulations with a dash of humour and character-driven storytelling, this might be a game worth checking out.

How the Internet Transformed Gaming

The gaming industry has been around since Tennis For Two, the first video game, debuted back in 1958, but it arguably didn’t really get going until the internet became ubiquitous.

And evidence for that can be found by looking at the video game industry’s revenues over the years. In 2005, when the internet wasn’t yet fully fledged, revenues hovered around the $60 billion mark; by 2022, it had skyrocketed to nearly $200 billion. 

Of course, that didn’t just happen because the internet was around. It happened because the internet provided a wealth of advantages that were conducive to the gamer’s experience, some of which we’ll outline below. And the most exciting part? We’ve only scratched the surface of what the internet can do for the gaming world, so there’s no telling what things will be like in the future.

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Video Game Lo Fi: Undertale (Vol. 1) Vinyl Review By Britt 📀💿 @CuragaRecords #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

In this collection, producers Hotline Sewhani & Emunator join the long-running Curaga Records Lo Fi series with a chillhop take on music from the seminal indie game. Featuring ten tracks that all clock in at under three minutes each, this is an album that packs a lot into a short space of time, and fleshes out the originals with airy synth, lush melodies, delicate, glassy percussion, trip-hop beats and even a touch of slap bass (good), all wrapped up in the usual Curaga Records high quality presentation and artwork.

PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller – Fortnite Sticker Mania Review By Britt 🎮 #Retrogaming

The first PowerA controller for Switch that we’ve covered here at GF – although we have covered PowerA Xbox controllers previously (PowerA Core Blush, PowerA Fortnite Midas) – and it’s been an instant hit in our household, with my son especially gravitating towards it over the other controllers available, which is always a good sign! He has been officially named it “My Sticker ‘troller”

Tetris Forever PC Review 8/10 "The Story Is the Star" 💣 @DigitalEclipse #Retrogaming

My Tetris is Nintendo Game Boy era Tetris. Once you had that chunky Game Boy in your hand and a copy of Tetris inserted into the back of that pocket gem it meant that was all you were going to play for the next 6 months until the kid at school who had 15 game carts was able to lend you another game to play on your Game Boy.

Tetris Forever fills in the gaps of what came before Nintendo's 1989 Tetris and also what came after. During this wonderful character led journey Digital Eclipse prove once again that they are the masters of the interactive video game documentary.

Drova - Forsaken Kin PC Gameplay "An Indie RPG GOTY Contender!" 🛖⚔️ @J2D_Interactive #IndieGame #GameDev

Drova - Forsaken Kin landed in the Games Freezer and blew the GF Cardiff and London HQ's wide open. It came from nowhere and received massive acclaim from Britt in his review (Britt knows his onions) and now Rich has finally gotten around to giving you 30 minutes of Drova video goodness on the PC. Relax, sit back and enjoy the start of this RPG Rolls Royce.

Mega Cat Studios: - Britt’s Mega Drive Odyssey Part 3: Old Towers 🏰 @RetroSouls @megacatstudios #IndieGame #IndieGameDev

Retrosouls’ Old Towers is next up in my Mega Drive Odyssey, and it’s one that my three-year old gravitated to as I was playing through each game, showing that awesome puzzle titles are ageless!

As with Mega Cat Studios other titles, the Mega Drive case is branded with their logo which really is a nice touch as it makes them stand out and feel that little bit extra special. The cover image is of the main character moving at speed towards a golden coin, as if he’s hurtling out of the image itself, with the background featuring heavy motion blur to give that sense of pace. The spine is also uniform and matches up perfectly with other MCS releases whilst the rear sums up the gameplay in a succinct paragraph as some additional quotes hammer home that this is an addictive puzzle-based title, along with some screenshots.

Jon Hare Talks To Rich About Sociable Soccer 25, Banana Shots and Beef & Horseradish Sandwiches ⚽🥪🍌 @Sociable_Soccer @jonhare

Jon Hare has been a video game design hero for me since the days of Microprose Soccer, Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder and SWOS to just name a few great games that Jon had a hand in making.

Jon is now fully committed to delivering a new and fun footy experience across PC and consoles in the form of Sociable Soccer and it's iterations since 2017.

When I was given the opportunity to ask Jon a few questions I obviously leapt at the chance and then thought what the hell do I ask the guy who created one of the finest football video games to ever be created...

So I regressed to 12 year old me and all was good...

BZZZT! Nintendo Switch Review 9/10 "A Perfect Potion of Platforming Perfection" 🤖🥪 @ko_dll #IndieGame #GameDev

The people who make the best platform games are the people that know the genre inside out from playing the classics and having an understanding of what makes a great platformer. What we have here my friends is one of the best indie platform video games that I have ever had the pleasure of playing. 

Developed by KO.DLL BZZZT! is truly a love letter to the classics of the genre and also brings its own brand of charm and sauce! Bzzzt offers up a fast-paced, precision platforming experience with the game clearly being designed to be accessible to both newcomers and veterans of the genre with its perfectly pitched variation of difficulty levels.

Bandit Knight PC Gameplay "Stealing In Style!" 🕵️‍♀️ @BanditKnightG #IndieGame #GameDev

Bandit Knight is a stealth action game where you step into the boots of a master thief. The game features vibrant 2.5D pixel art and requires players to outsmart enemies, steal legendary treasures, and navigate various environments. You can customize your tools, unlock upgrades, and rise to become the ultimate King of Thieves.

THE BIGGEST VIDEO GAME MUSEUM IN ITALY OPENS TO THE PUBLIC 🕹️ @gammuseum_ #Retrogaming

Italy celebrates games culture with a new museum now open in the heart of Rome

GAMM - Game Museum has now opened to the public in the historical center of Rome at Piazza della Repubblica. GAMM - Game Museum aims to highlight the cultural and artistic value of video games as interactive works allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a path based on the combination of history, technology, and the exploration of gameplay. 

101 Most Important Soccer Games Episode 5: Emlyn Hughes International Soccer [1988] ⚽ #RetroGaming

 

Rich takes on the 101 Most Important Soccer Video Games one by one. Episode 5 sees Rich try and play Emlyn Hughes International Soccer.

Gaming Platforms Increasingly Adopting New Payment Methods To Meet Gamer Demand 💳

 

Person using computer playing FPS game photo – Free Gaming Image on Unsplash

The gaming industry has evolved drastically over the years, and with that, so have the ways in which gamers make transactions. Whether it’s buying a new game, purchasing downloadable content (DLC), betting at online casinos, or making in-game purchases, gamers are increasingly seeking more convenient and secure payment methods to enhance their gaming experience. 

Gaming platforms are responding by adopting new payment methods to meet the growing demand for seamless and varied ways to make purchases. This shift reflects broader trends in digital payment preferences, driven by the need for faster, safer, and more flexible options.

Taito Milestones 3 Nintendo Switch Review 8.5/10 "A Glorious Collection of Classics" 👾 @TAITO @TaitoCorp #Retrogaming

The third entry in Taito’s ‘Milestone’ series, this selection of solid gold feels the strongest overall in terms of the games included here.

The ten games included are Bubble Bobble (1986), Rainbow Islands (1987), Rastan Saga (1987), Rastan Saga 2 (1988), Dead Connection (1992), Cadash (1989), Champion Wrestler (1989), Runark (1990), Warrior Blade (1991), and Thunder Fox (1990).

49 Keys Nintendo Switch Review 8/10 🗝️ @2Pcom @49chiavi

A game based on a celebrated Italian gamebook titled ‘49 Chiavi’, released in 2022, 49 keys has been adapted for consoles adapted by the original author, and hits all the right notes as a slow-burning text-heavy adventure title.

Set in 1520, your character travels to a distant abbey - following the last wishes of your former master - on a quest to unveil the secrets held within. Presented as if in the form of an ancient manuscript, 49 keys features incredibly evocative writing, crisp visuals and puzzles that will get your grey matter pulsating. Keening, aching music will accompany you as you make your way around the island, collecting items and taking notes – all the while getting closer to the centre of the mystery.

Black Friday Sales: Huge savings to be had on PowerA controllers and accessories for PC, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 🎮 @PowerA

It’s that time of year again when parents and loved ones are looking for ways to cut costs on Christmas shopping, with many keen to take advantage of Black Friday sales. If you’re looking for amazing deals this week, look no further than PowerA’s range of controllers and accessories at Argos.

Whether you are shopping for children, teenagers, or a gaming-obsessed friend, there are several cool PowerA products in the sale. 

From affordable, high-quality Xbox controllers to Fortnite-themed Switch accessories, there’s sure to be something exciting to open on Christmas day.