☆ Review: Pauli’s Adventure Island "Good From Far..." ☆

Pauli's Adventure Island - PC

Founded in 2015, HEJVISJ (“to go home” in local Dutch) is a small, indie-game studio based in the Netherlands.

The studio focuses on creating beautiful games with an emphasis on non-violence and accessibility – and with roots as far back as the early 8-bit days. Always forward-thinking, the team at HEJVISJ has already started working on their next game.

☆ My Kick Off Revival Wishlist ☆ #PS4

KICK OFF is a legendary series among those retro gamers who love their football video games.

It was the time of Kick Off 2 and Sensible Soccer in the early 90’s that us football gamers were being treated to some of the best sports games that video games had to offer.

☆ 15 Video Game Movie Tie Ins That Are Actually Good! ☆ #Retrogaming

You know the drill. 

Video Games Movie Tie Ins are always crap right?

Well you'd be forgiven for thinking that this assumption is correct as a lot of the time over the years video games that were created from Movie IP have been an excuse to slap the movie name onto a game cartridge and create some kind of shovel-ware title that doesn't really add anything to the video games world other than another generic platform / shooter game.

☆ Beautiful PODD and My School's BBC Micro ☆ #Retrogaming

"Strategically placed roses will definitely sell this beautiful BBC Micro!"

A lot of the time when we cast our minds back to the first video games experiences that we had as kids we think back to a visit to a friends house to play the latest console or computer.

A lot of the time we actually fail to remember that the school classroom gave us our first taste of video games.

 Whether it was the school class room or the school computer room you can bet that as a kid growing up in the 80’s the one computer that was owned by the school was actually most peoples introduction to the wonderful world of computer games.

☆ "Kopanito All-Stars Soccer" - Alternatives To PES & FIFA - No.2 ☆ #FIFA #PES

Kopanito All – Stars Soccer is developed by Merixgames which is a brand of Merixstudio from Poland who have 15 years of experience in the digital business arena.

Skytte is another game they have developed and is really worth checking out if you like fast paced side scrolling shoot’em ups.

☆ Doom Noob Episode 12 "This Is Hell My Friends!" ☆

So you think you've played some tough levels in video games? 

I'm putting this one up there with Gonarch's Lair! 

☆ Preview:Stonewall Penitentiary - Would you like to play a game? ☆ #GameDev

Stonewall Penitentiary is an upcoming point and click adventure horror video game. 
The demo offered the basic tutorial of the game as well as a tiny bit more of the story. 

☆ Review: The Lion's Song - "A Study in Sepia" ☆

The Lion's Song - PC

The Lion’s Song is a story-based video game adventure presented in a pixel-art graphical style. 

Split into four separate chapters each of which is around thirty to forty minutes in length and tied together through links in the narrative, it is a neat addition to any drama lover’s steam library.

☆ Review: Hello Neighbor - "If this game was my neighbour…I’d move." ☆

Hello Neighbor - PC (BETA VERSION)

Hello Neighbor is a stealth-horror game from developer Dynamic Pixels, it has a promising setup and great cartoonish visuals but is ultimately let down by broken physics and tedious puzzle elements.

☆ Some Of The Best PS4 Video Game Bargains ☆ #PS4

I've just been looking on the Playstation Store for some bargains and I've managed to uncover some absolutely beautiful games for beautiful prices!

Take a look at what's on my list to download this August on my lovely PS4

☆ Review: Conarium - "A game crafted with love for Lovecraft" ☆ #GameDev

Conarium - PC

I am familiar with Zoetrope Interactive’s previous titles, namely the ‘Darkness Within’ series, which I enjoyed some years back.

I am a big fan of their approach to horror, with their style more chilling and creepy than gory or horrific and the solid pace of their games appeals to me, I played Darkness Within around about the same time that I played other horror titles that stick in my memory such as Scratches and The Lost Crown (speaking of which, come on Jonathan Boakes, stop teasing us and release the sequel, you fiend! Ten years, TEN YEARS!)

It’s been a fair old while since their last game was released in 2010 and I’m pleased to say that Conarium was definitely worth the wait.

☆ Surf World Series - Ten Minute Taster ☆

"It's been a while since I played any form of video game surfing...30 years in fact! 

California Games surfing is my only surfing video game reference point, so i'm guessing things have changed since then?!"

☆ Review: MINT - "Hero Toothpaste Alien To The Rescue!?" ☆

Mint.

The word is evocative of freshness.

Mint flavour is used as a palate-cleanser.

To be minted is to be loaded with cash money – rich, in other words.

A mint-in-box video game is brand new and most likely sealed, as if it just left the factory: minty-fresh.

☆ "Kick Off Revival" - GOALS REEL #1 ☆

As I learn how to play KICK OFF REVIVAL I savour each and every goal I score as it takes blood sweat and tears to earn those precious goals in each match.

☆ PREVIEW: Party Hard 2 (Alpha release) - "Jason Vorhees with Tony Manero moves" ☆ #GameDev

Party Hard 2 (ALPHA RELEASE) - PC

Pinoki games released Party Hard back in 2015 and it quickly became an Indie darling, having not played the first game (but having a lot of friends who did, and loved it) I was quite excited to get my hands on this Alpha release and see what the fuss was about. 

☆ "Kick Off Revival" - Alternatives To PES & FIFA - No.1 ☆ #FIFA #PES

In a world dominated by PES & FIFA I thought that I would take a look to see what other football (soccer) video games exist out there and if they are any good.

☆ Headset Review: Venom Marauder 7.1 Gaming Headset "Nice Price & Great Sound!" ☆

Marauder Universal 7.1 Virtual Surround Gaming Headset - £49.99

Watch as I give these black and red beauties a once over and enjoy some Deep Bass, 7.1 Virtual Surround and cool Vibration Technology.

Are they worth the money?

Let's find out, shall we?

☆ Review: Tangledeep - "Beautiful but hard, like Jessica Rabbit with a machine-gun" ☆ #GameDev

Tangledeep - PC - EARLY ACCESS REVIEW

Tangledeep is a rogue-like procedurally-generated dungeon crawler video game from Impact Gameworks and whilst it has fantastic potential, for me in its current state it does fall short of greatness.

☆ Review: Original Journey – “It’s a bit of this, and a bit of that” ☆ #GameDev

Original Journey - PC

Genres can be a bit of grey area in video games. I think it’s safe to say that a game’s genre is generally the first point of call for most gamers looking to invest in a new title. While these genres are generally more clear-cut within the AAA gaming market, the rampant innovation and experimentation of the indie gaming market mean that often hybrids arise that aren’t easy to fit into a single genre category. It is this conundrum that I am faced now as I write this review for Bonfire Entertainment’s genre-morphing Original Journey.

☆ Cheat Sheet #1 : Alex Kidd In Miracle World ☆ #Retrogaming

It’s been an idea of mine now for some time. I’ve been wanting to combine story, controls and tips n cheats into a graphic presentation for a series of video games. A cross between an infographic, a cheat sheet and a one-page video game manual.

☆ Games Freezer Video Game Ideas - #1 - "Stadium Architect" ☆ #GameDev

Normally whilst showering in the morning I think of video games related ideas. 
These range from articles to write for Games freezer to Video Games that I’d love to see get made.

In today's world of Indie Devs, the impossible is now possible as the indie devs are always bringing out games that you never thought would ever get a chance in the world of AAA big budget games. 

The indie Devs are creating new genres and genre mashups that delight niche audiences and wider audiences alike.

☆ Review: Aporia - Beyond The Valley - "Investigate North? Investigate EVERYWHERE!" ☆ #GameDev

Aporia: Beyond The Valley - PC

Aporia: Beyond the Valley is a first-person adventure puzzle video game from Nordic development team Investigate North.

I’ve seen a few descriptions of the game as a ‘walking simulator’ but this really isn’t the case, if anything it’s more of an open-world puzzle game, far larger than any game in this genre that I’ve played in recent memory.

☆ Review: Chess Ultra "Almost As Old As Time" ☆ @16bitnostalgia

Chess, a game that seems as old as time, in fact, it originated in India in the 6th Century and is played by millions of people the world over.

My experience with the game is very limited having played a bit at school and these electronic Chess games you could get in the 1980’s with the red LED lights around the board, but I still retained a little bit of knowledge from the game so I was excited to be given the opportunity to play Chess a whole 16 centuries since its inception, in a 21st century style way.

☆ Review: Fire Pro Wrestling World - "Wrestling is slightly erotic for some..." ☆

Fire Pro Wrestling World - PC

For all of the numerous wrestling games I’ve played in my time, this is only the second title in the Fire Pro series I’ve ever put any real time into.

There is an interesting history with the release of the games that follows the ebb and flow of actual professional wrestling, but the series has been gone for some time, especially since everyone wants to forget that entry on the Xbox 360 exists (I only played it briefly, I swear).

Years after the return though, once crowds had grown quiet and the smell of sweat had left the arenas, it was time to bring a beloved franchise into the new world (order).

☆ SEGA Forever Keeps Rolling ☆ #Retrogaming

So the SEGA Forever Service is alive and kinda kicking.

It’s had its detractors but you can’t deny that it’s exciting to see which titles that SEGA will release next.

So far the list is quite impressive and not just Megadrive games either!

☆ 8-BIT Nintendo Music Video Tells The True Story Of A Hi-Score On NARC ☆

We stumbled across this awesome 8 Bit Chip Tune inspired Rap Song by Wordburglar and we thought you might just like to take a listen and read all about the back story to this awesome tune!

It’s the true story of how Wordburglar got a Nintendo Power Hi-Score for NARC when he was a kid (Issue 23, Page 77).

☆ Review: Dig Or Die - "Bring an umbrella, wellies and a plasma shotgun" ☆

Dig Or Die - PC

Welcome to the world of Gaddy Games’ Video Game Dig or Die!

The story is that you are an intergalactic salesman who unfortunately crash-lands on a very wet planet, in order to escape you need to gather all of the relevant materials in order to build a rocket ship to blast off-world to safety, or at least somewhere dryer…..like Snowdonia.

☆ DOOM NOOB EPISODE 11 - "Say Hello To B.O.B" ☆ #DOOM

"Watch as I take a stroll with the B.F.G to fight the B.O.B in Doom Noob  Episode 11"

☆ My Most Memorable Video Game Level Types - Water, Ice, Desert & Sky ☆ #Retrogaming

In all of video gaming history, there has been an unwritten rule that every video game known to man must contain a Water Level, An Ice/Snow/Winter Level, A Desert Level and A Sky Level.

I've played many games over the years and for each of these level types I have experienced a fair few variants of these levels.

Today I'd like to present to you my most memorable versions of each of these level types.

📀💿 The Beauty Of The Video Game Code Wheel - "Dial A Pirate" 📀💿 #Retrogaming

Do you remember the times of video game copyright protection that came packaged with the video game?

The media of the time was floppy disks and cassette tapes which were mega easy to copy. 

This obviously led to a playground culture of disk and tape swapping as one kid would have the latest video game and would be willing to sell copies for a quid.

☆ Yonder Cloud Catcher Chronicles - Ten Minute Taster ☆

"Watch me frolic in the fields as I take my first steps in 

Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles"

☆ Review: Heavy Metal Machines "Imagine Rock N Roll Racing Online!" ☆ #GameDev

Heavy Metal Machines - PC

Developed by Hoplon which is a Brazilian company located in Florianópolis which is at the forefront of the Brazilian gaming industry. They have had success with their previous titles Taikodom and Apocalypse Party's over.

As soon as you start the game you get a feel of the heavy metal undertones with the soundtrack, overlook and feel of the game being almost demonic like. The menus look good and are easy to navigate around.

☆ Review: NO.70: Eye Of Basir - "A Turkish Delight" ☆ #GameDev

NO.70: Eye of Basir - PC

NO.70: Eye of Basir is a first-person video game horror title from Turkish developer Oldmoustache Gameworks. From what I can see this is the studio’s first game and whilst it is an enjoyable experience and a laudable first release, it’s not without flaws.

☆ Review: Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star - "Exposition & Supposition" ☆

Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star - PC

Originally released on PS4 and PS Vita last year, it’s time for The Umbral Star video game to hit PC (alongside Switch). Fate is a fantasy universe that encompasses manga comics, anime TV series, visual novels, prequel novels, and various home console and arcade games. An epic brawler in the tradition of Dynasty Warriors, this latest incarnation is a bright, enjoyable action RPG let down by poor storytelling, minor presentation issues, and some grinding gameplay.

☆ This Mario Kart VR Looks Awesome! ☆

You gotta check this Mario Kart VR out. 

This is one VR Project that has got me salivating.

☆ DOOM NOOB EPISODE 10 "LOST" ☆

"Being LOST in living hell can never be fun right? Plus I have got a tram to catch and an iPad to find! Tune into my DOOM NOOB Adventures to see how I get on in 
Episode 10..!"

☆Chess Ultra - Ten Minute Taster ☆

"Come and relax as I play my through a quick game of Chess Ultra...."

☆ Retro Review: Incredible Crash Dummies "You could learn a lot from a dummy" ☆ #Retrogaming

This is one of those video games that I remember seeing at Blockbuster as a kid for rental. I never tried it then, but the subject matter alone left enough of an impression that I remembered it years later and wondered: how did that get a game?

Sure, that’s a thought I have often, but this one stood out for some reason. For many, this will strike some memories of the old PSAs (public service announcements) that proclaimed,

“You could learn a lot from a dummy. Buckle your safety belt.”

☆ Imraan On Instagram - His Video Games Story ☆

On 28th May 2017 I reached 1000 followers on Instagram.

I was shocked by this as I thought that this would not happen. So I would like to thank the followers for their help and support.

To mark this achievement I would like to tell my story for how I got into Instagram.

☆ Review: Death Squared "The Cubes Will Die!" ☆

Death Squared - Nintendo Switch
Death Squared is not an exclusive Switch title, having already been released for PC and its more powerful console rivals earlier this year.

Yet much like the Switch launch title SnipperClips, in an ideal world, it would be the type of game that Nintendo 's portable/home console hybrid system is renowned for by the end of its lifespan.

☆Review: Caromble! "Aye Caromble!"☆

Caromble! - PC

Caromble is the first video game from Crimson Owl Studios, at its heart it’s a modernised version of the classic block-busting bonanza ‘Breakout’, but packed with features and a very cool style that sets it apart from the crowd.

☆ A Brief History of Videogames - Part 5 "The 7th Gen" ☆ #Retrogaming

This is a cool series on YouTube from our very own Britt who looks to deliver a straight forward and informative discussion about the history of video games, from Spacewar to Star Citizen.

☆ The Video Game Arcades Of The People "Chip Shops, Video Shops , Newsagents & Taxi Ranks" ☆ #Arcade #Retrogaming

If like me you only ever went to the seaside once a year then your experiences of a true video game arcade were limited to these holiday visits. Those arcade visits are the ones that shaped the way I feel about arcade video games to this very day.

The thing is the unsung heroes of the arcade world for the other 52 weeks of the year were the arcade cabinet pioneers on our local high streets. 

These local shops who would have one or two arcade cabinets on their premises so we could get our fix of Street Fighter II, Altered Beast, Golden Axe and Bad Dudes even if we lived nowhere near Southend On Sea.

☆ Review: Bouncy Hoops "Feel The Rush Of A Buzzer Beater!" ☆

I don’t usually do reviews for mobile video games but this one has got me hooked and it is done so well that I feel that I need to talk about it.

☆ Review: XField Paintball 3 "Unfinished Business" ☆

Often when I’m given a code for a video game to review I begin by researching the title before I download and play anything, especially if it is something I’ve never heard of.

XField Paintball 3 was a bit of a mouthful for sure and I had to pause and wonder if I had ever played a paintball video game before that wasn’t that one mode in Goldeneye 007, but pulling up the website I saw something that looked quite sleek and had a trailer featuring music that got me really pumped to shoot at people and probably be eliminated a lot.

☆ Review: Hell Warders "Welcome To Hell......Warders" ☆

Hell warders - PC

Welcome to Hell....Warders, a basic tower defence game with decent graphics and not so decent gameplay. Hell Warders is in very early alpha so I hope that a lot of the issues with the game will be cleared up shortly, as of now, it's just not anything special. 

☆ The Ataribox Looks Rather Sexy....Here's What We Know... ☆ #Retrogaming #AtariBox

So Atari is slowly teasing us with a drip feed of info on the upcoming Atari Box hardware release.

This time they have revealed what the box looks like and what it is (sort of)

Let's take a look at the facts, shall we?

☆ Ben Steele's Video Games Memories "Karnov & That Damn Duck Hunt Dog!" ☆

When I find myself with uninterrupted time to play video games I always find myself returning to my old classics, games I’ve played hundreds of times even when I have new games not even opened from their wrapping waiting to be played on the latest consoles.

Although I do love new games they just don’t excite me like the old ones.

Is it an age thing?

Is it the memories the games release hidden in the depths of my subconscious or are they just better more enjoyable games?

☆ A Brief History of Videogames - Part 4 "SONY Playstation" ☆ #Retrogaming

This is a cool series on YouTube from our very own Britt who looks to deliver a straight forward and informative discussion about the history of video games, from Spacewar to Star Citizen.

☆ Pixelate & Assassinate ☆ #GameDev

After close to a year of video game development “Pixel Assassin” was launched for mobile devices on June 27th.

It's available for free worldwide on Google Play and the App Store.

☆ Thimbleweed Park Gets Its Very Own Retro Hint Line ☆

The awesome Thimbleweed Park game has received a few new updates and the most significant one for me is the inclusion of a hint system.

The cool thing about this hint system is the fact that it's a proper old school in game hint line!

Read an excerpt of Ron Gilbert's blog post to get a taste for what the Thimblweeders wanted to achieve with this latest inclusion....

☆ That Elusive SNES Mini Has A Massive Amount Of Awesome Games! ☆ #Retrogaming

It's real......

It's happening.....

It's probably already SOLD OUT!

BUT Let's salivate over the video games that will be packaged into this SNES MINI MARVEL!

☆ Get Your Arse To Blackpool For Retrogaming Heaven! ☆ #Retrogaming

PLAY EXPO BLACKPOOL 2017

It's back for its sixth year and did you know it's the UK's longest running retro expo?

The PLAY team have somehow managed to cram in more than ever before so let's take a look at what is in store for you this year...

☆ Book Of The Week: NEOGEO: A VISUAL HISTORY ☆ #Retrogaming

Those awesome chaps at BITMAP BOOKS have sent us some new details on the 

NEO GEO VISUAL HISTORY book that I think will make you want to own this tome opus even more!

☆ MidBoss - Ten Minute Taster Mini Review☆

MidBoss - PC

Midboss is an Indie Turn-Based Point-and-Click Adventure game developed and

published by Kitsune Games for PC on May 25^th, 2017.

☆ A Brief History of Videogames - Part 3 "The Console Wars" ☆ #Retrogaming

A straightforward and informative discussion about the history of video games, from Spacewar to Star Citizen.

☆ Review: First Strike: Final Hour "Prepare to Prepare to Fail" ☆ #GameDev

First Strike: Final Hour - PC

What’s that old saying, “If you fail to prepare then prepare to fail”. Well, this does not apply to newcomers to this strategy video game. I prepared for ages, I prepared so much that I was completely unprepared. Perhaps they should rename the game to prepare to prepare to fail. That’s enough of that word, for now, I’ll dig the thesaurus out to find any other way of describing my unpreparedness (that’s the last time honest).

☆ Review: Missile Cards "Hear That Hydraulic CLUNK" ☆ #GameDev

Missile Cards - PC

Missile Cards is a card-based take on the 80’s ‘Missile Command’ formula, it works but perhaps this particular formula is better-suited to mobile gaming (whilst writing this review I discovered that the game is due to be released on mobile devices ASAP, which is where I feel it will find it’s market)

I must say that I found the tutorial completely baffling and panicked somewhat upon starting my first game but it’s turn-based style only took a few minutes of gameplay to figure out and within moments I was hips deep in the unforgiving Missile Card world.

☆ SEGA Forever Launches With 5 Free SEGA Classics! ☆

SEGA's Very own retro video games service has arrived and it could turn out to be a special place for us retro gamers to visit.

SEGA Forever is looking to launch 'new' retro games every couple of weeks to mobile devices and tablets and starts the ball rolling with 5 SEGA classics which are available to download for FREE on the App Store and Google Play.

Let's Take A Closer Look Shall We...?

☆ Review: H1Z1: King of the Kill "Seize Your Moment Of Glory!" ☆

H1Z1: King Of The Hill - PC

I've spent the last few days getting immersed in the video game world of H1Z1. 

A basic battle royale style shooter involving You, You and a Teammate, or You and four teammates, versus 150 plus players with everyone looking to achieve one goal. 

Be the last man standing.

☆ DOOM NOOB EPISODE 9 "Arcade Fire" ☆

"Take a look as I Tinder, DOOM Style as I take on Arcade Mode"

☆ Review: Geneshift "Bring A Rover 800 and a wheelbarrow full of bullets!" ☆

Geneshift - PC

Geneshift is a top-down shooter video game made by Nik Nak Studios (Ben Johnson). 

This is another case of a top quality game being released by one man and the fact that the game has such strong, rounded single player and multiplayer modes is a testament to his skill as a developer. 

Geneshift is a game that has taken eight years for Ben to complete and was definitely worth the wait.

☆ A Brief History of Video Games Part 2 "The Crash" ☆ #Retrogaming

This is a cool series on YouTube from our very own Britt who looks to deliver a straight forward and informative discussion about the history of video games, from Spacewar to Star Citizen.

☆ Retro Review: Crash Bandicoot: Warped ☆

Everyone else is doing it with the N. Sane Trilogy coming out, so it’s time to jump on the train and review a PlayStation classic video game featuring their box-smashing mascot.

☆ DOOM NOOB EPISODE 8 "Welcome To The Hotel Hell!" ☆

"Welcome to the Hotel Hell and say hello to Big Bad Barry the Bellboy!"