👮🏻‍♂️🚨The Video Games Hall Of Shame - #2: "Dylan From Arcade Attack Comes Clean On His Video Gaming Crimes" 👮🏻‍♂️🚨 @arcadeattackUK #Retrogaming

Dylan's "Where the hell were you?" top 5 games of shame...

It's hard to top Rich's list that he kindly did for Arcade Attack but here goes!

🕹️🕵The Video Games Hall Of Shame - #1: "Matilda Tells Us Her Guilty Video Gaming Secrets" 🕹️🕵 #Retrogaming @Bhaal_Spawn

As games players, we all know that it’s impossible to play all the games in the world. 

Hell; its often impossible just to play all the games we actually buy!

I regularly buy games in a Steam sale which I know will download straight to the back of the queue; confused and surprised, having expected to immediately be mummy’s, new baby. 

But NO; they wait an eternity, naked in cold oblivion.

But those games are the lucky ones. 

Sometimes, some games pass you by completely and don’t even get to your list in the first place.

Either way, these are the games which I have never played and which cause me shame.

🧠🤯 Review: Esper - "The PSVR Telekinesis Is Strong In this One" 🧠🤯 #PSVR

Esper is a VR puzzle game that uses telekinesis to test your skills in solving unique 3D puzzles to progress through the game.

You are a trainee in a government-funded retro spy institution that evaluates new recruits telekinesis powers. 

You start the game on your first day in the government centre undergoing telekinesis assessment tests, checking how well you can use mind powers to carry out your spy missions.

🧐 The Spectrum Retreat - PS4 - Ten Minute Taster 🧐 #GameDev #IndieGame

"There's something sinister about a hotel with no guests apart from you and a bunch of faceless mannequin robots which talk to you....WELCOME TO THE HOTEL PENROSE!" 

⚽️ Episode 22: World Cup USA 94 - 1993 - US GOLD - SNES Football Games Were Shite ⚽️ #Retrogaming

🎮"The World Watched As USA 94 Kicked Off Without Graham Taylor's England...Could US GOLD Make Up For The Lack Of England With A Great Football Video Game?....."🎮

🏙️ Review: Unavowed "An alternate New York so good, it’s hard to leave" 🏙️ #GameDev #IndieGame @WadjetEyeGames @BrittRecluseuk

Developer: Wadjet Eye Games

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Ice Cool

Having been a fan of Wadjet Eye Games for years, I must admit that I just assumed that Unavowed would continue their streak of making great games with the foundation solidly placed on an involving narrative set in an immersive world. 

As impressive as their oeuvre has been over the last decade, with pinnacles of the graphic adventure genre such as Technobabylon, Gemini Rue and the Blackwell series, their hit streak continues with what could possibly be my favourite game thus far, Unavowed.

🕹️ Levelling Up in Liverpool "The immortal question, The Beatles…or Heavy Nova?" 🕹️ #Retrogaming

 

Recently, I was invited by a close friend to accompany him on a trip to Liverpool as he wanted to stay at the Hard Day’s Night hotel, a keen Beatles fan, he was KEEN to fully immerse himself in The Beatles culture that the wonderful city of Liverpool is so (rightly) proud of. 

👨🏻‍🚀 Preview: P.A.M.E.L.A - PC - "I’m off to pop into stasis until the release date" 👨🏻‍🚀 #GameDev #IndieGame #EarlyAccess

P.A.M.E.L.A (Early Access Preview)

System: PC

Developer: NVYVE Studios

Some of my favourite moments in video games have come from wandering off the beaten track with a few scraps in my inventory, looking through bins for a few bullets or food to eat. 

There’s something about those scrappy early stages of games such as Fallout that gets lost in the later game when you are wielding laser Gatling guns with companions made of golden sunlight, one-hit killing everything in your path with thousands in the bank. 

Those moments when you don’t know if you’ll survive the next attack or even if you’ll stave of starvation long enough to die in the fight in the first place!

🤖🔎 Review: Detective Case and Clown Bot in "The Express Killer" "A Deeply Flawed 'Comedic' Murder Mystery" 🤖🔎 #GameDev #IndieGame #PointnClick

Developer: NerdMonkeys

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Melted

"A deeply flawed comedic murder mystery"

I’ve played quite a few graphic adventure games in my time, some I’ve loved and some that had their issues but Detective Case and Clown Bot in: The Express Killer (DCCB) could well be the worst point and click game that I’ve ever played.

⚽️ Episode 21: Tony Meola's Sidekicks Soccer - 1993 - SNES Football Games Were Shite ⚽️

🎮"Join me for an overhead kick orgy in the centre circle..."🎮

⚔️ 🏔️ Preview: Caves of Qud (Early Access) "What The Hell is Going On?" 🏔️ ⚔️ #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Caves of Qud (early access)

I feel ill-equipped to preview Caves of Qud (COQ) because the only other pure roguelike game that I’ve played in any real depth was Ancient Domains of Mystery, a few months ago (A game that I found to be more initially accessible than Caves of Qud) and I’m glad I did, because compared to this game, ADOM was a breeze.

⚔️ Review: Pylon: Rogue - "rogue, rogue, rogue your boat" 🧙🏻‍♂️ #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Pylon: Rogue

Developer: Quantum Squid Interactive

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Pylon Rogue is an action/adventure roguelike game which looks great in trailers but when played, doesn’t quite hold up to the initial promise.

🍄 Review: Mushroom Wars 2 - "It’s….it’s….it’s a mobile port" 🍄

Game Title: Mushroom Wars 2

Developer: Zillion Whales

Platform Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

I just wanted to say something to preface my review. I have never been a fan of mobile games and generally avoid playing them or reviewing them as I have a general disdain for their design and marketing. My problem is, “games as a service” has basically been the default model on mobile from the start, so now the expectation is that all games will be “free to start”. 

⚔️🧙🏻‍♂️ Review: Nogalious - "A tough cookie rooted in the early days of 8-bit gaming" ⚔️🧙🏻‍♂️ #GameDev #IndieGame #PixelArt #Retrogaming

Game Title: Nogalious

Developer: LuegoLu3go Studios

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Nogalious is very much intended to evoke that very specific sense of platforming that was rife in the 8-bit days, especially on the Amstrad CPC. 

⚽️💩Episode 20: Super Soccer - 1991 - HUMAN - SNES Football Games Were Shite ⚽️💩 #Retrogaming

🎮 "Super Soccer was the very first Soccer Video Game to be released on the Super Nintendo and I played it to within an inch of it's life in 1991. Will it be as good as I remember it or will it be a bag of [insert expletive]" 🎮

🤖 MotherGunShip - Ten Minute Taster - PS4 🤖 #GameDev #IndieGame

🎮"MotherGunShip dishes up a gun creation mechanic that makes you think long and hard about which gun you are going to build for each of your mech suit arms.....NOICE!"🎮

🌳 Review: Semblance "A delightfully deformed development" 🌳 #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Semblance

Developer: Nymakop

Platform Reviewed: Switch

Rating: Ice Cool

Released simultaneously on Switch and through Steam, Nymakop’s Semblance is a wordless puzzle-platformer that bounces off all the right buttons, making playing through its rubbery world a joy.

🛸👽 Review: Another World - "Another version of Another World that isn’t quite Out of this World" 👽🛸 @BrittRecluseuk

Game Title: Another World

Developer: Eric Chahi

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch

The impact that the original Another World had on the gaming industry upon its original 1991 release cannot be underestimated.

A moody, minimalist cinematic platformer featuring protagonist Lester Chaykin’s travels through an alien landscape whilst accompanied by his alien companion, ‘Buddy’, the game captured the hearts of an entire generation of gamers. 

🗡️The Beast Inside – Demo Preview "Time To Solve A 100 Year Old Murder Mystery!" 🧟‍♂️ #GameDev #IndieGame

The Beast Inside is based around the premise of a young man returning to his family home with his wife. Intending to make a living out in this rustic farmhouse, the game begins with the arrival of the couple at the estate. 

⚽️ Episode 19: Super Cup Soccer 2 - 1993 - Jaleco - SNES Football Games Were Shite ⚽️

🎮 "Take a trip with Jim Jaleco as we look at the second instalment of Super Cup Soccer on the SNES. Will the behind the player camera view make for an awesome video game or a pile of shizzle?!" 🎮

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

🚀🌕Review: Deep Sixed - *”Space…the final fron-…ah, damn, the microphones knackered, again”* 🚀🌕

Game Title: Deep Sixed

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Developer: LRDGames Inc.

Rating: Ice Cool

Deep Sixed is one of the most unique and fun video games that I’ve played in a little while and the only real downside is that it’s so well-designed that its specific nature may be off-putting for some, but those that click with it will find an absolute gem of a gem that will capture their imagination for a long time to come.

⚔️ Preview: Soulblight "Time To Don My +5 Armour of Sandcastle-Building" ⚔️ #IndieGame #GameDev

An intriguing game with distinctive visuals and depth but the clunky, simplistic combat and finicky menus could be an issue.

The story that drives Soulblight tells of a tree of life guarded by man, but increasingly buried away behind concrete and towers as time passes by, resulting in its wilting. 

Soon, a darkness ravages the land, leaving your character as the last hope to bring light to the waning lands .

🕹️ Bristol Gaming Market June 2018 - With Britt & Faye 🕹️ @BrittRecluseuk @ReplayEvents @KingdomOfCarts

The last time Faye and I went to a gaming market, it was last summer in London and we felt that the six-hour round trip wasn’t quite worth it and so vowed to only attend expos with markets as a part of them as opposed to gaming markets alone.

However, as this was so close to us we felt that we couldn’t miss the opportunity and so once again booked a hotel, packed up the Nintendo Switch (the hotel’s HDMI port was AWKWARD to reach!) and started off on our trip.

💾🦉The BBC Computer Literacy Project 1980-89 🦉💾

If you grew up in the 80's you might remember an awesome piece of BBC TV called the Computer Literacy Project.

It focused on the BBC Micro and helped to ignite a love for the awesome machine that graced many a school classroom during the 80's.

If you remember these days fondly you're in luck as there's an awesome BBC Website set up purely to showcase this amazing programme...

⚽️💩 Episode 18: Super Formation Soccer 95 Serie A - 1995 - Human - SNES Football Games Were Shite 💩⚽️ #Retrogaming

🎮"Super Formation Soccer 95 comes at you with a dose of Serie A Arcade Football on the SNES. The question is, is it a Turd or a Triumph? Watch and see..."🎮

🤖 Project Nimbus - PS4 - Ten minute Taster 🤖 #IndieGame #GameDev

🎮"Project Nimbus lets you take control of a flying mech with a machine gun and a rocket launcher, this game is a bit crazy!"🎮

🕹️ Miguel Rafael Talks Greedy Guns, Sushi and Portuguese Gaming Culture 🕹️ #IndieDev #GameDev

Britt: Firstly I wanted to say that Greedy Guns was my choice for co-op game of the year for Games Freezer, genuinely some of the most fun I’ve had in a two-player mode in the last year.

Miguel: Thank you so much! It means the world to us to know that people appreciate our game. Thank you x1000.

🕹️ Britt Talks To Elliot Scholes at The Bristol Gaming Market 🕹️ @TheVGMarket #Retrogaming

Britt: As far as I’m aware, this is Replay Events’ first gaming market in Bristol as events tend to usually either be in London or further up north. Are there plans for future events or perhaps even a full-on Expo in the south?

Elliot: It is our first gaming market in Bristol! We definitely have plans for another, I would say keep an eye on our Facebook page. In regards to something bigger, we did work with the folks at the Bristol Hippodrome earlier this year to run a pop-up gaming exhibition. I really do feel like there is a need for a show like our PLAY Expos in this area of the country, so who knows?!

🕹️Kim Justice Talks Southend, Nightmare Creatures and How To Be A Complete Bastard🕹️ #Retrogaming

Britt was recently lucky enough to grab some time with one of our fave YouTubers Kim Justice who consistently creates awesome retro gaming video content on the Kim Justice YouTube channel.

This is an interview you just don't want to miss!

⚽️💩 Episode 17: Super Cup Soccer - 1992 - Jaleco - SNES Football Games Were Shite 💩⚽️

🎮"Join Jim Jaleco as we explore Super Cup Soccer on the SNES.

Is it Super?

Well, you'll have to find out exactly that by joining Jim as he explores what makes this arcade video game tick..."🎮

🤜🏻✋🏻Thom & Ross From Gonarchs Lair Talk Alex Kidd Cosplay, Homemade Sauce and Pac Man Stickers 🤜🏻✋🏻 @gonarchslair

The Lads From The Audaciously Awesome Podcast "Gonarch's Lair" Take A Break From The Lair To Answer Some Games Freezer Questions So As You Can Get To Know Thom and Ross a Bit More Intimately...

Grab yourself a head crab and sit back and read all about the deadly duo!

🏆⚽️ Legendary Eleven - Ten Minute Taster - "A Large Dose Of Arcade Football!" ⚽️🏆

🎮 " A game of Legendary Eleven will bring a smile to your face and a spring to your step in a world where true arcade football games are few and far between" 🎮

🛠️ Review: Die Young "A Mesh of Great Ideas in One Tasty Pot" 🛠️ #EarlyAccess #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Die Young

Developer: IndieGala

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: In Early Access at present.

I had never heard of Die Young before reviewing it for review, but as it was installing I was reading up on the comparisons to Rust and The Forest etc. which made me narrow my eyes a bit. 

I have no issue with the survival adventure genre but it’s not something that I actively seek out. Whilst I can see the appeal of knocking up a log cabin with picket fence surround and a herb garden whilst nightly fighting off randomly spawning cannibals, it just isn’t for me. 

Die Young takes a different approach which immediately made me sit up and pay attention. 

🏃🏻‍♂️💨 Preview: Escape Doodland - "I'm the fart lighter, twisted fart lighter" 🏃🏻‍♂️💨 #GameDev #IndieGame

 Escape Doodland is a cartoonish auto-runner that sees your character pegging it away from a massive monster that is hungry, toothy…and right behind you! 

⚽️💩 Episode 16: Ace Striker - SERIE A - 1995 - TNN - SNES Football Games Were Shite 💩⚽️

🎮"Little doll looking footballers with questionable hands play bad football whilst being reffed by a bald dude"🎮

🧙🏻‍♀️Review:Bullet Witch "If only I could cast a spell to make this a better game"🧙🏻‍♀️

Game Title: Bullet Witch

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Developer: Cavia (original) / Marvelous, Inc (re-release)

Rating: Melted

Bullet Witch was a game released back in 2006 for the Xbox 360 to reviews that were middling at best and with good reason. Bland, buggy graphics set in tedious, linear levels that are filled with copy/paste enemies that you mow down via unsatisfying gunplay; it really wasn’t a good example of the 3rd person shooter genre. 

Upon release it was quickly forgotten by everyone except the most ardent fans of the game, fast-forward twelve years to this re-release, now playable in 60fps and 1080 resolution and we ask the question, 

“Has the game finally discovered a new lease of life, replete in re-mastered glory?”

*drum roll*

📦 Unboxing Video - AuCuTee - "An Awesome Looking White Noise Machine" 📦

📦 "Today I take a look at a piece of Tech that is completely different from anything else that I have ever reviewed. This is AuCuTee's White Noise Sleep Machine and it looks pretty awesome!" 📦

🚀 Review: Last Encounter "A Good Title Made Great With Friends" 🚀 #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Last Encounter

Developer: Exordium Games

Platform Reviewed:  PC (Steam)

Rating: Ice Cool

Last Encounter is the newest game from the studio that gave us the charming pseudo-noir adventure series ‘Bear With Me’, moving away from the point and click genre, Last Encounter is a top-down twin-stick shooter with support for up to four players (good) and a rogue-lite approach to level design. 

📦 Commodore 64 - Spellbound & Prowler - Mastertronic - eBay Unboxing Video 📦 #C64 #RetroGaming

🎮"Here's a nice unboxing video of my latest eBay purchase. 

Spellbound and Prowler on the C64"🎮

⚽️ Episode 15. SNES Football Games Were Shite - Kick Off 3 - ANCO - 1994⚽️

🎮"With Brazilian screamers galore, this is an episode not to be missed! Kick Off 3 is so much fun and yet so bad it's good!"🎮

🍋🔫🍍 Review: Juicy Realms "A Fruity Shooter That Ripens Quickly" 🍒🔫🍉

Game Title: Juicy Realms

Developer: SpaceCan

Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)

Rating: Melting

Juicy Realms is a (sort-of) top-down twin-stick shooter that can be played locally or in co-op modes. 

Set in a world where the food chain has completely altered, leaving sentient fruits and vegetables at the top of the chain and humans somewhere in the middle, it’s up to you (and possibly a friend) to load up and delve deeper in to the Plant Empire, putting a stop to their ‘seedy ways.

👊🏻🏀 Review: Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn "The Big Daddy is BACK!" 🏀👊🏻 #ShaqFu

Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn

I know nothing about basketball, but after Shaquille O’Neil was in his own hot game on the SNES and in that one movie where everyone thinks it was Sinbad, I figured he must be a major star. And that opening line is all we need to mention about the original game, as this second iteration seems to want nothing to do with the classic fighter, other than as material for some jokes. 

Many years and a sprinkle of crowdfunding later though, this dominant athlete is looking to craft a new legend, or at least wants to make something closer to an actual success in the video game world. 

Is it possible though, or are some things in history truly doomed to repeat?

⚔️ Moonlighter - PS4 - Ten Minute Taster ⚔️ #GameDev #IndieGame

🎮 "Looting Dungeons and running my own shop has long been an ambition of mine and now I can live that dream in Moonlighter on PS4. 

Loot the local dungeons and sell your wares in a cross between Legend Of Zelda and Stardew Valley" 🎮

⚽️ Episode 14. SNES Football Games Were Shite - Kevin Keegan's Player Manager - Imagineer - 1993 ⚽️ #SNES #Retrogaming

🎮"With Kev's hair and Kick Off gameplay combined what could possibly go wrong here? 

We'd love it if you watched to find out!"🎮

🏚️ Review: Without Escape - "A Brief Jaunt into The Unknown" 🏚️ @BrittRecluseuk @kingdomofcarts #GameDev #IndieGame

Game Title: Without Escape
Developer: Bumpy Trail Games
Platform Reviewed: PC (Steam)
Rating: Melting

Without Escape has been released previously in a different guise on the Xbox Live service and has been in development through various stages since 2001, when it was a very different beast indeed. 

The game comes with a brief history of its development cycle (Bumpy Trail Games is a one-man team) and it’s clear to see that the game is a labour of love. 

From its inception as a very basic point and click game with graphics drawn in Paint through to the newest and final incarnation as a game with lushly rendered graphics and extra sections with multiple endings that we see today.