📸 Umurangi Generation | Review | Nintendo Switch | 7.5/10 | "A Unique, Creative and Atmospheric Experience" 📸 @UmurangiGame #IndieGames #GameDev

I first became aware of Umurangi Generation through the upcoming vinyl soundtrack release through the always awesome Stumpy Frog Records, in fact, I think it’s the first time that I’ve been drawn to a game on the strength of the OST artwork! Armed only with the knowledge that it was a photography-based game set in a dismal future, I tucked in.

The Switch version of Umurangi Generation comes with extra DLC that includes 4 additional stages as well as over an hour of extra music, good. More on Thor High Heels’ audio skills later!

❗️ Say No! More | Review | Nintendo Switch | 7/10 | "A Game That Says Something" ❗️ @SayNoMore_Game #IndieGames #GameDev

It feels like it’s been a long time since I covered a more ‘experiential’ game and Say No! More is definitely in this camp.

An idiosyncratic title that casts you as an intern on their first day on a new job,  gifted with the ability to only say ‘no’ in various ways - or occasionally, nothing at all - Say No! more is a fun and gently empowering game that approaches its goal with an open and embracing heart.

⚒️ Spelunker HD Deluxe Will Be Available as a Limited and Collector’s Edition for Pre-Order from Sunday, June 6th at Midnight ⚒️ @TozaiGames #RetroGames #IndieGames

Strictly Limited Games brings an awesome and addictive platformer from the 80s - from legendary developer TOZAI - to PS4 and Nintendo Switch!

Retro fans need to prepare themselves for a real challenge.

Spelunker HD Deluxe will be available as Limited and Collector’s Edition for pre-order from Sunday, June 6th at midnight (CEST) at the Strictly Limited Games Shop!

The digital version for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 will follow in Q3 2021 by ININ Games. 

>> Let’s start on another adventure! <<

🎧 H3 EPOS Closed Acoustic Gaming Wired Headset | ICE COOL | "I was intrigued as to the leap in quality a £100+ headset would make" 🎧 @eposaudiogaming #GamingHeadset #ThePowerofAudio

Having covered a few headsets between the £20-£50 price bracket from various brands and listening to dozens of hours of games, podcasts and music through them all, I was intrigued as to the leap in quality a £100+ headset would make and if it would even be that noticeable in the grand scheme of things.

Yes, yes it is.

🎶💿 Games Freezer Interviews: BlipBlop VGM On Wax 🎶💿 @blipblopwax #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

Continuing my deep dive into the world of video game vinyl, I recently contacted Frederik at Blip Blop to get a fuller understanding of what they do over at www.blipblop.net 

📀🐸💿Games Freezer Interviews : Stumpy Frog Records 💿🐸📀 @stumpyfrogrecs #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

Tying in nicely with my recent articles on video game vinyl as well as our interview with Harvester Games’ mastermind Rem Michalski, this interview with Stumpy Frog Records came about as I happened across them on Twitter due to them promoting The Cat Lady vinyl soundtrack.

That soundtrack very quickly came to be a favourite and I had a really great experience as a customer with Stumpy Frog to the point that I wanted to learn more about them, hence this interview.

Whilst they only have a couple of releases under their belt, there’s a lot of gold bubbling in preparation and I can absolutely vouch for their quality, customer service and professionalism.

🔋 Venom Twin Docking Station (XSX/S & One) & Venom USB Hub for Xbox Series X/S/One | Rating: Ice Cool [GF Recommended Purchase] 🔋 @VenomGamingUK #XboxSeriesX

A sleek and well-designed docking station that does its job well at a fair price, the Venom Twin Docking Station is a GF recommended purchase for your controller charging needs.

🤡 Strangeland | Ten minute Taster | PC | "Scary Times In A Strange Land" 😱 @WWSGames #IndieGames #GameDev

In Strangeland you wake in a surreal carnival, where a woman cries out to you before leaping to her death. 

Who was she? And who are you? 

The denizens and devices of Strangeland answer with riddles, puzzles, and warnings of a Dark Thing lurking at the park’s peak. 

A new adventure from the creators of Primordia.

⚔️🏰 Legend Of Keepers | PC | Ten minute Taster | Gameplay | "Heroes Scaring Simulator" ⚔️🏰 @studio_goblinz #IndieGames #GameDev

Legend of Keepers is the perfect mix between Dungeon Defender and Roguelite. 

You have been hired as a dungeon manager by the Dungeons Company. 

Your job is simple: protect their dungeons!

🏰 SIEGE SURVIVAL: GLORIA VICTIS | PC | GAMEPLAY | TUTORIAL 🏰 @SiegeSurvival #IndieGames #GameDev

"A medieval city under siege and a handful of civilians are all that keep the walls from falling. Mixing survival strategy and resource management, build your camp, craft supplies, and scavenge the occupied city to supply the last troops holding back the invaders."

💻 Best of 2021: Top 6 Browser Games 💻

“Another blog on games and how they are the perfect panacea for our boredom.”

“Yes, you are right but don’t bounce off. This blog is different. I promise! Give me 10 more seconds, and I’ll tell you how this blog isn’t like your usual gaming blogs.”

🩸 Outbreak: Endless Nightmares | Review | 2/10 | “I was completely on board with this game...until I played it.” 🩸 #IndieGames #GameDev

I always like to start my reviews by explaining my relationship to the game, genre or franchise etc. and I feel in this review it’s especially important as I am very specifically the target audience.

It is a game trying to capture the aesthetics, gameplay and vibe of the late ‘90s horror games. I love those games - Resident Evil 2,4 and Silent Hill 2 are in my top 10 games of all time so I was completely on board with this game.... until I played it.

🎩 Lunch With Professor Layton 🎩 #NintendoDs #RetroGaming

A few years ago my daughter had reached the age to get her first console and after doing my research I felt that at the age of 5 a 2DS would be perfect, and it was. We played a lot of Animal Crossing New Leaf together and totally enjoyed our time with the 2DS but then everything changed in 2017 when I got my Nintendo Switch. It was at that point that my kids wanted to play my Switch way more than the 2DS and the poor old 2DS was resigned to its fate to live on a shelf next to the DSi.

Meanwhile, I fast forward to 2021 when for some reason I got the hankering to play a Professor Layton game as I had never got round to playing Professor Layton before and it has been a franchise that I have admired from afar.

🚗🚗🚗 Total Arcade Racing | Nintendo Switch | Review | 7/10 | "Total Arcade Racing Takes its Cues from The Retro Racing Classics" 🚗🚗🚗 @CasualGames_nu #GameDev #IndieGames

Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off-Road had one of the clunkiest names of any game I've ever played, but it was great back in my Amiga days. 

Super Sprint too. Total Arcade Racing takes its cues from both of these classics and does a good job in bringing the multiplayer pain to the Switch.

🕹️ Mega Man the Wily Wars Available for Pre-Order for Genesis/Mega Drive! 🕹️ #RetroGaming #MegaMan

This looks awesome from Strictly Limited games!

Retro game fans can look forward to a really special collection coming from CAPCOM.

Mega Man: The Wily Wars combines three awesome titles to play: Mega Man, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man 3 for Genesis/Mega Drive.

The Collector’s Editions featuring some very special and carefully selected items will be available for pre-order for one month - from May 21st, 4pm (CEST) to June 21st at the Strictly Limited Games Partner Store.

💿 Video Game Vinyl Fantasies | #1 | Britt Recommends 💿

Having got into vinyl around ten years ago upon inheriting my late grandfather’s record player, it was only upon the release of Streets of Rage 2 via Data Discs (in 2017-ish?) that I began dipping into picking up video game soundtracks with any regularity.

At first, it was just the Data Discs releases that intrigued me; Outrun, Golden Axe, Sonic Mania, Shinobi etc. but I soon got hips deep into the scene and began learning of some really cool labels that were releasing some serious gold.

In this article, I thought I’d shine a light on the labels and releases that really stand out for me and will include links in each section. Whilst this list isn’t exhaustive, it does pretty much sum up the records that are entrenched in my mind at the moment.

Maybe the next article would be the soundtracks I’d dearly love to be released in vinyl form, who knows?

For now, enjoy and please, let me know if there are any that I’ve missed!

🎞️📽️ Mortal Kombat Movie Review (2021) 🎞️📽️ #MortalKombatMovie #MortalKombat

The Mortal Kombat franchise is quite the behemoth, a string of games and spin-off titles since the early ‘90s that number over well over a dozen followed by two movies, an animated series and more recently, a collection of short online episodes.

As a more casual fan of the franchise – I like the original game, ‘95 movie and enjoyed a tickle at the most recent game – I was intrigued as to the approach this film would take, especially with the more visceral, over-the-top, recent entries in the videogame series. 

It turns out that this particular incarnation of Mortal Kombat has some really golden moments in terms of fight sequences and nods to its gaming roots but tries to cram too much into its running time and ends up rushing through sequences and dancing between characters in a bid to keep all the razor-edged plates spinning.

🐙 The Sinking City (enhanced) | Review | Xbox Series X | 8.5/10 (Ice Cool) | "The Best Lovecraft-Inspired Game Yet?" 🐙 @Frogwares #GameDev #IndieGames

Released to relatively positive reviews back in 2019, Frogwares’ The Sinking City wasn’t exactly a technical marvel, with most of the negativity focusing on the lengthy loading times and visual issues such as screen-tearing and an unreliable frame rate.

I fully intended to play the game upon its original release but it somehow slipped through the cracks and so I had no preconceptions of the title going into this review. I’m pleased to say that this enhanced version of The Sinking City really does seem to solve all the technical problems that it seems people had with the 2019 release and to me, stands up as one of – if not THE - best games based on Lovecraft’s works.

🕵️🔪🩸 Hitman 3 | PS5 | Review | 9/10 | "A Fitting End To The World of Assassination Trilogy" 🕵️🔪🩸 @Hitman @IOInteractive

The Hitman series is one that I've played and loved for about 15 years and the 2006 entry Hitman: Blood Money specifically is one of my favourite games of all time.

The series has always been about the creative kills; drop a piano on an unsuspecting criminal, poison the mob boss’ morning gin, dress up as a clown and beat a villain to death with a frying pan at his child's birthday party etc.

It’s a series about creativity, of how cunning or sadistic can you be? My strategy would always be - try to plan something clever. Fail. Panic, ending up with bursting into a room, shooting the target and then hiding in the nearest bin. 

📼 Tape Recovery Simulator 96K 📼 @cawigames #IndieGames #GameDev #RetroGaming

Tape Recovery Simulator 96K is a game focusing on recovering data off of reluctant old tapes.

During the 80's and early '90s, the audio analogue tape was one of the main storage mediums with a capacity of 600 Kb stored as actual sound. 

It wasn't very reliable, to begin with, since tapes and tape recorders varied greatly in quality and compatibility. 

If not stored properly, tapes have a tendency to degrade over time, especially if left near strong magnetic/electric fields (like cathode monitors/TVs, speakers, children, power sources, power plants, EMP bombs, any kind of star, ...). 

Sometimes, some of the data can still be recovered even after decades of mistreatment.

Tape Recovery Simulator 96K builds new game mechanics around old data recovery tricks. 

Caffeine Withdrawal Games’ philosophy is “games you haven’t played before” and TRS 96K is the perfect example of it.