🧛‍♀️ Resident Evil: Village | Review | PS5 | 9.5/10 | "The Perfect Game to Celebrate 25 years of Resident Evil" 🧛‍♀️ #ResidentEvilVillage

Resident Evil: Village was always going to be interesting for me, as I thought six was too action-orientated and I found seven too heavy on the horror.

Now, I will admit that when I played seven, I had lost interest in both horror and gaming so I think that heavily skewed my opinion of the game, though I will say - even though I had issues with seven at the time, I understood that Resident Evil as a franchise needed a new direction in both story and gameplay, such as when four was released which moved to the over-the-shoulder camera with a story that was firmly tongue in cheek, accentuating the B-Movie horror qualities of the series. It was what the franchise needed and after six, it was clear they once again needed a new direction. 

So, enter Resident Evil Village. Was I going to feel it was too heavy on action/horror… or was it going to be like the tale of Goldilocks, and everything was going to be just right?

🦜🏴‍☠️ King Of Seas | PS4 | Gameplay | ten Minute Taster | "Pirate Booty Ahoy!" 🦜🏴‍☠️ @3DClouds #IndieGames #GameDev

King of Seas is an Action Role-playing game set in a procedural pirate world. 

An epic adventure awaits you in a fantastic world, dotted with fights, lost islands and treasures. 

A universe that will keep you anchored as you struggle to become the king of all pirates.

🕹️ Meet the UK Events owner turning Milton Keynes into a Retro Gaming Arcade Hotspot | Opens Friday 4th June 2021 🕹️ @thepixelbunker #Aracde #MiltonKeynes #RetroGaming

It’s every gamer’s dream to have a whole host of Retro Arcade cabs in one exciting space. For Pixel Bunker Arcade’s owner Andy Brown, who also heads up Replay Events, it’s his 2021 reality. 

From After Burner to Wonder Boy, this place has it all - and it’s not been without its challenges either. But Andy has many years of experience delivering Retro Gaming events with his PLAY Expo consumer gaming shows across the UK to now bring a more permanent residence to the heart of Milton Keynes. 

⚔️🛡️🧞‍♂️ Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World | PS4 | Review | 7/10 | "A Fun Frolic Through The Missing Link Of My Wonder Boy Journey" ⚔️🛡️🧞‍♂️ @WonderBoyWild @ININ_Games

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is essentially a remaster of the original 1994 Wonder Boy IV for modern consoles.

A few years back we had the return of Wonder Boy when The Dragons Trap came out to critical acclaim and now we are looking at Asha’s turn in the limelight!

Wonder Boy has featured heavily in my gaming education over the years as one of my first gaming memories was playing Wonder Boy on my cousin’s commodore 64 back in the 80s and then my first game on my SEGA Master System was Wonder Boy in Monster Land which I purchased from the classified ads in the local paper. More recently I played the remake of Dragons Trap which was a delight and really well made.

I love to see these remasters and remakes when they are done right and I’m happy to report that Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World has been done to near perfection with a dash of peppercorn sauce, peas and creamy mash potato.

💭 Don’t Forget Me | Review | PC | 2/10 | "As far as game titles go Don’t Forget Me isn’t half bad" 💭 @PixelHunted @TheMoonPirates #GameDev #IndieGames

As far as game titles go Don’t Forget Me isn’t half bad. 

There’s an air of mystery: who might I forget… and why? 

But after playing the game it feels unhappily ironic as I will never think about Don’t Forget Me ever again once I wrap up this review.

🍅 New Commodore Amiga Game Turbo Tomato Has A 31st July 2021 Release Date! 🍅 @nivrig #IndieGames #CommodoreAmiga #RetroGaming

Fruit has never been so much fun!

THE GARDEN, a pastoral haven. The sun shines, the birds sing, the grass grows and the fruits, vegetables and other creatures live peaceful and happy lives. 

In this idyllic place live brother and sister Turbo and Nitra Tomato, enjoying the simple life with their friends.

But all is not as it seems...

Five a day? Come get some!

📸 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.