Games Freezer | Retrogaming, Indie Games and Games Culture

09/09/2021

🐴 Rustler | Review | Xbox Series X | 6.5/10 | "A Horse That May Have Bolted Too Soon" 🐴 @jutsugames #GameDev #IndieGames

The premise of a top-down GTA game that is set in Medieval times is a winner on paper and Rustler really does have its moments but unfortunately, some fundamental issues that are present throughout limit the enjoyment.

As an all-around rogue Guy, Rustler has you working for a man named Herb as a horse thief, but – unbeknownst to him - you plan to escape your life of poverty by winning a grand tournament. The only problem? You need 5000 gold to enter.

08/09/2021

🌪️ Boomerang X | Nintendo Switch | Gameplay | Ten Minute Taster "I Need A New Joycon" 🌪️ @videodang #IndieGames #GameDev

In Boomerang X you will need to Harness the power of a mystical boomerang to fling yourself through the air.

Slice, fly and blast through arenas swarming with evil creatures. Stay agile or meet your doom.

https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/boomerang-x-switch/

07/09/2021

🎼💿📀 Sparkster Vinyl Review 🎼💿📀 @blackscreenrec #Vinyl #VGMVinyl

https://blackscreenrecords.com/products/sparkster-rocket-knight-adventures-2-original-soundtrack?ref=DKckbeLXWw8-aj

I’m a big fan of the Mega Drive sound chip. There’s a snappiness and rawness that really pops out on vinyl and appeals to me on an almost genetic level and, combined with the Konami Sound Team’s (Konami Kukeiha Club) understanding of the chip...wizardry can ensue, as is the case with some tracks on Sparkster.

06/09/2021

⚔️ Fort Triumph | Review | Xbox Series X/S | 7/10 | "When it's good, it's great" ⚔️ @AllinGamesPub #GameDev #IndieGames

My first forays into Fort Triumph were initially a little frustrating. The story is well-formed, and the writing is funny, so I felt I knew the world and its inhabitants early on. However, you are thrown into the mix straight away, and there is a lot to take in with not a lot of explanation.

05/09/2021

📀💿🎼 Machinarium Vinyl Soundtrack Review 📀💿🎼

In my recent articles on Amanita Design’s Creaks (video game review – https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/06/creaks-review-xbox-series-x-910.html, vinyl soundtrack review - https://www.gamesfreezer.co.uk/2021/08/creaks-soundtrack-on-vinyl-vinyl-vgm.html) I referenced how my introduction to them – 2009’s Machinarium – had a real impact on me. I think it’s safe to say, games that present themselves wordlessly really fondle my cheeks and ruffle my hair, I adore them – when done correctly.

04/09/2021

🏌️‍♂️ Golf Club Wasteland | Review | Xbox Series X | 6.5/10 | "On earth, no-one can hear you miss a birdie" 🏌️‍♂️ @UntoldTalesHQ #IndieGames #GameDev

I was HIPS DEEP when I saw the trailer for Golf Club Wasteland. The striking, pastel visuals and dreamy music combined with basic gameplay seemed really captivating.

Having played the game, however, whilst there’s a lot that appealed to me, I really, really wish I’d connected with the style of progression and the general direction that Golf Club Wasteland takes a lot more.

03/09/2021

🚪 The Long Gate | Nintendo Switch | Ten minute Taster | "Playing It On Easy" 🚪 @TheLongGate #IndieGames #GameDev

Explore mysterious caverns and solve the puzzles of the ancient machines that fill them.

02/09/2021

🚪 Death’s Door | Review | Xbox Series X | 9/10 | “Holy Crap, this is going to be a good game!” 🚪 @acidnerve #IndieGames #GameDev

Within seconds of booting up, I whispered to be myself, “Holy Crap, this is going to be a good game!”, I had to whisper as my daughter was within earshot and getting slightly charmed by the bird protagonist.

Yes, you heard right, a bird of the Corvus family, commonly known as a crow.

01/09/2021

⚔️ Demons of Asteborg | SEGA Mega Drive | Review | 9.5/10 | "A Modern Mega Drive Classic" ⚔️ @DAsteborg #Retrogaming #IndieGames #GameDev

The Mega Drive is very much a console that I hold in high regard. As someone who has played, loved and collected for the system for decades, it’s very clear to me, if Demons of Asteborg was a Mega Drive game released in the mid-'90s - it would be regarded as a classic, ‘must have’ title.

Released in 2021 on the Mega Drive, however…. it’s still a classic, ‘must have’ title.

31/08/2021

👨‍⚖️ The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles | PS4 | Review | 8/10 | "Elementary, my dear Ace Attorney" 👨‍⚖️

This is the first entry I have played in the Ace Attorney franchise; I've always been aware of them and always thought I would like them, but for some reason never played them.

This seemed like a good starting point as it’s set many years before the other games, which meant I was sure I could avoid spoilers and be able to grasp the story - as no prior knowledge would be needed.

30/08/2021

🚁🧟‍♂️ Highrisers | PC | Gameplay | Ten Minute Taster | "Get In The Chopper!" 🚁🧟‍♂️ @SolarPowerGames #IndieGames #GameDev

Highrisers is an Urban Survival RPG! Crafting, Exploring and Defending in a desolate metropolis haunted by the mysterious dreamers. Lead a team of 4 survivors through this urban desert of skyscrapers and high-rises, where the streets are crowded with the mutated victims of a strange disease.

29/08/2021

🛣️ Road 96 | PC | Review | 7/10 | "Digixart’s game is actually a series of carefully designed and written vignettes" 🛣️ @Digixart #IndieGames #GameDev

Road 96 bills itself as a “procedurally generated” story. Going in this was a big red flag: I don’t want some algorithm telling me a tale, I want a human being with thoughts, feelings and opinions!

Fortunately, it quickly becomes apparent that Road 96 is using procedural generation as more of a buzzword.

28/08/2021

💿📀 Mango Mage Records | Interview With Britt 💿📀 #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl @TheMangoMage

During my recent dalliances across the internet in search of gaming vinyl, I happened across new label Mango Mage Records, and as they seemed so blinking lovely, I thought it would be great to get to know them a little better, especially as they seemed in an interesting position as they were a new label and just celebrating the sell-out of their first release. Fear not!

There are more releases to come…

https://www.mangomagerecords.com

27/08/2021

🔘🏙️ Button City | Xbox Series X | Review | 7/10 | "Pastel-Shaded Playtime with Pals" 🔘🏙️ @ButtonCity #IndieGames #GameDev

A cute and pastel-coloured adventure aimed at younger players, Button City is a simple story told with charm and an accessible and fun main game in Gobabots, propped up by other mini-games and light exploration.

26/08/2021

🤡 Ayo the Clown | Nintendo Switch Review | 6.5/10 | "Pastel Palettes, Twinkly Music and a Cast of Toy-like Side Characters" 🤡 @cloudm1 #IndieGames #GameDev

Ayo the Clown was given to me as a game my kids might enjoy. Having watched the trailer I was inclined to agree, the younger one anyway (the older one is currently obsessed with Zelda and recently finished Breath of the Wild, so might need a bit more challenge).

The trailer is narrated by a soft-voiced American who sounds like a kids' TV host and introduces us to the word of Ayo. He's a clown who has lost his best friend, his dog Bo. You accompany Ayo through multiple brightly coloured levels, taking on a host of enemies in order to get Bo back.

25/08/2021

🃏🎴 Draft Of Darkness | PC | Ten Minute Taster | "It's Drafty and its Dark!" 🃏🎴 @CrawlyGames #IndieGames #GameDev

Draft of Darkness is a survival horror deck builder with roguelike dungeon exploration. Recruit allies, synergize their decks to create powerful card combos, manage your resources, explore procedurally generated maps and determine the outcome of the story.

24/08/2021

🌳 Seed Of Life | PC | Ten Minute Taster | "Watch Me Sow My Seed" 🌳 @leonardointera #GameDev #IndieGames

Seed of Life is an epic adventure game about the persistence of life.

You're Cora, the last known survivor of Lumia, a dying planet.

Your only hope to save your homeworld is to activate the Seed of Life and rekindle the sun once again.

Will you be the light that conquers the darkness?

23/08/2021

⚔️ Greak: Memories Of Azur | Nintendo Switch | Ten-Minute Taster | Gameplay | "Its All Greak To Me" ⚔️ @PlayGreak #IndieGames #GameDev

Greak: Memories of Azur is a beautiful single-player puzzle-platformer adventure.

You will take the role of three siblings: Greak, Adara and Raydel to guide them through the lands of Azur.

Alternate control between them and use their unique abilities to escape from the Urlag invasion.

22/08/2021

🏜️ Glyph | PC | Gameplay | Ten Minute Taster | "Rolling Around In the Sand" 🏜️ @PlayGlyph #IndieGames #GameDev

Glyph’s gameplay combines breathtaking aerial manoeuvres with tranquil exploration in a stunning 3D platforming experience. Add a mesmerizing original soundscape, and Glyph is lifting you up and whisking you away.