🐍 The Serpent Rogue Ten Minute Taster 🐍 @TheSerpentRogue

The Serpent Rogue is a botanical action-adventure game set in a medieval fantasy world. Master the art of alchemy, explore forgotten lands, tame wild beasts and protect the realm from impending disaster. You will craft, brew, boil, & concoct potions all in your stead to defeat an ominous danger!

✏️ "5 years, 600 articles and over 400,000 words" 🗒️ @BrittRecluseuk

It dawned on me a few weeks ago that, as of March 2022, I’d been writing for Games Freezer for over half a decade. I thought it would seem crazy, but to be honest – writing and editing for The Mighty GF has been such a key part of my daily routine for so long that it feels like I’ve been doing it forever, and loving it! After a quick glance at the various folders spread across multiple PCs, it looks like I’ve written over 600 articles now, and out of a misjudged sense of curiosity, I looked back at my original article for GF - way back in 2017 - and it was clear me how much I’d progressed and learned over those 600 articles – and how much I love Landstalker.

📚📖 Lock-On | A Gaming Journal | Volume 003/Q1 2022 📚📖 "Smell The Pages" @lostincult #LockOn

Lock On, the beautiful gaming journal, is back for its 3rd instalment with its wonderful-looking and smelling pages! (seriously make sure to smell the pages immediately)

The artwork throughout is once again amazing and the writing in this 3rd issue has clearly hit its stride with articles that are not only thought-provoking but also informative and an education for any self-respecting gaming nerd.

Each page is a treat as you get to sample the thoughts of many talented writers that delivered for me an insight into topics that are outside of my gaming knowledge sphere.

🤖 Biomotor Unitron Nintendo Switch (originally Neo Geo Pocket Color) Review 6/10 "Climbs into the arena for one more round" 🤖 #RetroGaming #NeoGeo

Originally released in 1999 for the Neo Geo Pocket Color, Biomotor Unitron was an early RPG for the system. As I’d never heard of it before, my first impression was one of perhaps a mecha/Pokémon hybrid due to the style used in some screenshots, however, Biomotor Unitron is far more focused on upgrades and random dungeons as opposed to narrative and exploration, which makes the game, unfortunately, feel repetitive – and shallow, despite the number of menu-driven upgrades and items.

💿 Sable Original Soundtrack by Japanese Breakfast | Vinyl Review 💿 @Jbrekkie #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Sony Music Masterworks / Dead Oceans

Nominated at the Golden Joystick Awards 2021 for best audio, Japanese Breakfast (Michelle Zauner) has created a soundtrack that captures the stark, expansive atmosphere of the game on which it was based – Shedworks’ 2021 hit, Sable. The soundtrack is in turn soaring, beautiful, thoughtful, and introspective as the thirty-two tracks unfold their audio narrative.

When I first received Sable for review, I had only heard of Japanese Breakfast in name only, and so had no preconceptions of the style or approach they would bring to a video game soundtrack, with the Wikipedia description of their genre as ‘alternative pop’ leaving a lot of room for interpretation.

Opting against listening to any of their music from outside of this soundtrack, I dived straight in* and the dreamy, atmospheric and often hypnotic sounds quickly won my heart.

🌼💀 Dread X Collection 5 PC Gameplay "Get Ya Flowers In The Well & Run Like HELL!" 💀🌼 @DreadXP_ #GameDev #IndieGames

Dread X Collection 5 is a horror anthology in the Dread X Collection series.

Featuring 12 new games from up-and-comers along with veterans, all wrapped up in an old, run-down party venue that may be hiding more than it's letting on...

😱 Source of Madness Xbox Series X Review 6/10 "A 'Nearly' Game" 😱 @CarryCastle #IndieGames #GameDev

It's happened again. 

Anything with 'Lovecraft' in the description is summarily thrown my way by the GamesFreezer gods, so this landed in my inbox before I'd even heard of it. 

Source of Madness is a roguelike action platformer, wherein the best traditions of the genre, each run is designed to teach you more about the game before your next attempt. 

The Lovecraft connection comes in through atmosphere, tentacled monsters and the odd reference to Cthulhu or Azathoth here and there.

🐼 Pinball Freedom Switch Review 5/10 "Pinball freedom, but not a dream" 🐼 @CGAStudioGames #IndieGame #GameDev

Currently priced at under a fiver on the UK Nintendo eShop, Pinball Freedom by developer CGA Studio Games offers five separate pinball tables as well as an air hockey table, but some foundational issues with the in-game ball physics and flat gameplay detract from the inherent draw of pinball.

💿 Jettomero: Hero of the Universe Video Game Vinyl Soundtrack Review 💿 @stumpyfrogrecs @GhostTimeGames #VideoGameVinyl #Vinyl

Jettomero: Hero of the Universe – Vinyl Soundtrack

Stumpy Frog Records

Composed by Gabriel Koenig

Purchase Link - https://www.stumpyfrog.com/

A warning that this article contains spoilers for the game Jettomero: Hero of the Universe, if you don’t want to read them but wish to know the outcome of the article - the soundtrack to Jettomero is fantastic and you should listen to it extremely intently and often.

🔵🟢🔴 In the Dark Game Boy Review | 8/10 "A surprisingly fiendish and simple puzzle title that feels right at home on the Game Boy system" 🔵🟢🔴 @BitmapSoft #IndieGame #Retrogaming

Developed by Binary Sonata Studio | Published By Bitmap Soft

The minds behind a plethora of new releases on classic systems, Bitmap Soft have games across a multitude of platforms, from Amstrad CPC through to the Mega Drive.

The first handheld release I have covered in quite some time, In the Dark’s simple premise, means that it’s a great ‘dive in ‘n out’ puzzle title for your Game Boy.

📽️🍿 Rifftrax: The Game XSX Review 9/10 @widerightgames "The creators of What the Dub once again strike comedy gold" 📽️🍿 #IndieGame #GameDev

Having been a big fan of Wide Right’s previous game, What the Dub – I was intrigued as to how Rifftrax: The Game would differ, and what it would bring to the table – especially as it appears to be based on a more American-centric show not familiar to me at all (although I was vaguely aware of the precursor show Mystery Science Theatre 3000).

It turns out that no prior knowledge of Rifftrax is required, as Wide Right Games have created a fantastic and often hilarious party game that is accessible to all, and this is a game I highly recommend whenever you have friends or family around.

🃏🔥 Deck of Ashes Xbox Review 6/10 "Spire Slayer?" 🔥🃏 @AygamesO #GameDev #IndieGame

After the more cartoony and simple presentation of Slay the Spire (the most famous and probably well-regarded of card battle games), the distinctive aesthetic of Deck of Ashes immediately drew me in. 

Hand-drawn, Lovecraftian creatures abound. Ghoulish witches and genuinely unsettling undead creatures litter the battlefield, and I am all in favour of it. 

On top of this, the battles themselves are brought to life by creepy animations (the jester character sprouts monstrous claws from his back when he attacks) and a suitably gothic soundtrack.

🐁🐭🖱️ Trust GXT980 Redex Wireless Mouse Review 🐁🐭🖱️ @TrustGaming

I have been using the trust GXT980 Redex Wireless Mouse solidly for over a week now, having used it heavily for work, home use and gaming - and it has very much replaced the other mice that were scattered around my home and office due to its style, comfort and practicality.

🔥🌞IMP OF THE SUN | NINTENDO SWITCH | TEN MINUTE TASTER 🌞 🔥 @impofthesun #IndieGame #GameDev

 

Restore the Sun’s light and end the Eternal Eclipse in IMP OF THE SUN, a 2D fast-paced puzzle-action-platformer game inspired by Peruvian cultures. 

Explore hand-crafted environments, battle and improve your skills to defeat the Four Keepers that stole the power of the Sun.

🤖 The Cursed Knight Mega Drive Review 8.5/10 "A curse for the knight, a blessing for your Mega Drive" 🤖 @TKthegame #IndieGame #GameDev

Funded in just seven hours on Kickstarter, it’s clear that there was a lot of interest and high hopes for GGS Studio’ creation. And rightly so.

Sometimes referred to as T.C.K, The Cursed Knight is set in the year 3122 - long after the fall of civilisation – and casts the player as Kalder, a knight who is in love with his king’s daughter and must set out to rescue her when she is kidnapped by nefarious forces just as the king bestows his blessing on their relationship.

☢️ Chernobylite Xbox Series X Review 7/10 "Events of 1986 Resulted in Far Weirder Things Than Just Nuclear Fallout..." ☢️ @ChernobylGame #IndieGame #GameDev

Coincidentally, I was given Chernobylite to review the same week I finished the brilliant Chernobyl mini-series, so I was in the perfect frame of mind for this. Saying that you get about five seconds into the game before it diverges far, far from reality and into a world where the events of 26th April 1986 resulted in far weirder things than just nuclear fallout.

🌳 ITORAH PC Gameplay Ten Minute Taster 🌳 @GrimbartTales #IndieGames #GameDev

 

Discover the world of Nahucan in this 2.5D action platformer.

You are Itorah, the only human in this strange place. Explore, fight and survive to uncover your past and save Nahucan from its biggest threat, a mysterious plague!

🎧 Thian Wireless Gaming Headset Unboxing (PC,PS4 & PS5) 🎧 @TrustGaming

Rich unboxes the THIAN WIRELESS GAMING HEADSET and is impressed by the price and comfort of this lovely budget headset!

AMAZON LINK:

Amazon Affiliate Link

🐔🐴Chicken Police- Paint It Red Xbox Series X Review 8/10 “A clucking good noir” 🐔🐴 @ChickenPoliceG #IndieGame #GameDev

I’m sure my reaction to first hearing about Chicken Police mirrored a lot of others, “What the hell is Chicken Police?”. I then looked it up on Google and realised that it’s a noir with anthropomorphic chickens. It’s a very intriguing and almost confusing idea, one which could easily be hit or miss.

💿 GOTHAM ’89 Video Game Vinyl Review From Shapeshift Records 💿 @shapeshiftvinyl #Vinyl #VideoGameVinyl

Purchase Link - https://shapeshiftrecords.com/products/gotham-89

A perfectly-timed release, with Batman being on a lot of minds following Matt Reeves’ (excellent) The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson as the scowl under the cowl – Shapeshift Records’ GOTHAM ’89 is a re-imagining of Danny Elfman’s 1989 Batman score as a 16-bit epic. Good.

Considering that this is Shapeshift records’ first release, it’s an impressive achievement as the presentation, design, sound – and quite frankly –the idea behind the album is all awesome.