A recap of the games mentioned this month, August 2007: Action/ArcadeAce Speeder 2Lonely House-MovingGuardian PoponLosted 2R-Theta 2There Are People...HammerfallTAGAPUnderground BowlingAdventure/IFBen Jordan Case 6Stranded 2Tale of 2 KingdomsFate by NumbersAnother RoomCovert FrontPlatformerFret NiceKnytt StoriesDungeon LooterPunishment 2Timetravel BloboidOne More TimeKaipuuJoe GunnRPG/RoguelikeScallywagThe Desolate RoomGeneric SlashDungeon MakerExit Fate DemoIncursionLost KingdomPuzzle/StrategyBiniax 2CrashblockJigsaw BattleHuntedProximity HDPreviewsStarpoxSpace...
Jumat, 31 Agustus 2007
News
ShootersGrowWing (pictured above) was recently updated to include one new level. This horizontal shooter with 3D graphics is a work in progress, featuring two playable stages. [direct download link]The updated version for Sonic Ironstorm which includes new levels will be released sometime in September. [direct download link, screenshots]A screenshot from Nigoro's upcoming shooter game was recently posted on their development journal.New screenshots...
Cryptic Sea Dev Journal
Cryptic Sea has started up a new development journal in which fans of Gish can keep themselves updated about the sequel's production progress (pictured above). Barely visible in the image is a 2008 release date. There's a video posted with Edmund himself attempting to call Nintendo's Reggie to secure a publishing deal on the Wii.Edmund McMillen is also responsible for the character art in Braid, among other works.Visit the development jour...
Mateusz Skutnik's Upcoming Games
The author of the Submachine series has announced a schedule for his upcoming projects on his development journal recently. All of the following games will be released before Christmas 2007, in this order: Covert Front 2 (soonest)two untitled platformersDayMare Town 2Submachine 5Mateusz Skutnik's games p...
StarPox Preview
StarPox is a new horizontal shooter by Lazrael, creator of Banana Nababa and Poyo. Work in progress. [Dick the Duck preview, Lazrael's past projec...
Space Phallus Preview
Space Phallus will have levels that are entirely different from each other. It's a pretty simple affair, which uses 8-bit themed graphics and sound. The premise of the game is to save the galaxy from the marauding space penises that are threatening to destroy it. This one is coming along quite quickly (is that a pun?) so should see release in the coming months. I'll try to post some pics and maybe a video soon.CheersCharlie (author of Bullet Candy)Charlie's...
Kamis, 30 Agustus 2007
Machinarium Preview
Amanita Design (Samorost series) is currently working on a full-scale adventure game entitled Machinarium. The new project features hand-drawn art and backgrounds, but retains the point-and-click interface that fans of the series have grown accustomed to.Adventure Gamers had also revealed that the world is populated by robots, and players can expect to interact with a small inventory during the course of the game.Machinarium will be released sometime...
Ben Jordan Case 6: Scourge of the Sea People
Ben Jordan Case 6: Scourge of the Sea People is the latest in a series of adventure games by Grundislav about a young man and his journey around the world in search of mystery and danger. Puzzles are much easier compared to it's predecessors though certain screen exits can be easily missed at first glance.There's one scene with pixelated nudity, so approach with caution.Name: Ben Jordan Case 6: Scourge of the Sea PeopleDeveloper: GrundislavCategory:...
Rabu, 29 Agustus 2007
Fret Nice
Swedish developer Bits & Pieces Interactive brings us an innovative new twist on the paltformer genre with Fret Nice. The game can only be played with a guitar controller, requiring either a USB-to-PS2 adapter or a USB Xbox 360 guitar controller. Naturally, this will limit how many of you will be able to try it. If you have the ability to play this, however, you will be pleasantly surprised. Fret Nice is a recipient of the Best Game Concept...
Ace Speeder 2
Raingraph's Ace Speeder 2 is a decent racing game with uninspiring textures and pretty standard gameplay, but simulates a speeding race track well enough to please casual fans of the genre.Only two race tracks are accessible in this demo. Hold the space key to accelerate, and tap the same button quickly to use the boost. Swap camera view by pressing the C key. The V key can be used to turn the HUD on and off. Pause the game with the backspace or...
Previews
Joystiq previews Metanet Software's N+ (pictured above), due out for the Nintendo DS soon. Hot dual screen action!"The view for the DS game provides a zoomed-in bottom screen and a zoomed-out view of the whole level on the top screen.""The game will feature all new levels designed by original creators Metanet in both its Pure (based on the original Flash game) and Plus (new graphics and enemies) versions."Also from Joystiq, an interview with the...
News
UpdatesDicewars DS (a Nintendo DS port of GameDesign's popular dice strategy game, pictured above) updated to version 0.3.4.Georg Rottensteiner's Joe Gunn gets a final update, recently reviewed in RGCD. [installation instructions]ShootersThere's a couple of scans from Arcadia with information and screenshots about Cave's latest horizontal shooter Deathsmiles posted in the insomnia.ac forums. [AM show information]From Arcadia again, information and...
Cave Story Piano Arrangement
Being my first YouTube piano video, I only thought it would be appropriate to make it from Cave Story. This is of me, playing my own arrangement of selections from "Plantation" and "Moonsong." Sorry about the quality! - markarian.- MP3 downloads and sheet music for several tunes from Pixel's Cave St...
Arachnos Updated
There have been many changes to Bootansoft's horizontal shooter Arachnos since it's initial release. In the latest version (1.84), the author has included a difficulty setting and the option to increase the number of ships for each game.Arguably the best freeware Gradius tribute available. [gameplay videos]Name: ArachnosDeveloper: BootansoftCategory: ShooterType: FreewareSize: 10MBDirect download link: Click h...
Selasa, 28 Agustus 2007
RGCD Issue #3
The third issue of RGCD, the freely downloadable retro discmag, is now available. Blast Arena for the GBA is its featured review this time around.Amongst the 28 other games covered are Hurrican, Burn the Trash, Frazy and Zub for the PC, as well as Joe Gunn for the C64 and Blizzard's Rift for the Spectrum. This issue also has part one of an in-depth article about the history of the man behind Llamasoft, Jeff Minter.As always, all content is thoroughly...
Knytt Stories released early
Nifflas has released Knytt Stories a couple of days ahead of his original August 30th release date.Knytt Stories doesn't have a specific plot. Instead, each level is its own little adventure. A level called 'The Machine' is included with the game, where you have to stop a machine that draws the life out of the planet. An official expansion pack is also featured at the website with four original levels. Knytt Stories...
Lonely House-Moving
In Lonely House-Moving, the reluctance of the story's protagonist to let his young partner relocate to greener pastures has caused him to chase after a moving truck carrying the love of his life and her belongings in it. Your task is to avoid the falling objects by jumping over them for maximum points whenever possible.Bonus points are awarded for jumps which are further to the right. Execute Mario stomps on moles and crows for a score boost. Collect...
Guardian Popon
Guardian Popon is a simple arcade game in which the player has to protect his or her fort from invading forces with only a single cannon equipped on your ship as the defensive measure.Hold the left mouse button to set the cannonball flight distance, but restock regularly as your ship is able to carry a maximum of ten cannonballs at any time.Name: Guardian PoponDeveloper: GamePureCategory: ActionType: Brow...
Senin, 27 Agustus 2007
Biniax-2
In Biniax-2, the players controls a box with an element inside. Pairs of elements can be removed if the element controlled is the same as one of the pair. When a pair of element is removed, your box will take on the form of the other element in the pair. Press the space key to remove an entire column. This special move is limited and the number of uses allowed is indicated on the right side of the screen.A new tactical mode, improved graphics and...
Selasa, 21 Agustus 2007
News
Expect to see a gameplay video from World of Goo (pictured above) posted sometime this week.MarkUp issue 6 (the official GM magazine) is now available for download. The tutorials could be of some help but the reviews are incredibly poor as usual.Metablog updated; Lost Garden gets a new entry.ShootersSoldner-X will be released sometime around the end of 2007 or early 2008. [thanks to Timerever!]The full version of Honeyblaster will be released during...
Crashblock
Much like Tetris Plus, Crash Block is a variation of the classic game with a protagonist which you have to protect from the falling tetrominoes. The heroine of the story can jump, climb and direct pieces with a press of the Enter key. Use the backspace key to drop a piece once it is properly positioned over the desired placement area.The left and right cursor keys can be used to control the main character. Press the up or down arrow key to rotate...
Dungeon Looter
Dungeon Looter is one of the few notable entries from the recent Pascal Game Development. You assume the role of an explorer spelunking in a dangerous cave, with a torch in hand the only source of illumination and protection against unseen danger.The W, A, S and D keys can be used to control the main character. A glowing exclamation mark designates the point at which treasures are sold and items can be purchased. Stock up on torches, and view your...
Minggu, 19 Agustus 2007
Honeyblaster
Honeyblaster is the latest release from the low key game development team LowFuel, though they have been quite prolific in other areas such as the demo scene and design related work. This particular demo features three levels with a colored background option included for players who are not keen on playing the game in it's original black and white format.Each stage has it's own setting and offers a variety of enemies to blast at, but undeniably the...
Jigsaw Battle
Jigsaw Battle is a new puzzler from SKT, famed for their popular Moai series together with several other quirky Flash game releases to date. The game pits you against the CPU in a jigsaw completion duel, and the winner chosen from whichever side completes a set of three puzzles the quickest.There is also a game featuring an odd mascot among three of their recent releases in the past few weeks.Name: Jigsaw BattleDeveloper: SKTCategory: PuzzleType:...
Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa
Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa is a single player RPG with a combat system not unlike the one used by Blizzard's Diablo series. Taking the role of Rapius, players fight their way through eighty levels of randomly generated dungeons, braving dozens of enemies and adding a myriad of items to their loot collection.Careful use of Rapius' lantern will allow players to strike from afar, or for tough encounters, sneak by silently in the dark. The...
The Wonderful End of the World
The Wonderful End of the World is an upcoming release from Dejobaan Games, and console owners will likely notice the similarities between this project and Namco's Katamari Damacy series.Still currently in development, but a (very early) playable demo is available for downlo...
Cyclops
Cyclops is a new arena shooter from the author of Warning Forever, in which the player has to protect a turret from destruction by eliminating enemy ships or bullets with the help of a mounted laser beam weapon.Your primary weapon requires a short recharge period after each use, and at times the turret doesn't turn quick enough to combat the arriving enemy waves. Reflection panels can be used to your advantage in this situation, as your beam bounces...
Least Best Room
Least Best Room is a new Flash game by Kenta Cho which attempts to simulate gravity and physics in a tight space. This experimental project involves moving your avatar forward and trying to avoid mines, all the while squeezing through inflatable red balls or collecting green energy items.Use the cursor keys to move your character around, and hold the Z key to shoot. Your personal best distance is shown at the title screen but never saved when the...
Sabtu, 18 Agustus 2007
xWUNG
In xWUNG, you play by moving the mouse to swing a ball. The ball's attached to a wire, and both of them kill enemies on contact. Be careful of the debris as it's deadly. There are bosses that appear with regular intervals. Make large combos to get good scores. [source: the2bears]Online high score tableName: xWUNGDeveloper: cactusCategory: ActionType: FreewareSize: 2MBDirect download link: Click h...
News
Details about Nigoro's upcoming release (pictured above) posted. [rough translation]Eyezmaze's Tontie gets a new unlimited mode.Minion's Phoenix remake updated.Cave Story gets an XBox port.A new issue of GameShark's The Indies posted.The review archives was recently updated, though half of the new addition consists of crummy games as usual.From Andrew's site: "If you are working in flash and have a desire to learn things like gravity, 3-d rotation...
Space Giraffe Reviews
If your name is Jeff, look away now: Space Giraffe (Electorubbish)'Space Giraffe is NOT Tempest!' screams the instructions in Jeff's 360 music visualizer, Minter's latest interactive audiovisual orgy. Okay, but Space Giraffe does take nearly all its cues from Atari's classic coin-op (which Minter has reworked before).As in Tempest, you're an abstract creature on the edge of an electric grid floating in space, relentlessly basting the geometric creatures...
Jumat, 17 Agustus 2007
News
Lazrael (Poyo, Boss Arena) is working on a new platformer. [pictured above, gameplay video]Mind Control's (Oasis) Arrrrr now has a playable demo with no time limit. [direct download link]The final TOJam games have been posted. Highlights include XIQ, Noodle and Emergency Response Team. Two by Two and Super Defender Robo are playable right in your browser.New screenshot added to Honeyblaster's web site.8 Kingdoms was recently updated to version 1.1.0.There's...
Rabu, 15 Agustus 2007
The Desolate Room
The Desolate Room is one of those releases where the introductory sequence makes little sense, and still screenshots doesn't portray the game in motion too favorably. The author has also included a tiring fetch quest during the first fifteen minutes of the player's adventure, but things do look up after the team encounters it's first boss battle.A game in progress is saved automatically whenever the player leaves and exits a battle or the console....
Punishment: The Punishing
Punishment 2 - The Punishing is a sequel to the similarly titled platformer by Messhof, made in response to the encouragement and praises offered by the community for it's predecessor. The author has decided to reward his loyal fans with a new game that is an improvement in certain areas while introducing extremely difficult challenges and a needless gameplay element to appal rather than appeal anyone who attempts to scale the tower all the way to...
Selasa, 14 Agustus 2007
News
RemakesHurrican updated to version 1.0.0.4. A level editor has been included with this release.The Wizball remake is nearly done.Shootersdanmakugata.com is now up and running.More screenshots added to Soldner-X's web site.Entries for the IntroComp 2007 competition are now available for download. This annual contest involves the submission of unfinished interactive fiction works with winners chosen by the public, based on their interest in playing a completed build of each ga...
Stranded 2
Stranded II is a 3D adventure game by Unreal Software, chronicling the adventures of a man who lost his ship in a storm and must learn how to survive on a deserted island using a variety of objects acquired from the land.Press the X key to bring up the character sheet, use the C key to view your current inventory, and tap the V key to access your diary. The Y key can be used to rest and recuperate. Insects, animals, plants and other items do respawn,...
Generic Slash: Dismal Depths
As the title hints, Generic Slash: Dismal Depths is a simple action-RPG with a battle system much like the one found in Square's Mana series. Hack at enemies to make them yield riches, then grab it to barter for more HP when standing on tiles with a yellow swirling symbol.Name: Generic Slash: Dismal DepthsDeveloper: Alex MayCategory: RPGType: FreewareSize: 5MBDirect download link: Click h...
Senin, 13 Agustus 2007
Timetravel Bloboid
Timetravel Bloboid is a platformer with a rewind time feature that is pretty much the fad these days. Use the cursor keys to move your character, jump or activate switches. Hold the space key to turn back the clock, though this action will drain your energy at an alarming rate. Collect vials of green liquid to restore your energy meter.The exit is only accessible once all coins in each level has been acquired. A level editor is included.Name: Timetravel...
One More Time
One More Time is a new platformer by Chris Nimmo developed in roughly six hours for The Daily Click's Time competition.Essentially a single-screen platformer which involves the act of coin collecting, your character starts out at a different location after each pass of the level. Subsequent runs are made much more difficult as you're required not to overlap any of the attempts you've made.Name: One More TimeDeveloper: Chris NimmoCategory: PlatformType:...
News
More screenshots added to Honeyblaster's web site. The development team has confirmed that the game will be released next weekend.Krobon Station's web site has been updated with the release information for Super Mogura Tennis (October 2007) and Mogura 3 (2008). [Mogura 2 review]Caravel Games' development team is currently working on a new project.3Punge results announced.GamePure has released Very Bear Brother, an average BreakOut clone.A playable...
Black Bullet Hell
Jph's Black Bullet Hell is a game with a simple control scheme and minimal use of colors. Hold the left control key to shoot and press the left shift key to aim. Collect glowing white orbs to increase your shot range and ship's health.Acquire 512 orbs to win the game, or use the escape key to quit.Name: Black Bullet HellDeveloper: JphCategory: ShooterType: FreewareSize: ...
DNA
DNA is an arena shooter with some resemblance to Jenova Chen's flOw. Shoot at enemies to generate planktons, which can be collected and used to barter for a variety of upgrades.Use the left and right cursor key to turn, and hold the up arrow key to move forward. Press the enter key to select an upgrade, or tap the F4 function key to switch between full screen and windowed mode.Name: DNADeveloper: Jan Willem NijmanCategory: ShooterType: FreewareSize:...
ad2
ad2 is a minimalistic 3D arena shooter with RPG elements, though the game is too short with very little depth to sustain interest of players after completing a mission for the first time.The map shows available paths and enemy encounters for a player to gather invasion points, which can then be used to evolve the ship in several ways. Hold the Z key to shoot, and press the X key to launch a bomb.Name: ad2Developer: KMCCategory: ShooterType: FreewareSize:...
Minggu, 12 Agustus 2007
R-Theta 2
R-Theta 2 is a game based in polar coordinates. Every point in the game is assigned a radius and theta value, denoting the distance of the point from the centre, as well as the angle it makes with the x-axis.The player is in control of a triangular shooter, built into a constantly rotating radar-scope which must be protected from collision with other enemies. Use the up and down arrow keys to decrease or increase the ship's radius from the centre....
Knytt Stories: An Artist's View
In an attempt to provide an alternative to what may be considered a typical game review, I am providing an artist's perspective on Nifflas' upcoming release Knytt Stories. Here's a snippet from the article:Over the last several months, Nifflas' new project has been getting a lot of attention. Not that anyone found this to be a surprise, as the independent gaming community is well aware of his reputation. His previous games, most notably Knytt and...
Kaipuu
Kaipuu is a new platformer by Virtanen which is heavily inspired by Seiklus and an extension to their earlier release entitled Painajainen. Power-ups can be collected for new abilities such as double jumps and pushing blocks, though instructions are still in a foreign language and will only be translated by Erkka once his schedule allows for it.Placed first in the recent Suomipelit game development competition. To save a game, simply press the down...
News
Ishi's Doctor Who Platformer and Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp (for Nintendo DS, pictured) are now available for download. [source: Retro Remakes]Jonathan Mak has compiled a list of previews of Everyday Shooter and posted it in the Queasy Games forums.Blackwell Unbound is now available for pre-order.On his BBS, Pixel hints that development work for the new RPG has begun.Variant Interactive (Cave Story PSP port) seems to have disappeared from the...
Sabtu, 11 Agustus 2007
There Are People in the Blocks
There Are People In The Blocks is an action game which involves clicking on blocks rapidly to save the people who are trapped inside them before time runs out. Clicking on blocks with smiling faces will incur a time penalty. Sixty stages in total.Name: There Are People In The BlocksCategory: ActionType: FreewareSize: 10MBDirect download link: Click h...
Dungeon Maker
Dungeon Maker is a role playing game creation engine inspired by maze exploration games like Bloodwych, Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder. The original idea behind it's development was to remake these games in 3D while maintaining the classic gameplay they offered. An editor will be included in the final version when it is released.There are a few maps already implemented including the classic Dungeon Master game.Name: Dungeon MakerDeveloper:...
