Retro Inspired
Antonball Deluxe (Steam) Review
Many gamers agree that the 70s and 80s were the golden age of gaming. The arcade industry was booming. This caused more people’s exposure to the concept of video games. Many classics like Breakout, Pac-Man, and Mario Bros. became international icons of the era. These old-school arcade games all have a very distinguished feel. This is likely due to fundamentally being built in a way that indu...[Read More]
Streets of Rage 4 (PS4) Review
Some people grew up on Double Dragon or Final Fight as their big introduction to arcade brawlers. For me, outside of licensed games like the various Ninja Turtles games or X-Men, my intro to the joy of fighting swarms of enemies with friends was the Streets of Rage series. It has been 26 years since the release of Streets of Rage 3, making Streets of Rage 4 a big deal on that fact alone. Does Sega...[Read More]
Void Bastards (Nintendo Switch) Review
As one of the most groundbreaking and influential PC titles of the late 90s, System Shock 2 created a ripple effect throughout just about every corner of the gaming industry. Whether citing the game as being an inspiration or having a previous designer on System Shock 2 or the other notable projects from Looking Glass Studios on the project, players of the original title can usually connect the do...[Read More]
One Step From Eden (Switch) Review
When it comes to games that last, complex and well-designed mechanics can keep players coming back for more years after release. These are the sort of games that are usually challenging but fair, deep and mysterious, but also simple enough to play for short bursts and typically there are lots of things to unlock or elements that change up each session. I consider games like this to be mechanically...[Read More]
One Step From Eden, Inspired by Battle Network, Hits PC and Switch
If there’s one series I’ve wished to see come back with fresh ideas, it’s Mega Man Battle Network, a series of titles which was (mostly) an RPG spinoff of the Mega Man franchise that had more than ten entries when counting dual versions. I loved this spinoff quite a bit, but more for the incredible manga by Ryo Takamisaki, Mega Man NT Warrior, which also had an anime. I even owned the physical PET...[Read More]
Infernax Expands Castlevania 2 and Zelda 2 Designs with Bloody Brutality
I played a ton of games at PAX West back in September. In fact, I had an appointment almost every hour and they were often spread throughout the area. Somehow, I made it every single meeting and while I wasn’t able to share about every single session, there are several that stand out that I still think about. One of those games is Infernax, a violent display of retro-inspired, heavy metal brutalit...[Read More]
Demon Pit (PS4) Review
Welcome to Hell. After living a lifetime of chasing demons and ending their reign on Earth, you’ve wound up in the fiery underworld of Hell. As punishment for constant hostilities against the forces of Hell, you are herby sent to fight in the Demon Pit. From Doomcube Software, Psychic Software, and Digerati Marketing comes Demon Pit, a 90’s love-letter to ultra-fast first-person shoote...[Read More]
Resident Evil 3 Trailer Depicts Heroes & Nemesis
After the massive success of the remake of Resident Evil 2, the world knew it was only a matter of time until Capcom released a remastered version of Resident Evil 3. Little did we know that it would be so soon. Last year, Resident Evil 2 captivated audiences with its overhaul of the original game. With the modern game engine, updated graphics, and new additions, RE2 reminded players of the good o...[Read More]
Shovel Knight – King of Cards (PC) Review
I have had the recent joy of experiencing Shovel Knight for the first time. Unlike everyone else who played the game already, I didn’t have to wait years between new content. I got it all in one shot. Knowing how good it is, waiting must have been brutal! Well here I am now catching up on 2015’s stellar original platformer from Yacht Club Games with not only the original game but all of the ...[Read More]
Shovel Knight Showdown (PC) Review
Gamer confession time, until this review I had yet to play Shovel Knight. It has been on my radar for years and I always “intended to get it” but had yet to actually commit. Well here I am now, catching up on 2015’s stellar original platformer from Yacht Club Games with not only the original game but all of the additional content they’ve been adding over the years to the “Treasure Trove” edition o...[Read More]
Gunpowder on the Teeth Arcade (Switch) Review
The world is at war and it’s up to the good ol’ USA to protect democracy. Gunpowder on the Teeth Arcade from Gunpowder Team and Forever S.A has arrived for the Nintendo Switch, bringing solid action and platforming, set against a wildly distinctive visual art and animation style that evokes the militarism of the 1990s and the distinct look of Game Boy titles. With a multitude of missions, several ...[Read More]
Savior, Now on Kickstarter, Radiates Style and Grace
There’s a particular style being displayed in the Kickstarter trailer for Savior, a game being developed by Starsoft. Using a pixelated art direction, Savior echoes of Metroidvania classics and old-school Prince of Persia titles with a focus detailed animation and fluidity of movement. Starsoft claims on their Kickstarter page that the game is in pre-production, looking for a more direct funding s...[Read More]