Review: Laser Disco Defenders (Vita)

Posted on September 2, 2016 by geelw

And I thought Assault Suits Leynos was tough. HA!

LDD art

Platform: PlayStation Vita (PSN)
Developer: Out of Bounds Games
Publisher: Excalibur Games
# of Players: 1
MSRP: $9.99
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)
Official Site
Score: A (90%)

Don’t let the cute art style and funky tunes fool you one bit, folks. Laser Disco Defenders is a tough cookie of a shooter that will test the skills and patience of the most hardcore gamers out there. Ten bucks is a bargain for a game that takes a while to complete and will keep the best coming back for more. That trailer makes it look like a simple “pew-pew-pew!” casual bit of fluff, but make no mistake – the game will eat your lunch before you make it to the first boss and it only gets tougher as you progress. At some point the more impatient out there will possibly want to jump up and down on their poor Vitas simply because stomping on both hands will only result with some nurse feeding them applesauce for a few weeks.

That said, I love this game quite a lot. Continue reading →

Worms W.M.D Winners Get Theirs (BOOM!)

Posted on September 2, 2016 by geelw

Hokay, it’s done! My random winner picker popped by a half hour early because of an appointment getting shifted around, so we had to act fast. He didn’t know I randomly picked him to draw winners until he walked in the door, so it’s karma in action, I guess. Anyway, congratulations go out via airdropped crates to Zero (PSN), Grenadier (Steam), Bob (PS4 retail version), and leemangrum (Steam)! Thanks to all for entering and enjoy the game!

Today’s giveaway has actually been moved to September 7, but if you’re a big RPG fan, you’ll want to pop back in because the prize will be worth the wait.

Retro-Bit Generations Games List (So Far): Better Than Expected Makes It A Better Deal

Posted on September 1, 2016 by geelw

Click this. CLICK IT NOW!

While Nintendo isn’t quaking in their boots at all (this morning’s 3DS Direct was pretty magnificent), the fine folks at Retro-Bit.com have released the not quite final list of NES and SNES games appearing on their upcoming Retro-Bit Generations console and it’s a doozy:

Bring the power and entertainment of an arcade to your living room with the Retro-Bit Generations – Plug and Play console. Since 2007, Retro-Bit® has been at the forefront of the retro gaming world, introducing innovative and exciting platforms to re-experience a treasured vintage gaming era. Continuing with that tradition, Retro-Bit Generations is packed with titles from world-renowned pioneer videogame developers.

Revisit and replay these classics on your own or with a friend with two retro-style six button controllers, for an authentic retro re-experience. Designed with a sleek user-friendly interface and an HDMI port, Retro-Bit Generations brings a new look for the old school gamer and delivers fun for all ages!

Features

Packed with popular retro games from world-renowned developers
2 USB Retro-style six button controllers
HDMI and AV Outputs
SD card slot to save and transfer game progress (SD card not included)
Sleek compact design
Intuitive user interface
Internal game save feature – Save your progress anywhere, any time!

Remember, this thing is supposed to retail for $59.99… and that games list isn’t even complete. If the RBG works as advertised and the controllers are solid, that already pre-sold out NES Classic mini may have a bit of competition. We’ll see, of course.

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Remember EMBER? PC, 7th September!

Posted on August 31, 2016 by geelw

Wow. For a while, I thought N-Fusion Interactive’s gorgeous looking mobile RPG EMBER was dead and buried. Snuffed out like a campfire. Ash, even. Well, my flame has been rekindled into a super-hot sun thanks to that day-making email from 505 Games telling me the game is not only arriving after such a long wait, it’s coming to PC via Steam on September 7 for a mere $9.99. Wow. SOLD. This trailer dropped today – let’s take a look:

SOLD. Here’s a handy screenshot gallery to eyeball as well:

N-Fusion’s lovely proprietary engine makes for a beautiful game, doesn’t it? Yes, there’s a review coming on launch day, so stay tuned… and YES, go wishlist this one and keep an eyeball peeled for when it pops up for purchase.

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ZAKU Is Back: Super Fighter Team Gives You A Chance To Nab This One FINAL Time

Posted on August 30, 2016 by geelw

If you’re a huge enough fan of the Atari Lynx but missed out on its first original boxed (online) retail game in years, well guess what? ZAKU is back! Super Fighter Team has heard the pleas from Lynx collectors worldwide and is reissuing the instant classic for a final time in a 400 copy run.

Just go click on that link above and get that wallet out. Or you can read my old review as you click on that link to BUY THE GAME. Whatever you’re going to do, you better do it FAST, as this is guaranteed to sell out ridiculously quickly.

Severin Films’ Loss Is A “B” Fan’s BIG Gain

Posted on August 30, 2016 by geelw

WOW. Five offbeat horror DVD or Blu-Ray DVD sets for $30? SOLD. From the official site blog:

Attention Severin fans! Our rights are expiring for Psychomania (DVD), The Baby (DVD & Blu-ray), Bloody Birthday (DVD & Blu-ray), Horror Express (Blu-ray/DVD combo) and House of Seven Corpses (Blu-ray/DVD combo) very soon so we need to do a little bit of house cleaning and clear as much product out as possible.

For this listing, you can get all FIVE (5) of these titles for $30. Please indicate if you prefer DVD or Blu-ray (where applicable) in the comments section upon checkout.

We also have another listing available where you can pick THREE (3) titles for $20, or you can buy them individually for $10.

That’s it! Easy as can be! Now go buy one of these titles and backfill your Severin catalog. Be sure to tell a friend. Tell a non-friend. Tell your grandmother. Tell your neighbor’s dog. Spread the word and help us clear out the old to make room for lots of new coming up.

Cheers.

Retail therapy works best when you get what you want and can spread the love all over the place. Now go buy something gift-y for yourself or a few friends.

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So Long, Gene (I Need My Blue Blanket Today)…

Posted on August 29, 2016 by geelw

(THANKS, Jimmy Kavanaugh!)

Oh, it’s a Monday all right. Back later.

WIN IT! Worms W.M.D All-Stars: Free Stuff Friday Is Back? Why, Yes It Is!

Posted on August 26, 2016 by geelw

So, do you live in the USA, have a PS4 or a valid Steam account and love all things Worms-related? Good. Keep reading, then. There just so happens to be ONE brand spanking NEW/sealed copy of Team 17‘s brand spanking new Worms W.M.D All-Stars sitting here and I need to send it to ONE lucky winner! Yeah, that’s right! I get to review the digital version, and ONE of you get a game I don’t have as a physical product because that’s my way of saying THANKS for hanging out here every so often.

Duh-EDIT: Hey! I also have ONE PS4 code for the game for a North American account user, so yep, now it’s TWO lucky PS4 winners!

In addition, TWO more of you readers will get Steam codes for the game (one per person) so you can go make enemies out of your friends or vice versa. Or just play by yourself, because getting good at a Worms game is actually a necessary survival skill in some parts of the world.

So, how are we going to do this? Hmmmm… I have a few ideas… Continue reading →

VIRGINIA Is For Lovers (Of Offbeat Interactive Adventure Games)

Posted on August 26, 2016 by geelw

Virginia is a first person interactive drama. It is the story of a recently graduated FBI agent and her partner as they seek to uncover the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young boy.

Virginia 584x800

Coming September 22 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One from developer Variable State and publisher 505 Games, VIRGINIA is a visually stylized, dialog-free modern noir mystery/adventure game that pays homage to surreal entertainment such as Twin Peaks, The X-Files, and Fargo. There’s a great PC demo available now on Steam that leaves more questions swirling in the brain than it gives answers about what’s in store for players, but this is a good thing.

All I can say is it has something to do with a missing teenager, dreamlike transitions from place to place, a possible relationship between the two FBI agents working on the case together, and oh, yeah… a buffalo that pops up at the weirdest moments. Yeah. But it somehow works exceptionally well enough that I’d bet non-gaming mystery fans will want to sit next to someone playing as play brainiac buddy as things unfold.

Virginia 24

Okay, I’ll let you in on more precise details below the jump – I don’t want the suspense to kill you that much… Continue reading →

Featherpunk Prime Hands-On: Plink Flamingoes Surprise With Skill

Posted on August 24, 2016 by geelw

If you told me I’d be gushing endlessly over an old-school run ‘n gun with a modern look that just so happened to star a cybernetic FLAMINGO, I’d probably ask you what YOU were smoking. But, here I am extolling the joys of Featherpunk Prime, one hell of an indie action/platform shooter from two guys with a ton of talent.

Stephen Payne and Dan Jeffery make up Super Hatch games and their baby is headed to Steam and the Humble Store September 1st. BUY IT, I say. The game is a total blast to play, it looks phenomenal, packs in a great soundtrack from Wingcap Audio (buy it!) and from my brief stretch with a recent build, it just might be one of the better arcade-style shooters this year.

Once you get over the oddball choice of a lead character, dive in and see how tight the game is, any preconceived notions will be vaporized. The game’s gaudy neon color scheme, catchy music and excellent re-mappable controls suck you in and keep things bouncing along as the level of challenge blow you around in your seat.

The game is wonderfully balanced and (to me), plays like a Bizarro World version of Contra meets Midnight Resistance with a CYBER FLAMINGO as the hero. I’m sure a few Treasure games also influenced Super Hatch, but the important thing here is the game they’ve made manages to stand out on its own as original thanks to tat heroic metal bird and how the game makes you adore it so damn much. It’s not a “cute!” shooter at all, folks. But then animation on that metal bird is so damn priceless you’ll crack up at the genius absurdity of it all.

I’ll shut up here before this turns into a full-on review (that’s coming!). For now, head below the jump for more…
Continue reading →