Ocean Commander is a pretty good Heavy Weapon clone, where your shots can be directed by using the mouse. Since most areas are submerged underwater, your ship can move upwards and down in addition to horizontal movements.

The inclusion of a shop for purchase of upgrades is probably it's most prominent feature. Any ship modifications will carry over from one stage to the next. A decent shooter and a rare find among casual puzzle releases.

Name: Ocean Commander
Developer: CyberPlanet Interactive
Category: Shooter
Type: Demo
Size: 30MB

Iconien is an alright action game made by Japanese developer f1ash. Your objective is to protect the eye in the middle of the screen from enemies which explode on contact.

Destroy circles, bugs and rockets by drawing a square around them, or drag any object around by left clicking. You will experience a shot delay after each time a box is drawn, and having the eye inside the square damages it as well.

Collect power-ups by dragging and dropping them onto the eye. The easy and normal mode ends when the tank is beaten.

Name: Iconien
Developer: f1ash
Category: Action
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

Submachine 2: The Lighthouse is a sequel to the original flash adventure game by Mateusz Skutnik, in which the objective is to find an escape from the lighthouse you're trapped in. Uses the same formula but with more rooms, unfortunately quite a number of them are part of a maze.

Name: Submachine 2: The Lighthouse
Developer: Mateusz Skutnik
Category: Adventure
Type: Flash
Size: 10MB

Grow ver.2 is another puzzler by Eyezmaze, in which the objective is to click on items in the right sequence to solve the puzzle. Unfortunately, this version only features six objects but the isometric view is back at least.

Name: Grow ver.2
Developer: Eyezmaze
Category: Puzzle
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

Exelisis may look like a shooter from the 8-bit era but it's surprisingly just as good as any other Japanese freeware shmups.

The secondary shot direction can be controlled by moving your ship around and holding down the Z key when you're comfortable with the aim, much like Robotron: 2084.

Enemy projectiles will be sent back towards their direction if the X key is pressed when the reverse bomb gauge is full. Using the same button at any other time only launches the standard bomb.

The 60MB file is the actual game package, while the smaller version is just an update which can be used to overwrite the unzipped contents.

Name: Exelisis
Developer: TKSOFT
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 60MB

Gambare Natsuki-San is an excellent puzzle platformer by Alpha Secret Base, borrowing a few elements from an obscure PSX game called Umihara Kawase Shun. The rope has been replaced with a metal gadget, able to extend and grab on to walls and ceilings.

Press the Z key to activate it, and use the directional keys to move around while holding down the same button. Jump using the X key, and tap the C key to bring up the pause window. Selecting the third option from the main menu will take you to the tutorial, complete with demonstration regarding controls and advanced techniques.

The objective of the game is to collect all food items, while avoiding water and contact with spikes. It's entirely possible to finish all fifty levels in one sitting. Very addictive and highly recommended.

To download, click on the Ver1.02 link, next to the word 3.8MB. When you've accessed the Vector site, select the gray tab. Click on the link containing the word HTTP, then the first link in the box to grab the file.

Name: Gambare Natsuki-San
Developer: Alpha Secret Base
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Begemed is a puzzler made by Dylan Fortune that uses sprites and sound effects from PopCap's Bejeweled series. This effort is nowhere as polished as the original but still very playable in it's current state.

Some missing features include a shuffle option and continues. With a new set of sprites and a little more work it could actually match the quality of a few commercially available casual games as well.

Name: Begemed
Developer: Dylan Fortune
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB

Slime Pod is an excellent puzzler by Kaeshirodai, in which the objective is to make eight or more connecting slimes disappear thus creating a Giganto combo.

The number of combos needed for level progression are shown at the bottom left of the screen. Gems count as three slimes, and combos made with the evil eye are rejected outright. You can lose the evil eye by making it fall off the bottom of the screen. They can also be destroyed if you rapidly click on them, although this will cost you five magic points.

There is no penalty for clicking on any number of slimes, but you have to create the number of Giganto combos required in each level before time runs out. Energy can be replenished by making a Giganto combo of any color.

Name: Slime Pod
Developer: Kaeshirodai
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

In Wanwaran, your objective is to guide two dogs running down on separate roads to the end of the level safely. Click on either one to make them jump over safety cones, mines and weights.

Bones can be collected for combos and bonuses.

Name: Wanwaran
Developer: Kaeshirodai
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

In Cosmobullet, you control an arrow which can shoot at enemies appearing from the top of the screen. Your will lose health if any adversaries are allowed past you, but fortunately power-ups replenishing health and bombs do appear occasionally.

Use the left or right arrow key to move the arrow, and press the Z key to shoot. Tap the F1 function key to play in full screen.

Name: Cosmobullet
Developer: Kaeshirodai
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Star Eater and Flame Eater are games based on the concept of acquiring high scores. Use your mouse to touch as many green or red balls as possible in three minutes while avoiding white colored ones.

Initiate a combo by making the circles disappear in a quick sequence. This will net you a score multiplier. The game is paused when the window is inactive.

Name: Star Eater
Developer: Kaeshirodai
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Frame Eater and Star Eater are games based on the concept of acquiring high scores. Use your mouse to touch as many green or red balls as possible in three minutes while avoiding white colored ones.

Initiate a combo by making the circles disappear in a quick sequence. This will net you a score multiplier. The game is paused when the window is inactive.

Name: Frame Eater
Developer: Kaeshirodai
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Uneune is a decent puzzler by Kaeshirodai, where the player's objective is to guess the number of colored balls on screen. Click on a ball color and a number, and if you've guessed correctly all balls of that color will disappear. Proceed to the next stage by removing all balls from the screen.

Name: Uneune
Developer: Kaeshirodai
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Buster's latest post, as translated by Shih Tzu (thanks!):

"I think I'm actually starting to feel like working on a 3D game. But production of the X-Files cartoon has me frustrated... [Don't ask me what that's about.] I wonder if I could make a simple shooter. I think I'll start on that once BUSTER's done."

Screenshots from The Hatmaker's Tale posted. Still a lot of development to be done but the pictures look sweet. Another adventure game from a girl, followed closely by Spooks and Kaptain Brawe.

King's Quest III remake released.

Dave Gilbert will release a new game entitled The Shivah next week.

Paul Johnson's art for FTG can be found here.

Plenty of work in progress over at the YakYak forums.

Another indie developer closes shop. This time it's VSBgames, developer of Paradoxion.

What is the owner of Home of the Underdogs currently listening to? Find out by clicking here.

Babarageo STG Banner is a shmup which utilizes a screen measuring only fifteen pixels high. Use the mouse to move your ship, and hold the left mouse button to shoot.

The background changes for every one thousand points that you earn. The fun part is figuring out exactly where to click on each picture to acquire your power-up. An item shop allows you to change the color of your ship as well.


Name: Babarageo STG Banner
Developer: Babarageo
Category: Shooter
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

Great Kung Fu is basically Babarageo's remake of an Irem's arcade classic called Kung-Fu Master. All attacks have been combined into one combo move. Executing a number of punches and kicks successfully on each opponent will double the damage caused.

The famous dragon punch move and fireball can also be found in this game.

Name: Great Kung Fu
Developer: Babarageo
Category: Action
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB