A fairly large video download, but an educational watch indeed. The SHMUP documentary is professionally done, charting the history of STGs from the Space Invaders era up to the latest danmaku offerings from CAVE.

Subtitles are a must. Thankfully detailed instructions are available on how to acquire the free VLC player and use it together with the translation file. There are a few hints on honing your bullet dodging skills as well.

Lexaloffle is currently working on an updated version for Swarm Racer and a new game called Chocolate Castle Snake. [Swarm Racer, Super Sprout review]

Shoot the Core updated its database with nineteen new entries.

Some new information on the New Star Soccer series. Development work on the sequel will begin soon, a database update for NSS3 can be expected before the start of the new season and there's also the impending release of Sensational Soccer. [New Star Soccer 3 review]

GameDev.net's latest Four Elements contest is currently underway. All entries are required to have all four of the following elements: Emotion, Economics, Emblem and Europe. The deadline is still a couple of months away, but I'm keeping an eye on this one.

eXceed2nd-VAMPIRE- is a brilliant shmup by FLAT which mimics the polarity gameplay system made popular by Ikaruga. The color of the circle surrounding your character can be changed by tapping the C key. This will determine the type of enemy bullets that your ship absorbs while charging the special weapon in the process.

Press the Z key to shoot and use the V key to bring up the pause menu. There are only four stages in this trial version, unfortunately. The 70MB file package may take a while to download, but rest assured that it's one shooter well worth the effort especially for fans of Treasure's classic. Click here to acquire the demo by selecting the first link.

Name: eXceed2nd-VAMPIRE-
Developer: FLAT
Category: Shooter
Type: Demo
Size: 70MB

Dash Border is a rather unique shooter by Isshiki, creator of Vax-11, Z-LOCK and Area 2048 among others. The screen wraps around, enemies are shapes made out of simple lines and bullets can only be fired in a straight line. Much like Asteroids really, but that's where the similarities end.

Playing the game cautiously won't get you far. The author encourages players to move the ship continuously, in order to gain momentum. Doing this rewards you in two ways. Your ship acquires increased firepower and the ability to pass through all enemies but not their bullets.

The game is over if you fail to destroy everything within the time limit. Use the arrow keys to control your ship, and press the Z key to shoot. The F1 key operates the coin slot.

Name: Dash Border
Developer: Isshiki
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 3MB

Ac!dbomb is the latest release from Mr. Chubigans, developer of Vivid Conceptions and Sandbox of God. The game has bomb defusing elements from Metal Gear Ac!d 2, in which you race against time to uncover the pistons hidden behind the tiles.

Beams of light can be used to reveal the number of pistons underneath each line of tiles. Just like Minesweeper, you can left click to mark a tile as safe or right click to designate one as a piston. The number of pistons in each level is displayed on the top right of the screen.

The current build features only three levels, but more will be included when the full version is released this August.

Name: Ac!dbomb
Developer: Vertigo Games
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Yum Yum Remake is basically a reinvention of the original from Derby. The background color is a soothing blue, though the action is anything but. Point to a location on screen using the mouse, and the white little creature will speed towards it.

Left click to launch a projectile and right click to destroy the current one after release. Press the middle mouse button to restart the level.

Name: Yum Yum Remake
Developer: Stained Glass
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

What's Tony the Tiger doing in a match-three game? But seriously, this is one solid contender for the throne currently occupied by Zuma Deluxe. Probably what most matching games do not have is a lovable mascot, and Bengal could be a big hit with kids.

Bengal - Game of Gods is more animated than it's cousins although gameplay is basically the same as the rest of them. The objective as usual is to match three or more balls of the same color to remove them from the playing field. Just left click to shoot, and right click to swap balls. You can hit a gold monkey that pops up from time to time with a ball to score extra points. The game ends if a ball touches the monkey insignia with a gaping mouth.

Name: Bengal - Game of Gods
Developer: INTENIUM
Category: Puzzle
Type: Demo
Size:20MB

Angry, Drunken Dwarves is basically a remake of Capcom's Puzzle Fighter. There are a few features missing from this effort, for example the on-screen representation of characters and extra animations for breaking gems.

Much like Puyo Puyo, your task is to arrange each piece to form larger squares or rectangles whenever possible. These crystals can only be destroyed by using break gems. Chain combos to send counter gems to your opponent's play field.

Name: Angry, Drunken Dwarves
Developer: Joe Wreschnig
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Mysterious Floating Something is basically an action game with a bit of everything. Think Defender, but with the player assuming the role of the aliens out to abduct humans. The objective is to round up four hundred guests for the greatest party of all time.

Sounds rather strange, but it gets better. Shooting at objects take a while to get used to, and requires a recharge after each use. Fortunately every weapon can be upgraded to reduce the wait. There are plenty of power-ups to choose from, provided that you have enough money to finance each purchase.

Name: Mysterious Floating Something
Developer: Tim Winsky
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Tripline is a surprisingly fun puzzler by Joakim Sandberg, developer of Noitu Love and the Army of Grinning Darns. The objective of the game is to draw a line across all shapes in each level, but three shapes with the same pattern must first be crossed out in a sequence before another can be engaged.

There are sixty pages to flip through. Pretty good for an effort made in three days.

Name: Tripline
Developer: Joakim Sandberg
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 3MB

The soundtrack to Noitu Love and the Army of Grinning Darns is now available for download. [Noitu Love review]

Gnome's Lair reviews Knightsquire.

Nifflas of Within a Deep Forest fame is currently working on a new game. [Within a Deep Forest review]

A thread conveniently named WaDF2 can also be found in the forum.

The third episode of Indie Superstar is out, a show about indie games and developers.

Game Tunnel's July Monthly Round-Up is now online. [NaaC, Penumbra, Bullet Candy, Bounty, To Hell with Johnny review]

Knightsquire is basically a remake of buloght's earlier one room adventure, with new backgrounds and a complete quest involving the rescue of the king's daughter.

Clicking on the portraits allow you to swap between two characters, since certain actions can only be attempted by either the squire or the knight. Items can be passed around to each other by simply selecting an object, then choosing the recipient. Use the left mouse button to interact and press the right mouse button to examine your surroundings.

Hints can be found in this forum thread.

Name: Knightsquire
Developer: buloght
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Pladzma is a shooter developed by RezetiA which features no power-ups to collect. In it's place is a shop that sells weapon upgrades provided that you have the credits to finance your purchases.

The download size is rather huge but the game itself only showcases two levels with boss encounters at the end of each. Click on the first picture to download the trial version, and unzip by using the free 7-Zip software.

Name: Pladzma
Developer: RezetiA
Category: Shooter
Type: Demo
Size: 50MB

Even though Raiden II is slightly dated, this PC port still has a place in every shmup fan's collection. The introduction of a purple Plasma Beam is a boon, combining the width of a spread shot and the firepower of the blue laser beam. Medals can be collected for bonuses in each of the eight levels featured.

The difficulty setting is a bonus for veterans and beginners alike, plus the number of continues can be configured to your liking as well. No reason why this classic should be missed. Forget the flash remake, this version is much more faithful in every way.

Name: Raiden II
Developer: Seibu Kaihatsu
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Skyhammer is another fun platformer by Bernie, creator of A Game with a Kitty and several other freeware adventure releases. This particular effort is considered abandonware and will never be completed, but still manages to offer several hours worth of gameplay.

Press the X key to jump and use the C key to attack. There are three save slots, which can be pretty useful to keep a record of your progress before boss fights.

Name: Skyhammer
Developer: Bernie
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB

Much like the Mystery Case Files series, the objectives in Hidden Expedition: Titanic mostly involves finding a number of items in each screen from a list on the left. The hint system has been changed slightly for this iteration. Instead of a limited number of usages, a time penalty will be incurred for every clue request.

Opinions on whether the original or it's spin-off is better are divided, although there's no reason why both can't be liked equally since the gameplay on offer is practically the same.

Both Huntsville and Prime Suspects were previously reviewed on this site.

Name: Hidden Expedition: Titanic
Developer: Big Fish Games
Category: Puzzle
Type: Demo
Size: 30MB

Introversion pushes the release date of Defcon to September 2006.

Binary Zoo will release a new game soon. [DUO, Mono, DUOtris review]

Intercept updated to version 1.01, now with an online high score table. [Intercept review]

Rag Doll Software releases a new free game, called Rocky the Monkey.

Two new reviews added, Sven Gordan Paranormal Parody and A Knight's Pursuit. Both adventure games were made by buloght. [The Family Treasure review]

From the wonderful world of Game Maker comes Poyo, a new platforming adventure which took Lazrael only one month to complete. You control the main character using the arrow keys, but most of the puzzles in the game can only be solved by figuring out the proper way to utilize your warp ability. Tap the X key to jump and use the Z key in conjunction with a directional arrow key to dash past traps or activate switches.

Press the down arrow key while standing in front of another creature to start a conversation. Instructions are printed on a text file which can be found in the zip package.

The F4 key can be used to switch between windowed and full screen mode. Features forty-five levels and six boss encounters.

Flapper and Pozzo - Jello Crusade are efforts from the same developer. Both were previously reviewed on this site.

Name: Poyo
Developer: Lazrael
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

The Blob is a school project which might be partially inspired by Katamari Damacy. No prince or King of the Cosmos here, but you're given control of a ball which has the ability to absorb other colored inhabitants of the city instead of making them stick to it. Use the mouse to move the blob around and left click to jump.

Once you have gathered some paint, then it's off to color the entire city at your whim. There are some objectives to complete, for example painting seventeen landmark buildings and collecting all fifty coins but it's mainly about having fun within seconds of picking the game up.

You might need a small powerhouse of a machine to play this one, with a 2GHz processor and 512MB RAM worth of memory stated as minimum requirements to qualify for a decent framerate.

Name: The Blob
Developer: Banana Games
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 100MB