Goble is another unfinished effort by Nifflas, as demonstrated by the lack of sound and scarcity of screens. Press the shift key to jump. The save block does not work.

Name: Goble
Developer: Nifflas
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Dis is a short platformer by Nifflas, in which you have to guide a fellow companion to the end of a train by solving puzzles together with her assistance.

Hold the A key to run and press the S key to jump.

Name: Dis
Developer: Nifflas
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

The Turtle Philosopher is a short one level platformer by Nifflas which only displays in a small window. Perhaps a little too frustrating for most, save points are scattered around the area but a time limit is implemented as well.

Name: The Turtle Philosopher
Developer: Nifflas
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Pteranodon is a vertical shooter by Nifflas with an orbiter which can be repelled by holding the control key. This object is basically an equivalent of the Force, which can be used to smash enemy ships for an improved score.

Hold the shift key to shoot and press the space key to release the orbiter. Unique but not particularly noteworthy.

Name: Pteranodon
Developer: Nifflas
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Roll is another short effort by Nifflas, though this one only requires the use of two keys to control. The game involves moving a ball from the top of the screen to the bottom, by navigating a maze of ledges carefully while landing on bonus tiles for extra points. Forgettable, even with an option to turn on enhanced physics.

Name: Roll
Developer: Nifflas
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Push is a brilliant paint by numbers puzzler, though it does have several glaring problems which were never resolved by the author. Sparse tutorials do little to guide beginners and offer advanced tips, players are instead directed to online resources for advanced lessons.

Pressing the shift key to save isn't mentioned anywhere else except during main menu navigation. Cutscenes cannot be skipped but the excellent gameplay it offers will make these issues negligible in just a few short sessions.

The action involves repeating a process of elimination in order to figure out pixel placements on a board, assisted only by numbers accompanying each column and row. Definitely more fun than Sudoku and especially entertaining during long trips on the train to work.

Placed highly in the inaugural Retro Remakes competition, and comes recommended for fans of fiendish puzzle releases. Click on Mario Picross to find the download link, or go here for the FileFront mirror.

Name: Push
Developer: Sei
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Reviewed by Maenny (www.runtime-hq.com)

8 Kingdoms is a turn-based-strategy title. It comes in full 3D and is hex-based. You can play against the computer or against other human players. There are several buildings with different abilities and the possiblity to train several different units, be it for short range or long range combat. In addition to that you can conquer villages, which will provide more gold at the beginning of every turn.

The game is well programmed and the different kinds of terrain have consequences concerning the movement or the possibility to build. 8 Kingdoms comes with a professionally designed set of maps for multiplayer and singleplayer.

The music is great - middleage/skandinavian-like folk songs which greatly enhance the atmosphere of the title. Every unit will give feedback in spoken word when selected.
8 Kingdoms is a highly professional game title which will satisfy even the advanced turn based strategy gamer. The 3D environment is perfectly designed. Just download it, turn off your cellphone and hide in your room for a few days.

Read the entire review at www.runtime-hq.com

Name: 8 Kingdoms
Developer: Marta Vomlelova
Category: Strategy
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB

A Time to Warp is an interesting effort developed by Scott Nelson for the Acoders Indie Game Making Competition 2004. The objective is to collect colored orbs in a certain order, shown on the bottom left of the screen.

Crates have to be shot at using the space bar to reveal the orbs contained inside. Brown orbs should be avoided, while white orbs can be collected for an extra life. Each stage is presented to the player differently, depending on the year you're currently in.

Name: A Time to Warp
Developer: Scott Nelson
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Burning Angels is an impressive fighting game with outlandish characters, colorful costumes and the wrestling ring as it's setting. Press the A or S key to attack, and use the Q or E key to grapple your opponent. The number of moves is staggering, and their descriptions only useful to anyone who is able to understand Japanese.

A lot of work went into this production but sadly it remains forgotten due to it's inacessibility and language barrier. Click here to download the demo.

Look elsewhere for your fighting game fix.

Name: Burning Angels
Developer: Retsuzan
Category: Action
Type: Demo
Size: 90MB

Sprite Chaser 2 is another paint by numbers puzzler mixed with RPG elements. Players seeking just the challenge will be slightly disappointed with the number of quests and ambiguity in this game.

Still, a worthy effort and decent alternative to the much superior Push. Dave's sprite work is pretty impressive as well.

Name: Sprite Chaser 2
Developer: Dave Carter
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB

Shih Tzu's entry provides information about downloading Pixel's latest shooter, SGX with the english translation patch already applied.

Since none of the editors can get into TIGSource right now, here's another one from Shih Tzu: IFComp '06 is over and done. Top honors went to Emily Short for her game "Floatpoint". http://www.ifcomp.org/

A preview of Knytt was recently posted, the next platformer from the creator of Within a Deep Forest. [screen 1, screen 2, screen 3, Within a Deep Forest review]

Ishisoft releases an Asteroid game. A new preview page for upcoming releases added. [Clockwiser, Pushover review]

There's a new Dot Fighters papercraft to download over at Takase's blog. [Dot Fighters review]

Bernie's Reactor 9 will be released this year as well. [Skyhammer, Cedric and the Revolution, A Game with a Kitty review]

Full version of Paroxysm is out. [Paroxysm review]

Team GrisGris might release a new platformer during the next Comiket. [Thunder, Dread Lock review]

Time Pilot Remix is a pretty addictive arcade game in which you have to fly your ride through different time periods while shooting down aircrafts to meet the quota needed.

The number of planes that you have to blow up is shown on the bottom left of the screen. Use the left control or shift key to shoot. Press the left or right arrow key to turn your plane. An extra life is awarded for every eight thousand points earned. Joypad is detected automatically.

Here is the FileFront mirror for anyone who is having problems with getting the remakes list to display.

Name: Time Pilot Remix
Developer: Jonathan Olds
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Gamenokihon is a below average shmup by Salim no atelier, featuring only one enemy sprite and a ripped track. Shooting is automatic, and the player can use time controls to blast away enemy bullets by pressing the Z key.

Doesn't seem to have hit point implemented, which is quite common in shooters by Japanese developers. A miss.

Name: Gamenokihon
Developer: Salim no atelier
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Emblem of Red Reshuffle is a fighting game by EXZAM that features eleven characters, each with their own set of basic and special moves shown at the player selection screen.

Most of the moves are pretty easy to pull off, but important combos can only be discovered through experimentation. Computer-controlled characters are just too eager to show you how a multiple-hit combo is done.

Sprites and backgrounds are serviceable though a little on the plain side. However, the gameplay is good enough to make up for it's graphical shortcomings and will not disappoint fans of fighting games.

Press the F4 function key to switch between window and full screen mode.

Click here to access the download page.

Name: Emblem of Red Reshuffle
Developer: EXZAM
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 50MB

A remake of Mr. Driller for mobile devices, Ice is a decent action game in which the player has to continuously drill downwards while trying to avoid being crushed by stones or blocks falling from above.

Use either the Z or arrow keys to drill. A gauge on the top right of the screen displays the amount of oxygen remaining, which can be replenished by collecting bonus tanks.

Click here for the direct download.

Name: Ice
Developer: Nomuraz
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB