A nice find under the tree just in time for Christmas. Merry Gear Solid is a tribute game that will only make sense to fans of Konami's stealth espionage series, with plenty of recorded codec conversations and subtle references.

This TDC Christmas Compo entry is a tasty teaser of what's to come from the developer of The Underside.

Name: Merry Gear Solid
Developer: The Podunkian
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

X-Out returns with a brand new shooter entitled Gravitron, though this one requires a little more tact as it is actually based on Thrust. Instead of transporting pods into the skies you now have to destroy reactors while saving any spacemen wandering on the surface of the planet.

Switch to mouse controls by pressing the tab key when the main menu is shown. Activate the shields next to a fuel pod to fill up your tank. Progress is saved using a pass phrase, plus the nifty level editor facilitate user creations quite well. Expect more content to be posted in the near future.

Name: Gravitron
Developer: Castle Software
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

TWilight INSanity is a pretty decent doujin shooter by Eikyuu Loop, also responsible for the development of Iincho and Clover Wing. You can swap characters by pressing the X key, though the second team is perhaps the strongest out of the three.

Press the control key to skip cutscenes, and use the space or C key to vary your movement speed. Tap the Z key to initiate the special tension attack.

Name: TWilight INSanity
Developer: Eikyuu Loop
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 60MB

Another doujin versus fighting game, Monster features nicely animated 2D characters and decent effects but no unfortunately AI in the trial version.

Press the escape key at any time to access a list of moves during gameplay. Run the config.exe file to modify the key settings, since the default configuration isn't the standard mapping most users are familiar with. There's only a handful of characters to choose from and the absence of a single player mode is rather crippling but it's definitely one Comiket 71 release to keep an eye on, especially if an updated demo is ever posted.

Click on the download now image to grab the file.

Name: Monster
Developer: 8105graphics
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB

The gameplay in Super Haunted Insomnia Tower involves a tall building and the act of continually making your way upwards by jumping off floating platforms.

It might be useful to note that the screen wraps around, because at times a jump in the opposite direction might be much easier to execute. Use the arrow keys to move about, and press the space key to leap into the sky.

Click here for the direct download link.

Name: Super Haunted Insomnia Tower
Developer: Lazrael
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 3MB

In Spider, the player has to swing around using webs spun by the little creature to collect fireflies. One can't help but be reminded of String Theory, though Dillon's work has controls suited for fast-paced gameplay.

Left or right click to shoot webs, and hold the buttons hang on for dear life. Press space to tighten your webs and swing.

Differentiating webs can be a tad difficult at times, and the application doesn't handle task switching too well but nitpicks aside this is definitely worth a go. Four levels only.

Name: Spider
Developer: HKU
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 50MB

Much like Everyday Shooter by Jonathan Mak, Fire and Forget is a horizontal shooter which incorporates music as one of it's gameplay elements. The first part of the action involves targeting enemy ships and pressing the space key at the appropriate moment, which is shown as circles at the bottom of the screen. Basically a combination of RayStorm's missile lock and Dance Dance Revolution's gameplay elements.

The second portion of the game is a little easier to comprehend, just hold the space key to drop bombs on buildings for bonus points. The number of bombers in your squadron is based on the total notes collected during the previous segment.

Requires Java installed to run.

Name: Fire and Forget
Developer: robfitz
Categort: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Helium Boy is a decent platformer that is based on figuring out how to overcome obstacles by using your balloons correctly. You can hold up to two at any time, or release all of the balloons currently inflated by pressing the C key.

Areas too high to reach with a basic jump can be accessed by repeatedly pressing the Z key with at least one balloon equipped. Prepare one quickly by pressing the X key.

Name: Helium Boy
Developer: Bertil
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

And Yet It Moves is a platformer consisting of backgrounds and objects made out of collages. Certain puzzles in the game require the world to be rotated around, but the player has to avoid falling from a dangerous heights or risk injury.

More of an experiment, this particular piece does include two levels worth of exploration and a handy autosave feature to bookmark your progress.

Name: And Yet It Moves
Developer: TU Wien
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

The latest G-Force build was recently posted. Now includes speech, music and joypad support. [direct download link, oddbob's site, G-Force review]

Submission due date for the Java 4K 2007 is March 1st 2007, though fifteen entries are already available to play. [Fuzetsu, Alpha Shot 4K review]

A new interview with Pug Fugly, winner of the Retro Remakes 2006 Competition was recently posted on the OneSwitch.org.uk blog. [Competition Results, Remakes Competition Summary, The Pyramid review]

Sam and Max Episode 1 extras discussed here.

(Screenshots from current Shmup-Dev Autofire 2007 Competition WIPs)

This Java 4K puzzler by Kevin Glass is a decent Cubis clone with most of it's basic gameplay intact, which includes wedges that goes under a block to make a higher stack. A counter shown on the top right of the window indicates the number of block to be removed in each stage to achieve level progression.

Name: Cubis
Developer: Kevin Glass
Category: Puzzle
Type: Browser
Size: 4K

Goop is an alright LocoRoco clone made by Kevin Glass for the Java 4K competition, a pretty impressive feat considering the allowable amount of code set as a limitation to foster creativity. Use the left or right arrow keys to tilt the screen and shift mama Goop to it's intended destination while avoiding spikes and saving her children along way.

Name: Goop
Developer: Kevin Glass
Category: Action
Type: Java
Size: 4K

As reported by Shoot the Core and the2bears: MTV interviews Kenta Cho. (YouTube link)

Click here for the original video on MTV. (may not work for residents outside U.S.)

Kenta Cho Speaks

The Japanese game designer gives one of his first interviews in English, and explains why...

MTV: What do you think... 'cause Geometry Wars seems to me, that's almost like a Kenta Cho game.

KC: (laughs)

MTV: What do you think of that game? Have you been playing that a lot?

KC: Yeah, I like the Geometry Wars that was released with Project Gotham Racing 2, the original version. That kind of 360 degree shooter is unpopular in Japan. But Geometry Wars has very good gameplay. It also fit with the controller. The 360 has twin dual analog sticks.

MTV: What's your high score in Geometry Wars?

KC: (laughs) I am not good at it. Perhaps one million... twenty... over one million?

MTV: One million? I can't get to a million myself. I'm at like 300,000 or something like that I'm not very good.

KC: (chuckles)

MTV: Would you actually be interested in having your games on Xbox Live Arcade?

KC: I have interest but I think that my game is too simple to release on the market. (points to Gunroar playing in background on laptop)

KC: So perhaps if someone would release my game on the consoles, the gameplay or the graphics and music should be refined.

MTV: Have game companies ever called you up and asked you to do work for them?

KC: Some people give me their e-mail about releasing my game on some console like an Xbox or PSP... but perhaps it is difficult to release my game on the market.

MTV: You don't charge money for your games. Why not? You could make a lot of money for these games. Why don't you do that?

KC: (chuckles)

MTV: You could be rich.

KC: (laughs) I distribute my game because I create the games that I want to play. And if some people want to enjoy my games, I give my game and code to those people. I don't have any intention to create money with creating games.

[ABA Games download page, Val and Rick review]

Also known as Victi, Vigil is a different sort of adventure game suitable only for mature audiences. The subject matter is questionable, and some of the scenes are mildly disturbing even when much of the story is shrouded in mystery.

The demo showcases quite a bit of gameplay, in which all movements and interactions can be controlled using the mouse. Left click on a destination to make Dehon run towards it, and right click when standing on a correct spot to wave your hand or chant a prayer. Rather useful in activating objects or opening doors.

Perhaps best described as Sin City meets Killer 7. The trial version is available from GarageGames as well.

Name: Vigil
Developer: Freegamer
Category: Adventure
Type: Demo
Size: 120MB

Warning: Contains nudity.

Galshell 2 Bullet Rain is perhaps the most accessible of all Artesneit releases, though they're not taking it any easier on the nudity content.

It's possible to begin playing from any of the three levels, with plenty of continues to use and a different character assigned to each difficulty. Collect items marked with the letter P to increase your power-up gauge. When it's completely filled, your weapon will receive a decent firepower upgrade.

Not suitable for players with weak stomaches.

Name: Galshell 2 Bullet Rain
Developer: Artesneit
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Click here to view the cheats, but be warned. It will ruin much of the experience.

Get the Jets'n'Guns expansion pack here.