The new Retro Remakes magazine is now available as a PDF download.

The past three Retro Active issues can be acquired from this page, under a similarly titled heading.

oddbob reviews nominees from Game Tunnel's Game of the Year Awards. Here's the introductory article.

There's a poll about the worst adventure game released this year in the AG forums.

- image taken from Overclocked, an upcoming adventure game by the developers of The Moment of Silence. [preview]

This is definitely a vintage year for Thrust remakes. Scavenger is a PiEyeGames production that includes 3D graphics, mouse controls and some telling gameplay changes. Among the new additions are a landing pad that serves as a refuel station and power generators that can be destroyed to disable the threat from all defense turrets.

Your mission involves collecting enough key orbs to activate the sector's exit area. These objects are usually surrounded by gems and has a red glow, plus collecting them also doubles as options that upgrade your firepower.

Name: Scavenger
Developer: PiEyeGames
Category: Action
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB

A smaller version of Fumito Ueda's masterpiece, Samurai Colossus tells the tale of a lone warrior faced with an army of mechs. Armed with only a katana and some dexterous skills, rendering these monstrous juggernauts powerless may prove to be a daunting task as some of the robots are more than a few stories high.

Decent 3D graphics overshadow the rather generic gameplay, although it's definitely an item of interest for hack and slash fans.

Name: Samurai Colossus
Developer: Render Junkies
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 50MB

Here's a scan of the interview with the Streets of Rage Remake development team by play magazine. [SoRR review]

Nenad is currently developing a 3D shooter. [Counterclockwise review]

Galcon updated to version 1.1. Change list can be found here.

The Merry Gear Solid speed run can now be watched at YouTube.

- sidebar image from the upcoming Shmup-Dev Autofire 2007 Competition, Force Majeure

Holiday Hills is a pretty good reinvention of SkiFree, though this time your character rides a toboggan and there are presents to collect for bonus points. Use the arrow keys to steer, or press the alternate and enter key at the same time to access the full screen mode.

Name: Holiday Hills
Developer: Johan Peitz
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

The new Streets of Rage Remake is set to be released next week, though a tasty preview with several playable levels can be obtained from the front page.

Featuring a selection of six playable characters spanning the entire series, it's also possible to choose a partner controlled by the CPU if you can't get hold of a friend to join the mayhem. All the moves have been retained with several new additions, plus more gameplay modes will be included in the next update.

Anyone who loved the original won't be disappointed with this effort.

Name: Streets of Rage Remake
Developer: Bombergames Soft
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Seems that Merry Gear Solid is catching on like wildfire, with mentions on Kotaku, selectbutton.net and Something Awful to name a few.

There are even calls for a sequel, but The Podunkian (real name: Arthur Lee) may have to neglect work on The Underside if such requests were considered. And the Arsecast Host would be really disappointed if the Cave Story tribute was delayed any further.

Web sites
- Merry Gear Solid
- Super Fun Dungeon Run

The Underside
- gameplay videos: one, two
- screenshots: one, two, three
(opens in new window)
- Clickzine preview

[Merry Gear Solid secrets in comments section]