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Cryptic Sea has started up a new development journal in which fans of Gish can keep themselves updated about the sequel's production progress (pictured above). Barely visible in the image is a 2008 release date. There's a video posted with Edmund himself attempting to call Nintendo's Reggie to secure a publishing deal on the Wii.
Edmund McMillen is also responsible for the character art in Braid, among other works.
Visit the development journal
The author of the Submachine series has announced a schedule for his upcoming projects on his development journal recently. All of the following games will be released before Christmas 2007, in this order:
Covert Front 2 (soonest)
two untitled platformers
DayMare Town 2
Submachine 5
Mateusz Skutnik's games page
StarPox is a new horizontal shooter by Lazrael, creator of Banana Nababa and Poyo. Work in progress. [Dick the Duck preview, Lazrael's past projects]
Space Phallus will have levels that are entirely different from each other.
It's a pretty simple affair, which uses 8-bit themed graphics and sound. The premise of the game is to save the galaxy from the marauding space penises that are threatening to destroy it. This one is coming along quite quickly (is that a pun?) so should see release in the coming months. I'll try to post some pics and maybe a video soon.
Cheers
Charlie (author of Bullet Candy)
Charlie's Games
Amanita Design (Samorost series) is currently working on a full-scale adventure game entitled Machinarium. The new project features hand-drawn art and backgrounds, but retains the point-and-click interface that fans of the series have grown accustomed to.
Adventure Gamers had also revealed that the world is populated by robots, and players can expect to interact with a small inventory during the course of the game.
Machinarium will be released sometime in the second half of 2008.
Ben Jordan Case 6: Scourge of the Sea People is the latest in a series of adventure games by Grundislav about a young man and his journey around the world in search of mystery and danger. Puzzles are much easier compared to it's predecessors though certain screen exits can be easily missed at first glance.
There's one scene with pixelated nudity, so approach with caution.
Name: Ben Jordan Case 6: Scourge of the Sea People
Developer: Grundislav
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB
Swedish developer Bits & Pieces Interactive brings us an innovative new twist on the paltformer genre with Fret Nice. The game can only be played with a guitar controller, requiring either a USB-to-PS2 adapter or a USB Xbox 360 guitar controller. Naturally, this will limit how many of you will be able to try it. If you have the ability to play this, however, you will be pleasantly surprised. Fret Nice is a recipient of the Best Game Concept Award at Swedish Game Awards 2007. It's reviewer states that it is "a game with an innovative use of control, which impresses in many areas."
The game will find you jumping to perform "air combos" that allow you to defeat the various enemies, as well as climbing, swinging, and slinging your character onto and off of various objects in the levels. In all cases gameplay feels fresh and is a lot of fun, while the nontraditional control method makes Fret Nice an innovative newcomer to the indie scene.
Name: Fret Nice
Developer: Bits & Pieces Interactive
Category: Platformer/Unconventional
Type: Freeware
Size: 28MB
Raingraph's Ace Speeder 2 is a decent racing game with uninspiring textures and pretty standard gameplay, but simulates a speeding race track well enough to please casual fans of the genre.
Only two race tracks are accessible in this demo. Hold the space key to accelerate, and tap the same button quickly to use the boost. Swap camera view by pressing the C key. The V key can be used to turn the HUD on and off. Pause the game with the backspace or delete key.
Name: Ace Speeder 2
Developer: Raingraph
Category: Action
Type: Demo
Size: 30MB
Direct download link: Click here
Joystiq previews Metanet Software's N+ (pictured above), due out for the Nintendo DS soon. Hot dual screen action!
"The view for the DS game provides a zoomed-in bottom screen and a zoomed-out view of the whole level on the top screen."
"The game will feature all new levels designed by original creators Metanet in both its Pure (based on the original Flash game) and Plus (new graphics and enemies) versions."
Also from Joystiq, an interview with the director of the 1GB noir adventure game Fate by Numbers.
Updates
Dicewars DS (a Nintendo DS port of GameDesign's popular dice strategy game, pictured above) updated to version 0.3.4.
Georg Rottensteiner's Joe Gunn gets a final update, recently reviewed in RGCD. [installation instructions]
Shooters
There's a couple of scans from Arcadia with information and screenshots about Cave's latest horizontal shooter Deathsmiles posted in the insomnia.ac forums. [AM show information]
From Arcadia again, information and a screenshot from G.rev's (Border Down, Under Defeat) upcoming vertical shooter Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta. Apparently the game is a collaborative effort with ex-Seibu Kaihatsu staff, the same people responsible for delivering the Raiden series. [official web site]
Soldner-X is available for preorder from Play-Asia.
Platformers
Ishi has resumed work on Tor de Force, a platformer originally developed for the four color competition held by Retro Remakes. [forum thread]
Ten new screenshots from Lexaloffle's upcoming platformer Jasper's Journeys (pictured below) were recently posted. [Swarm Racer]
Miscellaneous
GameTunnel's Monthly Round-up has been replaced with a new column entitled The 60-Minute Trial.
Chocolate Castle is the latest Manifesto Games' pick.
Being my first YouTube piano video, I only thought it would be appropriate to make it from Cave Story. This is of me, playing my own arrangement of selections from "Plantation" and "Moonsong." Sorry about the quality! - markarian.
- MP3 downloads and sheet music for several tunes from Pixel's Cave Story
There have been many changes to Bootansoft's horizontal shooter Arachnos since it's initial release. In the latest version (1.84), the author has included a difficulty setting and the option to increase the number of ships for each game.
Arguably the best freeware Gradius tribute available. [gameplay videos]
Name: Arachnos
Developer: Bootansoft
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB
Direct download link: Click here
The third issue of RGCD, the freely downloadable retro discmag, is now available. Blast Arena for the GBA is its featured review this time around.
Amongst the 28 other games covered are Hurrican, Burn the Trash, Frazy and Zub for the PC, as well as Joe Gunn for the C64 and Blizzard's Rift for the Spectrum. This issue also has part one of an in-depth article about the history of the man behind Llamasoft, Jeff Minter.
As always, all content is thoroughly checked for viruses and is 100% spyware free.
Nifflas has released Knytt Stories a couple of days ahead of his original August 30th release date.
Knytt Stories doesn't have a specific plot. Instead, each level is its own little adventure. A level called 'The Machine' is included with the game, where you have to stop a machine that draws the life out of the planet. An official expansion pack is also featured at the website with four original levels.Knytt Stories is a 2D platform game that runs on Windows 2000, XP, and later.
Name: Knytt Stories
Developer: Nifflas
Category: Platformer
Type: Freeware
Size: 33.9MB
Download: From the download page.
In Lonely House-Moving, the reluctance of the story's protagonist to let his young partner relocate to greener pastures has caused him to chase after a moving truck carrying the love of his life and her belongings in it. Your task is to avoid the falling objects by jumping over them for maximum points whenever possible.
Bonus points are awarded for jumps which are further to the right. Execute Mario stomps on moles and crows for a score boost. Collect corns or rice balls to restore health. Approaching bicycles can be anticipated by listening closely for their ringing bells.
Use the arrow keys to move, and hold the space key to jump. Avoid catching her undies to earn extra points at the end of the game.
Name: Lonely House-Moving
Developer: Nigoro
Category: Action
Type: Browser
Guardian Popon is a simple arcade game in which the player has to protect his or her fort from invading forces with only a single cannon equipped on your ship as the defensive measure.
Hold the left mouse button to set the cannonball flight distance, but restock regularly as your ship is able to carry a maximum of ten cannonballs at any time.
Name: Guardian Popon
Developer: GamePure
Category: Action
Type: Browser
In Biniax-2, the players controls a box with an element inside. Pairs of elements can be removed if the element controlled is the same as one of the pair. When a pair of element is removed, your box will take on the form of the other element in the pair. Press the space key to remove an entire column. This special move is limited and the number of uses allowed is indicated on the right side of the screen.
A new tactical mode, improved graphics and multiplayer option is included in this updated sequel.
Name: Biniax-2
Developer: Jordan Tuzsuzov
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Expect to see a gameplay video from World of Goo (pictured above) posted sometime this week.
MarkUp issue 6 (the official GM magazine) is now available for download. The tutorials could be of some help but the reviews are incredibly poor as usual.
Metablog updated; Lost Garden gets a new entry.
Shooters
Soldner-X will be released sometime around the end of 2007 or early 2008. [thanks to Timerever!]
The full version of Honeyblaster will be released during the final week of September. [web site]
Nintendo DS
An updated DS version of Motocross Challenge is currently in development. [GBA version]
PDRoms has an extensive list of homebrew releases for most of the portable consoles available today. Reaxion GBA and cdogsPSP (Cdogs port) are two familiar names gathered from a quick glance of the list.
Information about the DS port of Invalid Tangram can be found at Josh's site. [PC version]
Updates
Autumn Moon's upcoming adventure game A Vampyre Story gets a new web site. The title is scheduled to be released sometime in late 2007.
An updated version for Empyreal Nocturne (with joystick and XBox 360 controller support) is now available. [download page]
More custom map packs added to Ninjah's web site.
Miscellaneous
Moonpod is working on a new game.
GamePure has announced Combat Heaven Next, a sequel to their popular arcade game Combat Heaven. Twelve new screenshots were added to the information page as well.
Details about the upcoming 1st person action adventure game (pictured below) based on the Lone Wolf series were recently revealed. [Ksatria's web site]
Much like Tetris Plus, Crash Block is a variation of the classic game with a protagonist which you have to protect from the falling tetrominoes. The heroine of the story can jump, climb and direct pieces with a press of the Enter key. Use the backspace key to drop a piece once it is properly positioned over the desired placement area.
The left and right cursor keys can be used to control the main character. Press the up or down arrow key to rotate a piece. Hold the space key to jump, and tap the B key to place a bomb. A piece will fall automatically if not placed after being introduced to the play area for some time. Avoid standing under a falling piece.
Use the delete key to restart a level in the event that your character is trapped with no visible exit.
Name: Crashblock
Developer: Cerebral Bicycle
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB
Direct download link: Click here
Dungeon Looter is one of the few notable entries from the recent Pascal Game Development. You assume the role of an explorer spelunking in a dangerous cave, with a torch in hand the only source of illumination and protection against unseen danger.
The W, A, S and D keys can be used to control the main character. A glowing exclamation mark designates the point at which treasures are sold and items can be purchased. Stock up on torches, and view your inventory using the I key. The game can be saved at any time.
This competition entry is playable though many of the extra features mentioned in the included text file has not been implemented yet.
Name: Dungeon Looter
Developer: Mirage
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB
Direct download link: Click here
Honeyblaster is the latest release from the low key game development team LowFuel, though they have been quite prolific in other areas such as the demo scene and design related work. This particular demo features three levels with a colored background option included for players who are not keen on playing the game in it's original black and white format.
Each stage has it's own setting and offers a variety of enemies to blast at, but undeniably the Doom tribute level was designed to impress the most.
Name: Honeyblaster
Developer: LowFuel
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB
Jigsaw Battle is a new puzzler from SKT, famed for their popular Moai series together with several other quirky Flash game releases to date. The game pits you against the CPU in a jigsaw completion duel, and the winner chosen from whichever side completes a set of three puzzles the quickest.
There is also a game featuring an odd mascot among three of their recent releases in the past few weeks.
Name: Jigsaw Battle
Developer: SKT
Category: Puzzle
Type: Browser
Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa is a single player RPG with a combat system not unlike the one used by Blizzard's Diablo series. Taking the role of Rapius, players fight their way through eighty levels of randomly generated dungeons, braving dozens of enemies and adding a myriad of items to their loot collection.
Careful use of Rapius' lantern will allow players to strike from afar, or for tough encounters, sneak by silently in the dark. The game also comes with a level editor.
Name: Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa
Developer: Chronic Reality
Category: RPG
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB
Direct download link: Click here (demo)
The Wonderful End of the World is an upcoming release from Dejobaan Games, and console owners will likely notice the similarities between this project and Namco's Katamari Damacy series.
Still currently in development, but a (very early) playable demo is available for download.
Cyclops is a new arena shooter from the author of Warning Forever, in which the player has to protect a turret from destruction by eliminating enemy ships or bullets with the help of a mounted laser beam weapon.
Your primary weapon requires a short recharge period after each use, and at times the turret doesn't turn quick enough to combat the arriving enemy waves. Reflection panels can be used to your advantage in this situation, as your beam bounces off them at a certain angle when they're shot at. Asteroids cannot be destroyed, but green enemy ships will attempt to collide with the turret to inflict a damage of five percent.
The number of enemies to eliminate in each round is shown at the bottom left of the screen, and a ten percent damage restoration bonus is awarded before the start of a new level. Shields are unlimited and protect against nearly all danger except for collision with a certain green object twice the size of your turret.
The cyclops.ini text file can be edited to enable full screen mode. Sound will be implemented in future releases.
Name: Cyclops
Developer: Hikware
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB
Least Best Room is a new Flash game by Kenta Cho which attempts to simulate gravity and physics in a tight space. This experimental project involves moving your avatar forward and trying to avoid mines, all the while squeezing through inflatable red balls or collecting green energy items.
Use the cursor keys to move your character around, and hold the Z key to shoot. Your personal best distance is shown at the title screen but never saved when the browser window is refreshed or closed.
Name: Least Best Room
Developer: Kenta Cho
Category: Shooter
Type: Browser
In xWUNG, you play by moving the mouse to swing a ball. The ball's attached to a wire, and both of them kill enemies on contact. Be careful of the debris as it's deadly. There are bosses that appear with regular intervals. Make large combos to get good scores. [source: the2bears]
Online high score table
Name: xWUNG
Developer: cactus
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 2MB
Direct download link: Click here
Details about Nigoro's upcoming release (pictured above) posted. [rough translation]
Eyezmaze's Tontie gets a new unlimited mode.
Minion's Phoenix remake updated.
Cave Story gets an XBox port.
A new issue of GameShark's The Indies posted.
The review archives was recently updated, though half of the new addition consists of crummy games as usual.
From Andrew's site:
"If you are working in flash and have a desire to learn things like gravity, 3-d rotation etc. you'll find a goldmine of information here."
If your name is Jeff, look away now:
Space Giraffe (Electorubbish)
'Space Giraffe is NOT Tempest!' screams the instructions in Jeff's 360 music visualizer, Minter's latest interactive audiovisual orgy. Okay, but Space Giraffe does take nearly all its cues from Atari's classic coin-op (which Minter has reworked before).
As in Tempest, you're an abstract creature on the edge of an electric grid floating in space, relentlessly basting the geometric creatures that shimmy up its lanes. Giraffe enhances that letting you jump over enemies, steer your shots, and ram baddies off the playfield, but user-friendliness has been thrown out in the name of psychedelic presentation.
You'll frequently die because you couldn't pick out the pulsing assassin from the wrapped playfield floating over the throbbing LSD nightmare that is the background, which makes this game uniquely aggravating.
With incredibly poor visibility (apparently by design) and a thumping electronic soundtrack peppered with sophomoric sound effects, Space Giraffe offers a generous 100 levels of damn-near-unplayable technoslop.
- Dan Amrich (Senior editor, Official Xbox Magazine)
+ Unlike anything you've ever seen (except Tempest).
- Too visually noisy to figure out what going on.
- Actually made us angry when we played it.
? Is this a failed game or a failed art experiment?
The Verdict 2.0 - BROKEN
Just really bad. Lacks a single redeeming quality, or it's busted to varying degrees in its own design, quality or basic functionality. No gamer of any stripe should bother.
For a more favorable review, click here. New screenshots and gameplay videos can be found over at the Llamasoft Blog. [thanks to Caff of Retro Remakes]
Lazrael (Poyo, Boss Arena) is working on a new platformer. [pictured above, gameplay video]
Mind Control's (Oasis) Arrrrr now has a playable demo with no time limit. [direct download link]
The final TOJam games have been posted. Highlights include XIQ, Noodle and Emergency Response Team. Two by Two and Super Defender Robo are playable right in your browser.
New screenshot added to Honeyblaster's web site.
8 Kingdoms was recently updated to version 1.1.0.
There's a couple of freeware game recommendations (with screenshots) posted in the Distractionware forums.
Here's an experiment carried out by Andy Brice to examine the five star award phenomenon that most software companies are misusing to promote their products. [thanks to Oddbob of Retro Remakes]
New screenshots from Kairos' upcoming vertical shooter Varia have been posted on his 64 Digits user page. [Kairuga]
Two new screenshots from Nepia World's upcoming Comiket release (pictured below) posted. [source: Danmaku Gata, Mimizu Panzer]
The Desolate Room is one of those releases where the introductory sequence makes little sense, and still screenshots doesn't portray the game in motion too favorably. The author has also included a tiring fetch quest during the first fifteen minutes of the player's adventure, but things do look up after the team encounters it's first boss battle.
A game in progress is saved automatically whenever the player leaves and exits a battle or the console. Each of your party members has to charge up before allowed to access their individual skills and attacks. Left click to shoot enemies in the console or make menu selections. Double click on a skill or attack in the upgrade screen shown after a battle to increase it's level and efficiency.
Name: The Desolate Room
Developer: Scottgames
Category: RPG
Type: Freeware
Size: 60MB
Direct download link: Click here
Punishment 2 - The Punishing is a sequel to the similarly titled platformer by Messhof, made in response to the encouragement and praises offered by the community for it's predecessor. The author has decided to reward his loyal fans with a new game that is an improvement in certain areas while introducing extremely difficult challenges and a needless gameplay element to appal rather than appeal anyone who attempts to scale the tower all the way to the top.
All switches are turned off when the player enters a new level, meaning that previous floors have to be attempted again if further progress is to be made. Playing this game for prolonged periods may burn after images onto your retina as well, so be warned. Nine levels only.
Name: Punishment 2 - The Punishing
Developer: Messhof
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB
Direct download link: Click here
Remakes
Hurrican updated to version 1.0.0.4. A level editor has been included with this release.
The Wizball remake is nearly done.
Shooters
danmakugata.com is now up and running.
More screenshots added to Soldner-X's web site.
Entries for the IntroComp 2007 competition are now available for download. This annual contest involves the submission of unfinished interactive fiction works with winners chosen by the public, based on their interest in playing a completed build of each game.
Stranded II is a 3D adventure game by Unreal Software, chronicling the adventures of a man who lost his ship in a storm and must learn how to survive on a deserted island using a variety of objects acquired from the land.
Press the X key to bring up the character sheet, use the C key to view your current inventory, and tap the V key to access your diary. The Y key can be used to rest and recuperate. Insects, animals, plants and other items do respawn, but only at the start of each day.
Expect to do a lot of building, foraging and hunting in this game to get anywhere. Hints can be found in this forum thread, including a map of the first island which includes important locations marked for the convenience of other players.
Name: Stranded II
Developer: Unreal Software
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB
Download page: Click here
