Author Archives: The Splintering Staff

Taito’s “Rainbow Islands” Joins the Arcade Archives on PS4 and Nintendo Switch

“I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:

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Review: “Bahnsen Knights” (Nintendo Switch)

Once upon a time, I would stay up late at night with friends, listening to the local high school playing football, and “playing” visual novels with wonder…  both by being sucked into the story, and at the amazement of modern technology used by state-of-the-art computers of the mid-80’s.  Technology is funny though. It advances so quickly, and older tech is

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Konami’s Arcade Classic “Super Contra” Now on PS4, Nintendo Switch

For my taste, none of the series’ sequels ever quite matched the greatness of the original Contra game (the NES version, that is), but Super Contra came close. On Thursday publisher Hamster brought Super Contra to the Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Konami in 1988, Super Contra was

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The Origin Story Of “DAMEGANG” Concludes With Volume 3 (Crowdfunding Spotlight)

Last week, the crowdfunding campaign for DAMEGANG issue 3 ended successfully, raising more than $3 thousand before the crowdfunding period came to a close. Written and illustrated by independent comic creators Billy Nunez, DAMEGANG is a sci-fi adventure featuring a group of fetching ladies of an unusual size. Here’s the official pitch taken from the DAMEGANG Indiegogo campaign page: In

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Retro Arcade Action Game “Mighty Guy” Now Available on PS4, Nintendo Switch

Before Mighty Final Fight, before Final Fight Guy, there was Mighty Guy. Late last week, publisher Hamster released Mighty Guy on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of their digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in Japanese arcades by Nichibutsu in 1986, Mighty Guy is a top-down action game akin to Commando and Ikari Warriors. Players take control of the

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Whimsyland’s Manga-Inspired “Jisedai” Issue 1 Now On Fund My Comic (Crowdfunding Spotlight)

Independent author and Whimsyland founder Daniel P. Riley recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for issue 1 of Jisedai, a 32-page, manga-inspired comic book based on the novella series of the same name. The project is already fully funded, having raised nearly $3 thousand at the time of this writing. Written by Daniel Riley and featuring illustrations by Kevin Jacob and

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Taito’s “Solitary Fighter” Joins The Arcade Archives on PS4, Nintendo Switch

If you were busy with Christmas holiday comings and goings last week (like we were), you may have missed that Hamster has released Solitary Fighter on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in Japanese arcades by Taito in 1991 Solitary Fighter the first one-on-one fighter where you can kick a bear in

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Konami’s Arcade Action-Platformer “Mystic Warriors” Now on PS4, Nintendo Switch

Publisher Hamster has announced that Mystic Warriors is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Konami in 1993, this is the first time that Mystic Warriors has been commercially available in the West. In Mystic Warriors, players choose from five playable martial arts masters: Spyros, Kojiro, Keima,

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Crowdfunding Campaign For Sci-Fi Graphic Novel “The Lie Behind The Star” Ends Successfully

Last week, Quinn Howard’s crowdfunding campaign for The Lie Behind The Star Volume One came to a successful close having raised more than $50 thousand. Written by Howard and featuring illustrations by Matthew Weldon (Punchline), The Lie Behind The Star is a 42-page graphic novel described as “science fiction with deep philosophical themes, weaving elements of cosmic horror into its

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Video System’s Arcade Classic “Aero Fighters” Now on PS4, Nintendo Switch

Publisher Hamster has announced that vertical scrolling shoot ‘em up Aero Fighters is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally developed by Video Systems and released in arcades by Tecmo in 1992, Aero Fighters was later ported to the Super NES in 1993. However, this is the first time that an

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Experience the World of “Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients” in 2024

Publisher Versus Evil and developer C2 Game Studio have revealed additional details for Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients, an action-RPG launching on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms in 2024. The latest info dump highlights the environment of Gliese, which is described as “a realm draped in mystery, where history lies cloaked in shadows and destiny teeters on uncertainty.” The

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3D Platformer “Aztek Tiki Talisman” Coming To Consoles On 14 December

Don’t call him Wonder Boy… Publisher JanduSoft recently announced that 3D platformer Aztek Tiki Talisman will be released on 14 December for Nintendo Switch, Xbone, SeXbox, PS4 and PS5 (with cross-buy). Created by solo developer Josep Monzonis, Aztek Tiki Talisman is an adventure designed for players of all ages. Here’s the official breakdown of Aztek Tiki Talisman from JanduSoft, followed

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Several ININ Games Coming To Xbox On 7 December

Publisher ININ Games recently announced that six of its titles are finally coming to Microsoft platforms on 7 December, with more planned for early next year. The games are already available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation. Here’s the list so far: Here’s the official breakdown of each game from ININ: Pocky & Rocky: Reshrined (Read our review here) The adventures

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Taito’s “Scramble Formation” Now on PS4, Nintendo Switch via the Arcade Archives

“No. It’s not a sequel to Scramble.” Publisher Hamster has announced that vertical shoot ‘em up Scramble Formation is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally developed for arcades by Taito in 1986 and later ported to the MSX in Japan, this is the first time that Scramble Formation (aka Tokio)

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Kaiju-Sized Swine Attack in Mike Baron’s “Florida Man Vs. Hogzilla” (Crowdfunding Spotlight)

Maybe not “kaiju-sized,” but still really big… Veteran comic book writer Mike Baron recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Florida Man Vs. Hogzilla, a 72-page comedy graphic novel. The project is already fully funded, having collectively raised more than $15 thousand across three crowdfunding platforms (Fund My Comic, Indiegogo and Kickstarter). Written by Baron and featuring illustrations by Matthew Weldon,

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Throwback Platformer “Timberman” Now Available on PC, Xbox and PlayStation

Forever Entertainment has released Timberman: The Big Adventure on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC (via Steam and GOG). The game is already available for Nintendo Switch. Developed by Digital Melody Game and Storm Trident, Timberman is a 2D co-op platformer with a retro-inspired visual aesthetic. Here’s the official breakdown of Timberman from Forever Entertainment: For those looking to pick up Timberman

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Ben Dunn’s Maid of Might Returns in “Tomorrow Girl” Issue 2 (Crowdfunding Spotlight)

Independent comic book creator Ben Dunn recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for issue 2 of Tomorrow Girl, a 120-page superhero adventure book. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $1 thousand at the time of this writing. Written and illustrated by multiple creators, Tomorrow Girl issue 2 features 8 separate stories inspired by classic Golden and Silver

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Taito’s Retro Arcade Fighter “Dino Rex” Lives Again on PS4, Nintendo Switch

“…and that’s where the attack comes… not from the front… from the sides.” Publisher Hamster has announced that Dino Rex is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in Japanese arcades by Taito in 1992, this is the first time that Dino Rex is seeing an official release in the

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Review: “Air Twister” (Nintendo Switch)

Are you the kind of person who might have played Space Harrier and thought to yourself? “You know what’s missing here? A Queen soundtrack!” If you are, then I have good news for you! Air Twister* is finally here to fulfill your deepest fantasy!  If you’re unfamiliar with Space Harrier, it is one of the most original games from legendary video game creator, Yu Suzuki

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Stuntman Comics’ “Super Dead” Returns for Issue 2 (Crowdfunding Spotlight)

Stuntman Comics recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Super Dead 2, a 48-page superhero book with a horror twist. The project is already fully funded, having raised nearly $10 thousand at the time of this writing. Written by Mandy Summers and illustrated by Peter Gilmore, Super Dead 2 picks up where the first book left off. Here’s the official pitch

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The Rippaverse’s “Alphacore” Comic Nearing One Million Dollar Benchmark

Rippaverse Comics recently launched a preorder campaign for Alphacore issue 1, 96-page superhero adventure featuring characters created by Eric July. Like previous Rippaverse books, the Alphacore preorder campaign is already a great success, having raised nearly a million dollars at the time of this writing. Written by Chuck Dixon and featuring illustrations by Joe Bennett and letters by the prolific

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Konami’s “Shao-Lin’s Road” Now on PS4, Nintendo Switch via the Arcade Archives

Turn right on Yie Ar Avenue. Publisher Hamster has announced that Shao-Lin’s Road is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in Japanese arcades by Konami in 1985, Shao-Lin’s Road was later ported to the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum, Shao-Lin’s Road is a follow-up to Yie Ar

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Classic Saturn Shooter “Radiant Silvergun” Now on Steam PC

Tokyo-based game developer Live Wire has released Radiant Silvergun for Steam PC. Originally developed by Treasure and released for arcades and SEGA Saturn in 1998, Radiant Silvergun is a sci-fi shooter that is considered a progenitor of modern “bullet-hell” shoot ‘em ups. This Steam version is a port of the 2011 Xbox Live Arcade version, with a few new features

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Throwback Thrills in EC Comics’ Horror Anthology “Tales of Mystery and Imagination”

Last week, EC Comics launched a crowdfunding campaign for Tales of Mystery and Imagination, a 128-page horror anthology. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $1 thousand at the time of this writing. Edited by William Hazle and featuring the work of multiple writers and artists, Tales of Mystery and Imagination is a graphical retelling of sixteen

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Explore the Cosmos in Zackary Marois’ “Voyage” (Crowdfunding Spotlight)

What kind of Voyage? To where? Just Voyage. Independent comic book creator Zackary Marois recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Voyage issue 1, a 48-page sci-fi comic book. Written by Brett Melograno and penciled by Marois and inked by Ethan Farina, Voyage tells the origin story of Sonderon, an intergalactic space explorer. Here’s the official pitch taken from the Voyage

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Athena’s Classic Arcade Shoot ‘Em Up “Daioh” Now on PS4, Nintendo Switch

Talky me banana? Sorry. The Japanese is actually pronounced “DIE-oh” and means something like “great king.” Publisher Hamster has announced that vertical shoot ‘em up Daioh is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Athena in 1993, this is the first time that Daioh is seeing an

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Aaron Lopresti’s Sci-Fi Heroine Kit Carter Braves “Planet Doom”

Last week, veteran comic book creator Aaron Lopresti launched a crowdfunding campaign for Kit Carter: Planet Doom, a 64-page sci-fi graphic novel. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $50 thousand at the time of this writing. Written and illustrated by Lopresti, Kit Carter: Planet Doom is inspired by classic sci-fi adventures of the 1950s. Here’s the

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Rise Again Comics’ “Kitaru Witch Hunter” Now Prowling on Indiegogo

Last week, Rise Again Comics launched a crowdfunding campaign for Kitaru Witch Hunter, a 58+ page supernatural fantasy book. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $5 thousand at the time of this writing. The artwork is also already 100% finished, so the turnaround time between the campaign and fulfillment should be quicker than many other crowdfunding

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Lynsey Leigh’s “The Hollow Raven” Vols 1 & 2 Now on Indiegogo (Crowdfunding Spotlight)

To go along with that hollow flamingo in your front yard. Lynsey Leigh recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Compendium of the Unmasked: The Hollow Raven – Volumes 1 & 2, a genre-bending graphic novel with visuals inspired by noir & steampunk. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $700 at the time of this writing. Written

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Clownfish’s Fantasy Series “Shadowbinders” Returns for Volume 3

The Clownfish team recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Shadowbinders Volume 3, a 130+ page fantasy graphic novel that continues the Belatyr series. Written by Kambrea Pratt (Geeky Sparkles) with art by Thom Pratt (Kneon), volume 3 collects the remainder of the webcomic version of the Shadowbinders series which will continue as a graphic novel series in the future. Here’s

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