“Chro’ Dogs!” Over the weekend, Arrow Comics launched a crowdfunding campaign for Chrome Dog issue 1: Perfect Strangers, a 32-page sci-fi book. The project is nearly funded, having already raised more than $1700 at the time of this writing. Written by Justin K. Sweet and illustrated by Luke Stone (Hybrids: Sons of the Gods, Voodoo Nations),* Chrome Dog is described
Read more
It took me far too long for that “Octo Gone” pun to dawn on me. Over the weekend, aspiring comic book creator Ryan James launched a crowdfunding campaign for Octo Gone issue 1, a 48-page sci-fi book intended as the first of a three-part miniseries. Written and illustrated by James, Octo Gone is described as an “action-packed underwater adventure like
Read more
Today we’re all celebrating the Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection,* a new retro compilation of all of SEGA’s Wonder Boy and Monster World games from the 80s and 90s released to mark the 35th anniversary of the series. Weird number, but who’s complaining? If you’re thinking that this review seems awfully familiar, there’s a very good reason, as ININ Games published a Wonder Boy Collection less than a
Read more
On Friday, publisher Kemco released fantasy RPG Heirs of the Kings for SeXbox, Xbone and Steam PC. Developed by Exe Create, Heirs of the Kings was originally released for mobile devices back in 2018. The game has all of the touchstones requisite of a classic JRPG: colorful 2D artwork, magic, a character with amnesia, and all manner of mythical creatures
Read more
Undoubtedly in celebration of “Metal Black History Month”, City Connection has announced that Metal Black S-Tribute is now available on Xbone and Steam. This version of Metal Black is based on the SEGA Saturn version of the game. An arcade port of Metal Black is already available for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch via Hamster’s Arcade Archives series. This S-Tribute
Read more
Those are truly, truly mega… fists. On Wednesday, independent comic book creator Tyler Carpenter launched a crowdfunding campaign for The Girl with the Mega Fists volume 3, a 200+ page (!), black and white graphic novel. Written and illustrated by Carpenter, The Girl with the Mega Fists is an ongoing sci-fi saga with a heavy manga influence. The project is
Read more
Independent developer Jackson “TheSmashers” Clayton has announced that the Steam store page for the retro-inspired CASTILLO: The Nine Circles is now live, while the full release date has yet to be announced.* Featuring a throwback pixel art aesthetic and gameplay reminiscent of classic FPS titles of the early 90s, The Nine Circles is the follow-up to CASTILLO: Shattered Mirrors, which
Read more
Today I’m again indulging in sharing a few recent art cards: Ultra Star, the as-of-yet unnamed protagonist from Patrick Thomas Parnell’s Last of the Seekers and a Vyzpzz from Ethan Van Sciver’s Cyberfrog. Give the video below a watch and let me know what you think! To see more Featured Art Cards, go here. Thanks for reading! Please consider following
Read more
Straight outta Serbia, the one-man development machine Nikola Bulj has announced that Goblin and Coins II is set to release in April on Steam PC. A sequel to the 2016 original, Goblin and Coins II is a 2D platformer crafted with a specific aim of incorporating feedback and features requested by fans of the first game. Players take on the
Read more
Remember, remember the 13th of… Friday… erm, this isn’t working…. Fulqrum Publishing has officially launched the 1.0 version of Dread Templar for PC via Steam, GOG and the Epic Games Store. Created by the one-man developer at T19 Games, Dread Templar is a first-person shooter inspired by its classic 90s forebears – most obviously Doom. The game puts players in
Read more
“Who likes to rock the party?” Publisher Hamster has announced that The NewZealand Story (aka The New Zealand Story) is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Taito in 1988, The New Zealand Story is a 2D action game where players take control of Tiki, the chief
Read more
Japan based development studio Kanipro recently announced that their first game – maiden game, if you will – Violet Wisteria will launch on 9 February via Steam PC. Inspired by the retro classics of the early 1990s, Violet Wisteria is a Valis-esque 2D action platformer featuring a color-switching attack mechanic akin to Ikaruga. Here’s the official breakdown of Violet Wisteria
Read more
The interdimensional lizard people are upon us! On Tuesday, independent author and “the leading Hispanic voice in science fiction” Jon Del Arroz launched a crowdfunding campaign for Flying Sparks: Ultra Light Beams, a 72-page graphic novel. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $6 thousand at the time of this writing. Written by Del Arroz and featuring
Read more
Have gun, will legend. On Monday, Donkey Madness (Madness, I tell you!) launched a crowdfunding campaign for Shotgun Samurai Legends, a 48-page action/adventure anthology and the follow-up to the Shotgun Samurai manga that was successfully crowdfunded in 2021. The project is already fully funded, having raised roughly $2 thousand at the time of this writing. Here’s the official pitch taken
Read more
Sunsoft has announced that their casual co-op game Ikki Unite will be coming to Steam PC on 15 February. Known outside Japan as both Farmers Rebellion and Boomerang, the original Ikki was originally released in 1985 and puts players in the midst of peasant riots in feudal Japan. That doesn’t sound very “casual” to us, but maybe these are “mostly
Read more
“Monsters” seems a little bit strong… “Hippies” maybe… Pum Spak recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for Unemployed Monsters, a 56-page comic book featuring work by artists from Rick and Morty and Bob’s Burgers. The book is fully funded, and currently in-demand, so you can still buy into the project if you missed it during the crowdfunding period (like we did).
Read more
ININ Games recently confirmed that three compilations of Jaleco’s classic Ninja JaJaMaru games will be coming to the West in February, with two of them receiving physical editions from Strictly Limited (the other small-run physical video game publisher). These collections are being developed by City Connection for both Nintendo Switch and PS4, with preorders now available via the Strictly Limited
Read more
Japan-based developer Drecom recently announced that their upcoming adventure game Tokyo Stories (working title) will be exhibited at the 2023 Taipei Game Show, which will be held from 2 to 5 February in the great nation of Taiwan. Wrapped in a mishmash of 3D and pixel art visual aesthetics, this generically named adventure puts players in the midst of a
Read more
Earlier this week, Strictly Limited Games (the other small-run physical video game publisher) opened pre-orders for limited physical editions of Infinite-Beyond the Mind for both Nintendo Switch and PS4. Developed by Emelie Coyo, Infinite-Beyond the Mind is an indie platformer that has been available for Steam PC since 2020. Here’s the official breakdown of Infinite-Beyond the Mind from Strictly Limited:
Read more
How an unassuming art book saved the ComicsGate name
Read more
Gorillas not confirmed. On Friday, developer Onyx Wings unveiled its upcoming supernatural, mystery-based platformer Mistcaller, which is planned for a December release on Steam PC. Described as “an eerie, yet thrilling puzzle-platformer that takes place in a world covered by mist,” Mistcaller is a game where players are able to control the mist and haze that surrounds them in a
Read more
Publisher Hamster has announced that sci-fi shoot ‘em up Senjyo is now available on Nintendo Switch and PS4 as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in Japanese arcades by TEKHAN (now Koei Tecmo) in 1983, Senjyo is a vertical shoot ‘em up where players control a futuristic space tank (!) to destroy a ferocious alien menace. The
Read more
A hazy shade of newsprint On Wednesday, Alterna Comics launched a pre-order crowdfunding campaign for their Winter lineup of books. This time around, the campaign is being run both on Indiegogo (here) and the Alterna Comics website (here). Through the campaign pages, you can pick up all six of Alterna’s Winter issues, or simply pick and choose the titles you
Read more
Sim Submarine Publisher PlayWay has unveiled Nuclear Sub, a new submarine simulator coming soon to Steam PC. Developed by Nuclear Games, Nuclear Sub is designed with a focus on realism, where you must maintain the boat, its life support system and nuclear reactor, and manage supplies and resources for the crew. Of course, the game is set in the Cold
Read more
“Twisting turning through the never!” Indie game developer SneakyBox recently announced that their twin-stick shooter Void Prison is set to release on 19 January for the Nintendo Switch. Described as a “fast-paced, endless arcade game” where players must survive waves of enemies in “an ever-shrinking void ring.” Fortunately, you have plenty of guns and power-ups available to defend yourself. In
Read more
He doesn’t look like he’s smiling to me… Game publisher CFK recently announced that the new side-scrolling action game, Smilemo, is available for pre-order now on the Nintendo Switch eShop. It is already available on Steam PC. Developed by REXECHO STUDIO, Smilemo is a retro-inspired platformer featuring a throwback pixelated art style and a challenging difficulty that old school gamers
Read more
Sounds like the story of my first car. On Monday, Microids Indie released the retro-inspired Scrap Riders on the Nintendo eShop and Steam (both PC and Mac). Developed by Games for Tutti, Scrap Riders is a truly unique spin on the beat ‘em up formula, adding point and click mechanics into the mix, complete with a throwback 16-bit soundtrack and
Read more
On Friday, KEMCO released Alphadia Neo for the PS5, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The game was released last year for Steam PC and Xbox platforms. Developed by Exe Create, Alphadia Neo is a fantasy RPG that prides itself on its retro-inspired presentation. Here’s the official breakdown of Alphadia Neo from KEMCO, followed by a recent trailer: Alphadia Neo for PS5/PS4
Read more
Feeling horny? …like a rhino, ya’ dirty bird. On Friday, Sewohayami released its puzzle platformer Sekisai for Steam PC. Sekisai (maybe “Coughing Rhinoceros” in Japanese? I’m still learning) features 2D gameplay with retro-inspired aesthetics. Here’s the official breakdown of Sekisai from Sewohayami, followed by a recent trailer: What’s game Sekisai? This is an action game where you control a rhino
Read more
On Wednesday, Haunted Pizza launched a crowdfunding campaign for Hurley’s Heroes issue 1, a 40-page “flipbook” that includes not just the main story, but also a 12-page preview of HP’s upcoming sci-fi action series, Universals Initiative. The project is already fully funded, having raised more than $3 thousand at the time of this writing. Written by Mark Poulton (Graveyard Shift)
Read more
The Splintering 