On Tuesday, publisher Tribute Games and developer Zenovia Interactive officially released their 2D action platformer Steel Assault on Nintendo Switch and Steam PC. The game boasts a 16-bit arcade aesthetic and a throwback challenge level (without the pocket full of quarters). You can read our previous coverage of Steel Assault here, or check out the official breakdown of the game
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On Tuesday, QUByte Interactive announced that MiniCactus Games’ puzzle platformer Underland will be released on 30 September for the PS4, PS5, Xbone, SeXbox, and Nintendo Switch. Yes, that’s tomorrow, o keen readers of ours! In Underland, players must guide your astronauts through multiple monochrome (!) environments, using all available tools such as excavators, pumps, pipes, cannons, drones and dynamic platforms
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Taito’s original Darius game landed in arcades in 1987, making the series one of the oldest space shoot ’em up series out there. The game’s contemporaries include the likes of R-Type and Gradius, both of which seem to have more name recognition than Darius ever did. Is that because Gradius and R-Type received solid ports to 8-bit consoles of the
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Nintendo recently announced that SEGA Genesis games are coming to the Nintendo Switch via a Switch Online “Expansion Pack”, so I thought the time was right to highlight one of the most prized games included with this additional subscription service: M.U.S.H.A. This write-up is a bit more in-depth than a standard “review,” so I’m winging it with the whole “retrospective”
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Indie game publisher Playism recently announced that the genre-bending title The Good Life is scheduled to release on 15 October via Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbone, and Steam PC. Co-developed by Japanese studios White Owls and Grounding Inc., The Good Life blends elements of adventure, RPGs, and life simulator. The game boasts the unique style of White Owls’ Hidetaka “SWERY” Suehiro
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Game publisher Hamster has announced that Soldam, the matching puzzle game, is now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Jaleco in 1992, Soldam was later ported to the Japanese Game Boy in Japan and an updated version was released for PS4 and Nintendo Switch as Soldam: Drop,
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On Thursday, SNK officially released the Metal Slug 1st & 2nd Mission Double Pack for Nintendo Switch via the Switch eShop. Priced at $14.99, the Metal Slug 1st & 2nd Mission Double Pack includes both Neogeo Pocket Color versions of Metal Slug 1st Mission and Metal Slug 2nd Mission. If you aren’t familiar with the classic run-and-gun arcade series, here’s
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On Wednesday, publisher Tribute Games released a new teaser trailer for Steel Assault, which is scheduled to release on 28 September for Nintendo Switch and Steam PC. Developed by Zenovia Interactive, Steel Assault is a retro-inspired 2D platformer featuring throwback challenge and a 16-bit aesthetic. Here’s the official breakdown of Steel Assault from Tribute, followed by the latest trailer: Punch,
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On Tuesday, Raw Thrills officially released the arcade racer Cruis’n Blast on Nintendo Switch. Cruis’n Blast is the first Cruis’n game to land on home consoles for over a decade. The series is known for high speed racing and wild track and vehicle designs. Here’s the official breakdown of Cruis’n Blast from Raw Thrills, followed by the launch trailer: The
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On Friday, independent game developer NGDEV announced that their horizontal-scrolling bullet hell shooter Razion EX will be released on the Nintendo Switch eShop on 16 September. The game has been available for a few months in physical format via NGDEV’s website, but this is Razion EX’s first wide release in a digital format. First released for the Neo Geo in
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Game publisher Hamster has announced that Pop Flamer, the single-screen 2D action arcade game, is now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Jaleco in 1982 and later ported to the SEGA SG-1000 in 1983, Pop Flamer has never received an official release in western regions until now.
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New Polish development team We Dig Games recently announced that their first game will be Hamster Maze, coming in 2022 for SeXbox, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch and Steam PC. Inspired by online videos of hamster maze creation, Hamster Maze blends casual arcade gameplay with Tamagotchi elements. Players rear and train their pet hamsters in preparation for competition with
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Game publisher Hamster has announced that USAAF Mustang, the 2D horizontal scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game, is now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by UPL in 1990 and ported to the SEGA Mega Drive as Fire Mustang in 1991, USAAF Mustang has never received an official release in
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Welcome back to 80s August, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of the greatest decade since martians built the pyramids! Today, we’re going to take a look at Space Invaders Invincible Collection on Nintendo Switch.* I know what you’re thinking- that Taito first released Space Invaders in 1978, not the 1980s. True enough, but Space Invaders was absolutely still an arcade mainstay
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Earlier this month, indie game developer World Eater Games and publisher Pineapple Works launched a crowdfunding campaign for Bittersweet Birthday, a challenging new game described as half bullet-hell combat, half adventure/exploration with a 2D pixel art style. At the time of this writing, the Bittersweet Birthday campaign is more than 50% funded, having raised roughly $12 thousand of its $23
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Beginning life as a mobile game, WitchSpring 3 Re:Fine The Story of Eirudy is now available on the Nintendo Switch. Created by Kiwi Walks and published here in the United States by ININ Games, WitchSpring 3 is a fairly short (roughly ten hours), traditional turn-based RPG that has a great amount of charm. However, considering that you can get the
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To celebrate 40 years of the monumental Space Invaders franchise, Taito has partnered with ININ Games to release Space Invaders Invincible Collection, a compilation that features 11 sci-fi shooters from the Space Invaders series (or, in some cases, loosely tied to the series). Here’s the list of games included with Space Invaders Invincible Collection: Space Invaders (1978, Arcade) – original
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Publisher Live Wire recently announced that arcade shoot ‘em up Espgaluda II is scheduled to release for Switch on 9 September via the Nintendo eShop. Developed by Cave, Espgaluda II was originally released in Japanese arcades in November 2005. It has since been ported multiple times, including to pre-smartphone mobile phones in 2006, and later to Xbox 360, iOS and
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Welcome back to 80s August, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of the greatest decade since tigers had sabers for teeth! Today, we’re going to dig deep into Spelunker HD Deluxe for Nintendo Switch and PS4,* a modern reimagining of the 1983 Spelunker game by Timothy G. Martin… sort of. Why “sort of”? Because Spelunker HD Deluxe actually takes more inspiration from
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Game publisher Hamster has announced that Kurikenton, the side-scrolling, martial arts action arcade game, is now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by Taito in 1988, Kurikenton (or sometimes “Kuri Kinton”) eventually saw a home release as part of the Taito Legends 2 compilation for PS2 and Xbox.
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Publisher Digerati recently confirmed that card battler game The Magister will release for both Nintendo Switch and Steam PC on 2 September and Xbox One on 3 September. Developed by Nerdook, The Magister features a randomly-generated murder-mystery set in a remote village. Gamers play as a Magister who is responsible for enforcing the law across the empire, and you must
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During the 2021 BitSummit Indie Game Showcase, X PLUS Games officially announced that retro-inspired platformer Bat Boy is in the works (on deck?) for Steam PC, PS5, SeXbox, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Co-developed by X PLUS and Sonzai Games, Bat Boy features a sentai sports-hero named Ryosuke (the Bat Boy) who must battle other sports-themed enemies in a world
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Game publisher Hamster has announced that Bio-Ship Paladin, the 2D horizontal scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game, is now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released in arcades by UPL in 1990 and ported to the SEGA Mega Drive in 1991, Bio-Ship Paladin has never received an official release in western regions until
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Welcome back to 80s August, The Splintering’s month-long celebration of the greatest decade since the evolutionary development of the imposable thumb! Since The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] just recently made its way to the PS4, what better time to re-post our review of the Nintendo Switch version of the game, which released last year? Retro revivals are a dime a dozen,
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The office full of IP lawyers who are currently wearing the skin suit once known as Atari (allegedly)* recently announced that a new version of Food Fight is in the works, thanks to a collaboration with developers at Mega Cat Studios. Arriving in early 2022, new Food Fight will launch first as a timed exclusive for the Atari VCS PC/console
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Game publisher Hamster has announced that NOVA2001, the lesser-known shoot-em-up arcade game, is now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as part of the digital Arcade Archives series. Originally released by UPL in 1983, NOVA2001 is the predecessor to Ark Area. In NOVA2001, players control a space fighter that can shoot in all directions (similar to Asteroids or Sinistar). Your
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Publisher Koei Tecmo recently announced that their horror title Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is scheduled for a digital release on 28 October for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, SeXbox, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC… and it will be censored on all platforms. Maiden of Black Water is an updated version of the Wii U release in 2014. Like other
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As of today (that’s right now), Alien Pixel Studios’ portal-hopping, puzzle platformer Unbound: Worlds Apart is now available on Nintendo Switch and PC (via Steam). Described as a dark fairy tale, Unbound is set in a fantasy world with gameplay featuring Metroidvania (nonlinear 2D adventure) elements. Players harness the world-altering portals to defeat monsters, solve puzzles and save reality from
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Publisher Ultimate Games has announced that Disturbing Forest – a genre-blending puzzle/adventure/survival game set in a fantasy world – will be coming to Steam PC in Q4 of 2021 with a Nintendo Switch release to follow in 2022. Disturbing Forest is the debut game by Panteon Studio, an independent development studio in Poland. According to Mateusz Kuliś, one of Panteon’s
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Taito and ININ Games have partnered up to release G-Darius HD, a remastered port of 1997’s arcade title… G-Darius. Developed by M2, G-Darius HD will be available physically and digitally for Nintendo Switch and PS4 later in 2021 (that’s for both North American and European territories). While the Darius shoot ‘em up series dates back to the mid-80s (or as
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