H.i.v.e. (XBLIG): "A Visually Pleasing Strategic Board Game"

When I first got the request from Sean Colombo of "BlueLine Game Studios" I was honestly skeptical. I've seen board games come, and go on the XBLIG marketplace. I have even reviewed one or two of them here. For the most part the board game based indies you'll find are neat in their own respect, but these newer generations of gamers love the more ultra-violent, and action packed games offered today. It's a sad truth that becomes more evident with time. As I first got into the game via the solo aspect (2 Player Pass and Play) of "H.i.v.e." I thought, "Dude, what have I gotten myself into!?". Thankfully Sean Colombo (The Developer) was willing to play some online matches with me. After spending a little over 30 minutes playing five matches with him my thoughts turned from dread, to excitement. The game was both fun, and engaging. It's not often that you'll find an indie board game this fun. Hopefully through my following review I will be able to properly relay what this game is all about.

Undead Empire: Hellfire (XBLIG): "Sequel to Big Rook Game's Apocalyptic Horror-Survival Shmup!!!"

During my time as an XBLIG journalist I've played a handful of noteworthy top-down zombie shmups (shoot'em ups). Whether it was "Claustrophobia", "Block Zombies", or "Attack of the Zombie Horde" each game stood alone as a somewhat unique experience that entertained me for quite some time after my initial review. Big Rook Game's latest sequel, "Undead Empire: Hellfire" also provided such fun induced playthroughs as the previously mentioned games did. While I have never played the original title I was definitely glad to see that the developer included recap of the last game's plot during the intro sequence. It helped me to understand what exactly it was that my chosen character was fighting for. In this particular series it turns out that the zombie apocalypse was started by a mad scientist whose plan was thwarted by 6 unique individuals who were trying desperately to save mankind from the threat. As you can imagine the story did not end with the first game. The fight began anew as the reality of six heroes situation presented itself in a very unlikely manner.

Undead Empire: Hellfire (XBLIG) Release Contest!!!

This morning I received some Awesome news from the PR who works with Big Rook Games, Andrew Peggs. The email detailed a release contest that involves their latest XBLIG release "Undead Empire: Hellfire". The prizes are plenty, and some of them are surprisingly quite expensive. I figured I would share the original email with everyone since it better explains what the contest is all about. You'll also find a link to the contest within the copy & pasted email. I hope that you will give the game a chance, and try your hardest to win some of the prizes. I wish you guys & gals the best of luck. May the best zombie slayer win!!!

Arcadecraft (XBLIG): "Run Your Own Virtual Arcade!!!"

As a youngster I often took advantage of family trips to Kmart, the movie theater, and the local mall. These were the only arcade sources that were available in my area unfortunately. The good thing was that these sources kept some impressive up-to-date arcade cabinets in stock for shoppers to enjoy. I was able play games like Street Fighter Alpha, Tekken 5 & 6, Soul Calibur, Killer Instinct, and even Samurai Showdown III: Blades of Blood. I ended up spending a sh*t ton of quarters whenever I got the chance to do so. It was a public outlet that allowed me to compete against other gamers I never knew of. Keep in mind this was long before online gaming ever came into play. Looking back those were definitely some of my greatest gaming days. I guess my point in reminiscing is that Arcade venues are becoming a thing of the past. These days you only hear about the stories from gamers who actually lived their lives playing at the arcades. Thanks to 'FireBase Ind.' though we now have a cool little indie game that breathes life into the arcade legends of old. While it may not mirror the experience it offers the gamer a peek into what it was like to run such a business. In essence it's an homage to an almost extinct genre of gaming.

Exploding Imp (XBLIG): "Wytchlight's Devilish Indie Platformer"

For those of you just now tuning into my blog you may want to go back, and read my post on Wytchlight's first XBLIG title "Lemmy the Lizard vs The Mecha Eggs". While it has absolutely nothing to do with this latest game release it still reflects what Wytchlight (the developer) is all about. In this latest XBLIG title from Wytchlight we are blessed with yet another very interesting platforming protagonist. The lead character this time around happens to be a devilish little imp named "Guff". For some reason, or another Guff is hellbent on the demise of the fairies, and their land. He aims to destroy all the magical plant life, and turn the mystical land into literal hell via plant destruction. All that stands in his way are the fairies themselves, and other creatures such as gnomes who are willing to lend a helping hand to stop Guff in his tracks. Luckily for Guff he is not without means of offensive combat though. At his disposal is a volatile passing of gas, and the ability to claw, and kick his adversaries into a colorful pile of skeletal remains. You'll find that the fairy flowers scattered throughout the land of the faeries are the source of Guff's gassy attacks. Reaping such plant life will benefit Guff greatly in his mission to rid the world of the pansy critters (otherwise known as faeries), and turn there pretty little world into one hell of a nightmare.

Platformer From Hell (XBLIG): "A Man & His Epic Journey For a Pastrami Sandwich"

If you've followed some of my previous indie platformer reviews you'll know that I'm not a fan of the "Impossible" sub-genre. I find myself agitated enough by the online tomfoolery I encounter on a daily basis that tackling such a game would only irritate me further. Regardless of my stance on such games I still like to give XBLIG titles a proper chance, if they are original enough. I think Hoosier Games' latest "impossible" platformer, "Platformer From Hell" is probably the most original one I've seen thus far. The plot, or background story is so off-the-wall that it pulls you in, and makes you want to try over and over to complete it. Thinking back on my brief playthrough, I never really got angry. I think the unique visual design, and overall look intrigued me enough to do my best. Without going on too much further though let us get into the core of this review ...

We Made It!!! It's 2013!!!

Greetings to all my readers! I realize I'm a little late in delivering my new years greeting, but I figured it's the best way to let you know my plans for this year. As most of you know I mentioned back in December 2012 that I would possibly be doing PSN reviews as well as the usual Xbox 360 reviews since I got a new PS3 for Christmas. I still plan on following through with that, but at the current time there are no noteworthy PS3, or PSN games being released. In fact I'd go so far as to say the selection of new games for the PS3 pales in comparison to that of Microsoft's Xbox 360. Hopefully things will pick up soon though, because I want to try out delivering some of those PS3/PSN reviews.

OtakuDante's "Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2012"

This year has been a virtual roller coaster ride for the video game industry. Some developers hit home runs with their games while others failed miserably at their attempts to impress the gamers. I'm here today to give much deserved praise to the games that have truly impressed me this year. With each game nominated (by me, in somewhat numerical order) I will also give you (the reader) my thoughts as to why I think the game in question deserves a spot on my "Top 10" list. The games will range from retail Xbox 360 games to XBLIG titles. There will definitely be credit given across the Xbox 360 gaming spectrum in that respect. I hope that you gain some knowledge as to what was good & what was not this year through my list. Keep in mind though that my opinions are my own, and that opinions are like a**holes. Everybody's got one. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all of you reading this article! May the coming year be a blessed one for you!

Aeternum (XBLIG): "A Challenging Yet Impressive Anime Shmup"

Recently I talked/chatted with indie game developer Brook Bishop (WastedBrilliance) about doing a video review on his latest XBLIG title, "Aeternum". He gladly agreed to my proposal, but before I could even think about doing it my PC monitor overheated, and left me with a dilemma. Thankfully I was able to get the monitor working well enough to upload, and post my video review though. In the following gameplay video I will go over all the modes, and options that the game has to offer. I'll also demonstrate each mode, but only to a certain extent as the game proved too challenging for my shmup (shoot'em up) skill level. Along with these technical aspects of the game I'll also provide my opinions on how good, or not-so-good the game is. I believe a gamer should know how well a game performs before they invest their hard earned money in it. I hope you enjoy the video review, and that it provides enough insight to help you decide on whether, or not to purchase it. Please keep in mind that my commentary is a little random since I do not do video reviews too often. Thanks for stopping by!

Racedrome City (XBLIG): "Quality Online & Offline Racing FTW!!!"

In the XBLIG marketplace you'll find many aspiring game developers as well as some game developers that produce near XBLA content. Rendercode Games just so happens to be one of the better developers who are known for consistently good game releases. In the past I've reviewed a variety of sports, and racing related games that were developed by them, and enjoyed each playthrough equally. I was always impressed by the rendering, and the overall professional look/feel of the games. In their latest release, Racedrome City the developer continues their trend of quality with possibly one of the best racing games to grace the XBLIG marketplace. With new features, and next-gen graphics this affordable racer might just be what you've been looking for ...

STRACO Episode 1 (XBLIG): "A Retro Tower Defense Game With Shmup Action"

It has become quite obvious to me over the past few years that the newer generations of video games are only bringing with them more problems. Things like annoying online gameplay, and poor presentation overshadow the possibility of any fun to be had. As a result I often find myself thinking about the times when games were actually fun, and worthwhile. Those days of course are long gone, but thanks to some classic XBLIG game developers they are not entirely lost. NVO (Not Very Original) for example has taken their time to develop a well balanced tower defense game that harkens back to the days when games were actually fun, and challenging. This game I speak of is none other than STRACO Episode 1.

Three Dead Zed (XBLIG): "Possibly the Most Unique Zombie Game This Year!!!"

Gentleman Squid Studio has created an amazing one of a kind zombie platformer that is both next-gen in quality, and old school at the same time. It's not often that I've seen a 2D platforming game that features zombies as the main protagonists along with puzzle solving themes all in the same package. Somehow the developer managed to create this game in exactly that way though. In the end I think the things that really drew me to this XBLIG title were the art style, and the fact that it was a platformer. I absolutely love platformers, and have been a fan of them since the days of the NES. Seeing 'Three Dead Zed' in the youtube trailer a month earlier really made me smile. It was filled with blood, and gore which made me more than excited about getting my hands on it. When I was contacted by 'Gentlemen Squids Studios' I played it cool, but I was honestly like a kid tearing into a really cool Christmas present.

Trailer Park King 3DD (XBLIG): "Zombies, Aliens & Porn!!! Oh My!!!"

In a true sequel fashion Freelance Games, the developers behind the XBLIG hit "Trailer Park King" series starts this newest chapter of King's adventure off with a brief flashback detailing what went on in the previous episode. When we last left King he was in the midst of a dilemma concerning Truck's "condition". The entire trailer park had deemed Truck as a zombie since he hadn't been acting like himself, and were insistent about finding out the truth. With the aid of his interesting lady friends (and a couple of redneck men) King has made it his priority to find out whether, or not Truck is really a zombie. Using Skinny's guide to zombies King sets out to free his nemesis from the hamster ball cage he is currently imprisoned in, so that he can regain access to his precious porn. Will we ever get to see the porn on King's tv? Will Truck be cleared of his inhuman label? What about the aliens? It's all up to you to find out. Be wary though as all is not as it seems in the good old trailer park ...

RocketGirl (XBLIG): "Prepare Yourself For Full-on Sensory Overload!!!"

W ... T ... F!? WTF!!! ... Okay let me compose myself a bit ...

I'm not exactly sure what Software By Eugene was thinking when creating this game but it most definitely warrants a warning label. When I first laid eyes on the game I thought "Cool!!!". This is a shmup I could definitely get into. It featured a voluptuous girl riding a rocket. What's not to like there??? I have to say before I go any further though that I was dead wrong about the whole shmup (shoot 'em up) thing. This game is definitely not a shmup. Instead what we have here is one of those intense sensory overload survival games where the point is to make it to the end without crashing into objects. As you can probably guess you pilot a scantily clad girl riding a large rocket (obvious sexual innuendo!!!) through the course of these lengthy adventures. With the application of a single button press (A) you control the ascent, and descent of this buxom young lady as she flies through what could be best described as some sort of sexually drug induced fantasy trip. Often times the screen flashes with possible seizure inducing light shows, and half naked ladies flying through the air all over the place as you fly onward on the larger than life rocket that's between your legs. Logic is definitely not present here.

Compromised (XBLIG) Coming To PC!!!

Earlier this year I did a review on the XBLIG shmup "Compromised". It was developed by Super Soul Studios/Games, and offered a new take on the shmup genre. While it wasn't you're traditional shmup (shoot 'em up) game it did have traditional elements, and played a little like Metroidvania style platformers. Recently Richie of Super Soul contacted me through email letting me know about his future plans for the game. On November 16th of this year a Beta PC version will be released for purchase on Desura, and IndieCity for $3.99. Richie also informed me that the changes applied to this new PC version may be implemented on the XBLIG version as well. From what I understand the graphics will be updated, and new modes made possible. Accompanying this good news is equally impressive news about the developer's work on a multiplayer beta for the XBLIG version of the game. The update is currently in the works, and will hopefully be presented soon. Before I close I should also mention that "Compromised" is currently on Steam Greenlight. I will leave a link to it in case you are interested in checking it out.

Compromised (Steam Greenlight): http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=93016033

Demon House: FPS (XBLIG): "Something Borrowed, Something New ..."

Photonic Games brings to the indie marketplace an FPS (First Person Shooter) title that seems to incorporate familiar gameplay features which have been used in well known FPS games throughout the years. At the heart of Demon House: FPS you'll find vague yet noticeable similarities to games like 'BioShock', 'Doom', and even 'Quake' giving the game a retrospective atmosphere. The story, or plot at the core of this game is unique however, and seems to be derived from the scfi/fantasy genre of steam-punk fiction using necromancy as it's driving factor. As the game's protagonist, an unnamed scientist you (the gamer) find that it is your duty to put an end to one of the greatest necromancers the world has ever seen. Your target, the evil scientist of the story has willingly unlocked the secrets of life, and death and has used his knowledge to raise a soul driven army of mechanical soldiers. Seeing this as a potential hazard the powers that be have summoned you to dispatch the creator, and his unholy creations through classic weapon based combat. As you venture into the domain of the dead you'll find plenty of aggressive oddities that are hellbent on your demise. With your steam-punk weaponry in hand your task is simple. Destroy the creations, set the souls free, and put a stop to the madness. Are you up for the challenge?

Null Battles (XBLIG): "A Retro Gravity Based FPS Title"

In my time as an XBLIG reviewer I can't recall any developer taking on the gravity based FPS sub-genre. With that being said though the XBLA game "Hybrid" did an excellent job of bringing this new sub-genre to light earlier on this year. Regardless of that fact Techno Hermit Game's 'Null Battles' brings back the arcade goodness of the old 90's era 3D geometrical based games, and blends it with today's online/multiplayer gaming capabilities. In a simple yet vastly complex way the developer delivers an indie game that not only has significant replay value, but one that also allows the gamer to create their own arenas for online/multiplayer combat. The setting adjustments are definitely plentiful, and the possibilities nearly endless. Innovation is definitely not dead as this developer has once again proved with their unique take on this FPS sub-genre.

Halloween Scream (XBLIG): "Classy Interactive Storytelling At It's Finest"

Sometimes I find that I'm guilty of pre-judging a game before I even play it myself. I'll often times take a look at the XBL marketplace screenshots in order to get a glimpse at what I'd be reviewing if I took on the task of reviewing a requested game. I know I shouldn't judge games simply on screenshots, but heaven forbid I get stuck reviewing some half-assed game that had little thought applied to it's design. In the case of Bandana Game's newly released XBLIG title, "Halloween Scream" I went in thinking that it was going to be some sort of mediocre digital story that might as well be a part of the Amazon Kindle digital book library. I didn't think that perhaps the developer had created something amazing, beyond what a digital novel could offer. In retrospect I'm sorry for my pre-game judgement, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to experience this intriguing Halloween tale from the talented developer, Bandana Games. They did an outstanding job with their well versed tale of horror.

Lucky (XBLIG): "A Twist-ed Look At The Meaning Of Life, Death & Luck"

Out of all the XBLIG developers I've come to know none have created such intriguing, and detailed stories as the ones Guy Galer (Twist-ed Games) has done. I've followed his story of Bureau Agent Kendal as she thwarts criminals with her decisive interrogations, and crime solving tactics. With every episode released I always found something special to brag about in my reviews, and Guy Galer's latest game "Lucky" is no exception to that. As most of you know through the videos I have provided with each Twist-ed Game review the developer has a very unique animation style that seems to improve in quality with each game release. In "Lucky" Guy Galer delivers his most visually appealing game yet, and keeps true to his risque semi-nude scenes as he does so. As I did my playthrough I enjoyed every moment of the interactive point-and-click story. The atmospheric, and mellow soundtrack added to the game's overall ambiance, and as such made for a truly noteworthy playthrough.

Snops Attack! Zombie Defense (XBLIG): "The One XBLIG Shmup That Could Have Easily Been A Retail Game!"

DUDE!!! I'm so psyched to do this review! I've been waiting for what seems like an eternity to get my hands on this game! Ever since I watched the Mike Walz's/SnopsGames (The Developer) Youtube videos I knew this game was special, and in the end it did not disappoint. For those of you who are clueless as to what this game is about it's basically a bullet hell shooter, but a bullet hell shooter that is presented in the most grand fashion you could possibly fathom. What sets this gem apart from most XBLIG shmup titles is the breathtaking visuals, amazing character animations, and the superb soundtrack that each compliment the onscreen action in some truly awe-inspiring ways. This game, in all honesty could easily be marketed as a retail game if Mike just added some more features, and bonus material. It's seriously that good.