Magicians and Looters (XBLIG)

If someone were to take the wacky character interactions from the "Harry Potter" series, and mix them with "Castlevania: SotN" you'd more than likely have the game that Morgopolis Studios has created. Their indie game appropriately titled "Magicians and Looters" takes elements from retro "Metroidvania" style games, and adds pun filled humor to build up the story at hand. That story of course involves an unusual cast of young magician apprentices, an elder wizard, and an evil sorcerer who is hellbent on ruining the day. As the gamer you will guide three chosen students known as Vienna, Nyn, and Brent as they traverse various danger filled locations in order to try to rescue their headmaster Versimos from the evil Lord Skree. Along the way you will be collecting loot, and relics of power as you make your way across the connected rooms that make up the students' world. Ultimately one of the students will face off against the evil Lord Skree in a duel that is not much unlike the wizard duel between Harry Potter, and Lord Voldemort. There's even a nod to "Castlevania: SotN" for those lucky gamers who can make it to the final boss fight.

Dawn of the Fred (XBLIG)

The zombie genre is a hot topic in many forms of entertainment these days. You'll find zombie survival guides at your local bookstore, zombie television shows via your cable subscription, zombie movies on dvd/blu-ray, and even a crap ton of zombie shmups on the XBLIG marketplace. While I'm not a fan of overused ideas I think StickyDPad Games does well enough with their creation to consider it a "Unique" indie title. Their creation, otherwise known as "Dawn of the Fred" aims to capture your attention with nods to other video games as well as some tribute material that pays homage to earlier zombie movies. The really cool thing about this particular indie though is that the characters, and zombie creatures were all designed by the StickyDPad Games development team. It is this artistic attention to detail that gets the most respect from me. Not many developers would be bold enough to incorporate their own character designs within a game, but in doing so I think the lads, and lasses over at StickyDPad Games deserve some recognition for doing such an amazing job breathing life back into this slowly dying genre of indie shmups.

Beat Hazard Ultra (XBLIG)

As a gamer I've never quite encountered a game series such as that of "Beat Hazard". Being the shump (shoot'em up) fanatic that I am I gave the original version a try years back when I had first got my Xbox 360. It had set me back five dollars which is definitely not chump change by any means, but seeing as it was liked by the online gaming community I thought I'd give it a proper chance anyways. From the moment I began playing the game I was hooked. I had never imagined that a developer such as "Cold Beam Games" would be able to implement a system which thrived solely on the music that I owned outside of the core game. Being able to use my own collection of music to engage in such a solid gaming experience was awesome. For those of you who are unaware of the game, and it's offerings it literally takes music from your collection, (whether you upload MP3 files via a memory card, or rip your CDs directly to your console) and applies every beat, melody, and tune contained within the tracks to make the onscreen shmup action to come to life.

Avatar Miner Paintball (XBLIG)

Over the past few years the xblig marketplace has been littered with avatar oriented indies, and Minecraft clones. As such honesty I find myself often times wondering where originality has gone. Even with this predetermined mindset I went ahead, and gave 2.0 Studios the benefit of the doubt. I thought surely they would add something interesting, or different to this washed out genre of gaming. As one might imagine though what I had hoped for, and what was realized were two very different things. Unfortunately for the most part those things were not good.

Dungeon Smash - Dark Isles (XBLIG)

The developers at  Haiku Interactive have created a game that is both simple, and somewhat complex in design. This overhead dungeon crawler known as, "Dungeon Smash - Dark Isles" mixes both RPG elements, and the simple controls of a twin-stick shooter to breathe life into a basic plot driven story mode. At the heart of the game you'll find a visually enhanced tale of 5 kingdoms that have been at war with one another for quite some time. The five different princesses of each kingdom decide that peace is long overdue, and have their champions to accompany them to the signing of a peace treaty. Unfortunately to everyone's surprise each princess is captured, and taken away by a horde of flying demons. Following in pursuit of the princesses' captors two heroes, and two heroines (Balbak, Xan, Alandro, Shayleah) venture out on a quest to rescue the damsels in distress, so that peace can finally be realized. Each hero/heroine carries with them a certain set of skills with which they'd dispatch their enemies, and must use these skills to traverse the shadowy depths of the underworld for the kingdoms' sake.

One Finger Death Punch (XBLIG)

For several months I've been patiently awaiting the release of Silver Dollar Games' latest XBLIG masterpiece, One Finger Death Punch. I've followed the development of the game from it's simple beginnings, to it's more recent moments of grandeur. It's probably obvious to anyone who has read my blog reviews in the past that I'm a diehard fan of Jon Flook's & David Flook's unique indie creations. I've often times tweeted video links to the brother's indies, and have even tried my hardest to get gamers to give them a chance, sometimes with no success. As such my hyped anticipation should not come as a surprise to those who follow me on the various social media outlets of the internet.

For those of you like me who have followed the progress of "One Finger Death Punch" you'll know that it started off as a humble idea from a pair of developers who were intensely passionate about the Kung Fu theme that they were using as the basis for their game. Through dedication, and many gradual transformations Jon Flook, and David Flook of Silver Dollar Games have managed to create a simple yet perfect tribute to the classic Kung Fu films of old. Whether your your a modern day action film enthusiast who enjoys the masterful works of martial artists like Jet-Li, or a more traditional Kung Fu film fanatic who loves the classic martial arts masters of old there is something here for all fans of kick assery. The long unrealized, and child-like dreams of becoming an all encompassing bojo badass are now a thing of the past as the developers at Silver Dollar Games have made fantasy a reality for all gamers who wish to take on the challenge, and master the techniques offered in the digital dojo of "One Finger Death Punch"!!!

Aqua Kitty: Milk Miner Defender (XBLIG)

Aqua Kitty is an indie game that takes the general offerings of the shmup (shoot 'em up) genre, and amps it up to create an intensely enjoyable experience. Combined with a retro soundtrack that is filled with noteworthy retro tunes this survival based shmup will no doubt test your skills as a shmup enthusiast. At the heart of the game you'll find a plot about a race of felines who have found themselves in the midst of a dilemma. Their source of milk has ran dry, and they must seek out other sources if they are to maintain their healthy lifestyle. Luckily through some seafaring exploration these curious cats have happened upon what seems to be an unending supply of full fat milk. The problem is that their new found source lies within the murky, and treacherous depths of the ocean. There's definitely plenty of threats swimming between them, and their hope for the future. As a feline ship pilot it is your duty to keep the milk miners safe as they mine the depths of the ocean floor though. You will no doubt find adversity in the form of deadly deep sea denizens, but with your rocket powered sub nothing can stand between you, and the sustenance your species so desperately seeks.

Make it Rain (XBLIG)

There are a handful of things I look for in a video game. Originality is likely the most important to me, but subject matter also plays a huge role in the games I'm seeking out. During one of my daily XBL marketplace browsings I happened upon a an XBLIG title that caught my undivided attention. It featured an original subject matter (pole dancing), and seemed to be interesting enough to inquire about. This indie which is appropriately titled, "Make it Rain" had some sexy elements to it that obviously would appeal to an adult film journalist as myself. I sought out the developer (24kt Studios) via the world wide web, and humbly asked for a review code. They replied shortly afterwards giving me two codes for review. I quickly downloaded the game, grateful for the opportunity to once again supply my readers with something new to read about. In the end I played the game only for a short while realizing that the review would not be as lengthy as the ones I usually provide. Even so I bring you this review on a positive note, thankful to the developer for the chance to get back in the game (so to speak).

PESTER (XBLIG)

Earlier on this year, or late last year I decided to buy an indie shmup from the XBLIG marketplace with the spare 80 msp that I had left over. The shmup I speak of was titled "Super Killer Hornet", and it was developed by Flump Studios. It featured unique classic shmup (shoot 'em up) gameplay with an interesting mathematical power-up system. It was this math based feature that really caught my attention, and held it for quite some time. The math system had definitely added an edge that you would not expect from an arcade style shmup, and it seemed to fit in perfectly. For some reason though I totally lost track of the developer's name over the months, and thought that "Super Killer Hornet" would likely be this developer's only XBLIG release.

Thankfully though Flump Studios has made a return with a new shmup title, and they seemingly intend on bringing more innovative shmups to the XBLIG marketplace in the months to come. Today though I'll be reviewing a recently released Flump Studios shmup titled "Pester". Unlike the previous shmup title it pays homage to the classic arcade experience of old with numerous features, and modes that the older generation of gamers will be able to relate to.

First Impressions - S.D.G.T. (XBLIG)

As most of you already know I have had the Xbox 360 indie game "S.D.G.T." listed on my future reviews section for quite some time now. At one point I did take it down though, because I thought the developer had abandoned it. As it turns out the the peer review process took longer than expected for this game, and was released later on due to the process. After I finally got my hands on a review copy of the game I found that there were still some glitches going on within the game's menu systems, and that they were sort of game breaking in nature. I told the developer about this situation, and he has in turn told me that he will be issuing a patch. Upon hearing his response I have decided to hold off on the official review, and just tell you guys what I think about it so far. I'll also talk a little bit about what the game is, and what it offers. I call it my "First Impressions", if you will.

Death Goat (XBLIG): "An Interview with Brian Ferrara of Nocturnal Studios"

It's not often that I meet a developer in this line of work that is so much like myself. From our first email interactions I was able to determine that Brian Ferrara of Nocturnal Studios liked a lot of things that I did. He's a fan of heavy metal music, comic books, and video games just as I am. It is truly uncanny how alike our interests are. After I learned about his career as an adult comic book artist I decided it was a good idea to interview Brian. When I got the okay to go ahead with the project I typed up an interview Q&A session as I usually do. Brian then filled it out so that it could be shared with everyone here. In the following interview you will get to learn a lot about Brian, his many interests, and a little about the other guys at Nocturnal Studios. I hope you enjoy the interview, and give "Death Goat" a proper chance. As I said earlier in my review, it's a thoroughly enjoyable game that will have you returning for more.

Without further adieu ladies & gentlemen I give you my interview with Brian Ferrara!!!

Death Goat (XBLIG): "!@#$% Hardcore!!!"

In the video game industry there are different levels of "Hardcore". Netherealm Studios, and Midway began a trend with their highly successful ultra-violent fighter "Mortal Kombat", and even Rockstar Games stepped in to develop their own lewd rule-breaking series called "Grand Theft Auto". Very rarely do you see an indie developer delve deep into this seriously "Hardcore" stuff though. Thankfully there are some indie developers willing to push the limits with more "adult" themed content. Brian Ferrara, and Nocturnal Studios joined forces to bring us indie enthusiasts a truly awesome, and hardcore shmup (shoot 'em up). This game, otherwise known as Death Goat is filled to the brim with gory graphics, and a noteworthy heavy metal soundtrack. Collectively it brings a whole new meaning to the word "Hardcore". Even the art style seems to pay homage to the heavy metal lifestyle that many of you will likely be familiar with. You'll find animations resembling tattoos, and a color scheme fitting of such skin art. As a complete package "Death Goat" is a thoroughly enjoyable experience that takes the gamer deep into the bowels of hell, and makes them like it enough to return again, and again for more.

Rise of the Ravager (XBLIG)

End of days prophecies, and theories are a dime a dozen these days. You'll find that mankind's history is filled with all sorts of interesting ideas relating to the ultimate demise of the world's population. Things like the wrath of God/gods, death by Mother Nature, Alien invasions, and even the ever popular zombie apocalypse are among the civilization's smiting occurrences that are described through man's many age old teachings. It seems that XBLIG developer Gentleman Squid Studios has also decided to join these majority of theorists, and prophets in order to give their own take on a well known mythological tale of global destruction. Their game Rise of the Ravager uses the Mayan end of days mythology as it's cornerstone reference, and twists it a bit to make a unique interpretation of the devastating events of doomsday. Through shmup style gameplay, and interesting story panel art this high quality developer breathes vivid life into the possible fall of man.

Ultimate Dodgeball (XBLIG)

K-Dog Games returns to the indie forefront with one heck of an interesting sports title. Not only is Ultimate Dodgeball a fun, and engaging gaming experience, but people are actually still playing this game online. It's a rarity to find online indies that are still being played weeks after their initial release. A year, or two ago I actually reviewed one of K-Dog Games' sports title that dealt with hacky sack. Just as I found that title to be fun this game also beams with such quality. It features a nice selection of multiplayer oriented gameplay modes, and options to choose from which is always a plus. If you like to play alone then fret not though as Ultimate Dodgeball offers AI oriented matches as well. When I tell you that this game offers more bang for your buck I'm most definitely not lying.

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.

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 ...

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!