Pity Pit (PS4/NS)

Little context is given for Panda Indie Studio's latest indie arcade platformer, "Pity Pit". Through a starting intro cinematic, and tools of the trade though you'll be able to figure things out fairly easily. Basically Oratio, a dwarven miner, finds his beloved kidnapped by the devil, and taken down into the depths of a pit. A pit which Oratio bravely dives into for the rescue. Armed with a pick axe, and a satchel for carrying bombs and materials he ventures downward as the pit collapses in after him. A journey towards the center of the Earth done up in a randomly generated fashion that changes the perils, and plundering opportunities with each consecutive playthrough.

Rigid Force Redux (NS)

Shmups usually fall into one of a handful of categories. I like to call those categories the Gradius, Xevious, Space Invaders, and Raiden. Basically you have horizontal side-scrollers like Gradius, vertical top-down shmups like Xevious, stationary wave base verticals like Space Invaders, and bullet hell shmups like Raiden. In the case of "Rigid Force Redux" the category it falls best under is the Gradius lineage. It harbors much of the same horizontal side-scrolling mechanics, but does so in it's own unique way.

In Rigid force Redux, whether you're playing through the multiple stage story driven campaign or action only arcade mode, you'll find your ship has certain functions tied to shooting, satellites, and power-ups. These functions include satellites that can be moved towards the front or back in multiple positions for wide and streamed shots in the left or right directions. Giving you the ability to take care of forward facing or backward facing enemies simply by pressing the right or left shoulder buttons, respectively. On top of that the shot type changes with collected power-ups. Power-ups can be stacked to gain a variety of simultaneously firing projectiles. Things like downward, and upward firing missiles on top of the bullet type. Also included with shot, and power-up function are force shards which can be collected to increase the power level of the power-ups. In tandem with the energy bar which utilizes gathered or magnetized energy left behind from fallen enemies or enemy waves you can blast an even more powerful concentrated shot to clear out more formidable enemy types and bosses. That's the gimmick in a nutshell.

Maneater (REVIEW)

I'll make you fishers of men. That's what Jesus told his disciples ages ago. While his definition of such fishing is different from Tripwire's there is definitely the common theme that is "Fishers of men". In Maneater you get to actually hunt prey, including humans, as you evolve to get revenge on the one hunter that killed your mother. You are bull shark, and while you start off as a tiny terror you will, by constantly eating, grow into a formidable finned foe. Utilizing abilities, shear brute force, a tail whip, and gnashing rows of razor sharp teeth you will make your way to the top of the food chain as this televised, and comically narrated adventure's apex predator. With the territory comes threats though, and evolution is the key to survival.

Aqua Lungers (NS)

This action filled 2D competitive platformer that is 'Aqua Lungers" has up to four players minding both the treasure looting of various island locations, and the creatures that inhabit said island's waters and land. Armed with a spear, a deep dive suit, and some power-ups you must brave the waters, and their depths in order to score a set amount of loot before you, your friends or the island monster does. It's all about looting, dropping said loot off at deposit stations, and finishing the aquatic foes that lie between you and your fortune.