8-Bit Awesome!

8 Bit Night

8-Bit Night, by Russian developer Retro Souls, is yet another indie puzzle platformer game in a retro style. Despite the sudden resurgence of platform games in the indie world, especially in the retro style, 8-Bit Night separates itself from purist platforming with a twist of genuinely unique game mechanics. In terms of delivery, the game has a really swell soundscape that oozes that old-time arcade feel along with slightly stylized graphical effects that enhance the overall experience.

Publisher: Retro Souls
Reviewed on: PC

Thomas Was Awesome

From left: Thomas, Chris, John, Laura, and Claire

In perhaps one of the most masterfully crafted indie games I have seen, Mike Bithell's indie puzzle platformer Thomas Was Alone grants every one of the game's characters a believable and convincing personality. The atmosphere accompanying Thomas Was Alone is spot on, and though simple, the effects thrown into the setting deliver a fitting ambiance. Despite being a game about quadrilaterals, Thomas Was Alone provided one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I have ever had.

Anamanaguchi-Airbrushed (RAC Remix)

A chill chiptune track with a nice beat and a light, summery melody to accompany you with a casual game! Hard techno is no place for a bright indie game, and this track will go very, very nicely with anything lighthearted.

Retro Cat Platformer, Nine Lives!

*squish*

  Nine Lives, by Scylla Games, is a retro platform game featuring a cat as the main character. The kitten, Felina, is traveling across multiple worlds to find and rescue her kidnapped mother, dodging water droplets and defeating enemies, all with only nine lives. As Felina progresses through the game, she gains new abilities such as the ability to hang from walls or shoot fireballs. This charming platformer hearkens back to an age of fantastic level design and simple, yet challenging gameplay.

Slender: makes me RUN

First Impressions

  Parsec Production's recently released game, Slender, became one of the year's most talked about indie horror game, if not the most popular. After popular Youtube star Pewdiepie made a gameplay of this then-unheard of game, Slender went immensely viral and caused the official website to crash under the massive weight of incoming traffic. Since then, Slender has permeated the underbelly of the indie genre while simultaneously re-defining the elements of a successful horror game.

Hack Slash Loot

Basically sums up my first 5 minutes playing

Claiming ancestry from the ancient realm of Roguelike games, David Williamson's Hack, Slash, Loot, features similar mechanics and a pixel art style neatly wrapped with nostalgia. With a permadeath system similar to my previous post (The Binding of Isaac), this turn-based dungeon crawler has procedurally-generated levels, keeping gameplay fresh throughout every playthrough. However, Hack, Slash, Loot's dependence on luck to the player forces multiple tries to land that perfect playthrough, which can be a major turn-off for many players.

The Pain of Isaac

Lies. Isaac was never loved.

  The Binding of Isaac, the top-down procedurally-generated shooter by Super Meat Boy dev Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl, is an absolutely punishing game to play. Although the curve doesn't slope up as steeply as Super Meat Boy, the Binding of Isaac has a more diabolical approach to frustrating the player.