indie

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Replikator, review

Replikator had me at “Top Down Sci-Fi Shooter”. I mean what’s not to love, being a huge Alienation fan and having grown up on the likes of Alien Syndrome, and Alien Breed.

Choose a rag-tag character from a bunch of rag-tag characters, including a Space Racoon. Board some crusty Space Stations and fight your way to the Boss. Yes, we’ve been here before.

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GamingGame ReviewsIndie GamePS5

Foreclosed, Review

Guest writer Nina has taken a trip into this cyber-punk Indie game and has some thoughts to share.

After seeing the Foreclosed trailer at E3 this year, the indie cyberpunk shooter immediately went on my radar. I love the cyberpunk genre, and aside from a few exceptions, there aren’t a lot of games that truly do the genre justice. I will admit though, Foreclosed had my hopes up.

So when I was given the opportunity to review it, I was excited as hell. 

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GamingByte Size ReviewIndie GamePC / Mac

Loop Hero Review (PC)

Sitting down to write this I thought I’d just have another quick run to get me ready. That was almost three hours ago.

Loop Hero, from small Indie developer Four Quarters, is one of those games. One quick run and next minute you have missed that meeting, forgotten to pick up the kids, or been unable to start writing that review. And at first glance Loop Hero doesn’t look like much. Definitely not something that will grab huge chunks of your precious gaming time.

Thankfully Devolver Digital saw differently and got this gem of a game out to the masses.

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GamingATARI VCSGame NewsHardwareHardware Reviews

ATARI VCS, Bluemouth confirmed as local distributor

The back end of the year and especially November is starting to look crowded. With Sony and Xbox still unconfirmed on launch dates or pricing for their new consoles, the rebooted ATARI VCS is coming in hot.

The big news for Australasia is that Bluemouth have been secured as the local distribution partner for the new “PC/Console Hybrid”. Effective from 14th August 2020, Bluemouth will bring their 17 years of experience to supply Australia and New Zealand.

With Sony and Microsoft still unconfirmed on dates and pricing, November 20th could go either way for the ATARI VCS. It might not have the system selling AAA games that the fans want, but there’s a big enough user base for people to want to try something different.

If the market positioning is right, you’d have to admit. “A third player has entered the game.”

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GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacPS4Xbox One

West of Dead, [reviewed on PC]

West of Dead is one of those games where if at first you don’t succeed, then try, try, try again.

And believe me, you won’t succeed your first run. You’ll end up back at the bar where you always start every run, perhaps a little wiser, definitely a little deader.

A twin stick shooter featuring a dead protagonist cowboy with a flaming skull for a head

West of Dead is a procedurally generated shooter in the vein of Dead Cells. Death is a certainty and around just about every corner. The more you die, the more you get to grips with the nuances and fine details that make this game tick.

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GamingGame ReviewsPC / MacSwitch ConsoleVideo Content

Lonely Mountains Downhill (Nintendo Switch)

Lonely Mountains Downhill began life as a Kickstarter project by German game makers Daniel Helbig and Jan Bubenik.

Full disclosure here: I backed the project and my name’s in the game’s credits. It also got a mention in my pick of 2019.

As an ageing mountain biker the game appealed to me as a way to enjoy one of my passions. When I’m stuck at home and the weather’s too horrific to don the rain jacket and hit the trails. I was also attracted by its low-poly graphical style, with a blocky, chunky biker and vibrant environments.

Thanks to Lonely Mountains Downhill on Switch, I can now “ride” my mountain bike any time I want. At the office, while I’m lying in bed, while I’m, ahem, in the bathroom. It’s also the perfect thing for when I just can’t bothered kitting up and hitting my local trails. Especially with winter looming and its inevitable wet & chilly weather.

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GamingGame ReviewsIndie GamePS4Switch ConsoleXbox One

Moving Out, PS4 Review

How to start a Moving Out review? 

Well, its probably best summed up with a classic like “Great things come in small packages”.  

In short the game is a frantic race against the clock, part puzzle, part arcade craziness and a sprinkle of comedy charm. If you are looking for a couch co-op game to keep the family entertained or at least blaming each other.

Then look no further, its got lockdown shenanigans all over it.

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GamingFeature ArticleGame NewsHardwareIndie GameiOSNintendoPC / MacPS4PSNetworkPSVRSwitch ConsoleXbox One

PAXAus 2019, being there and slightly square

After all the build up and fervour PAXAus 2019 has been and gone. It was a first visit for me, probably not the last, but my old bones are currently arguing against it. Having become something of a big hitter on the gaming calendar I was keen to see this year what all the fuss was about.

As an eclectic gathering of Gaming, Pop Culture and Cosplay it does the job well, and you can see from the eyes of the consumer that wanders the floors glassy eyed that they are getting all the shiny things they need. I enjoyed the relative tranquility of the table-top game area and retro section, it was a relief from the pressing crowds squeezing through the aisles.

The main event was loud, brash and exhausting, especially when I flew in for a single day with a maximum of six hours on the ground.

But, that’s me, at PAXAus 2019, being there and slightly square.

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GamingGame ReviewsPS4Xbox One

Frostpunk – Console Edition Review (Xbox One X)

The year is 1886 and thanks to massive volcanic eruptions the world is plunging into anther Ice Age.

Man scrambles and builds massive coal powered generators to try and create enough heat to establish areas where humans can continue to live in this harsh new world. But resources are scarce and plenty are needed to ensure people are fed and sheltered. In Frostpunk you need to decide on the priorities and whether it will be order or faith that will see you through.

It is good solid fun. Nothing more, nothing less.

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