I Found the SNES Style Bumballon for Under a Dollar, and it was GREAT

I've got a great video up for Bum Ballon on my YouTube channel because I found this game on a Steam sale for 89 cents! With some investigation, I narrowed down some impulse options for pixel art platformers in the likes of some recent faves like Grapple Dog (which hopefully I'll get to) and PomPom. It's a game with unique characters and a traditional SNES-type side scroller plot--a game that personally puts me into an optimized chill mode. Basically, hop in a cannon, and, after blast-off, interact as you're taken for a ride through a colorful world with unique obstacles and moderate challenges.

Continue ReadingI Found the SNES Style Bumballon for Under a Dollar, and it was GREAT

Earth Day Game Pick: Tadpole Tales

Plot your way as a tadpole through a polluted river. When you heal corrupted wildlife with a splash of water, they move back underwater so you can navigate your way through. Some creatures are bigger than others and more challenging. Tadpole Tales is quite challenging in general though. These are occasionally known as shmup games. The developers, who are a small team under the Pinnacle Games brand publishing, have dubbed the game a "Clean-em Up." Don't you love that?

Continue ReadingEarth Day Game Pick: Tadpole Tales

Looking for deals on video games & accessories?

Go to Mr. Dave's Video Game Shop on eBay!

Moonstuck is Literally Impossible, Stop Now

This is one of the games that I hesitated to add because I am not any good at playing it yet. Then again, that is basically the reason I decided to create this side blog because I can share the actual game info quicker than I pick up the learning curve. Anyway, Moonstuck is a 2D platformer from CozyGames and Black County Games available on Steam just released today. It utilizes a very difficult mechanic involving rocket propulsion and a scenario where touching the majority portions of the platform can result in being kicked back to the start, or checkpoint if you proceed far enough. The aesthetics of the game, especially the environment, music, and character are really pleasant. It offers a cozy place to zone out and cuts no corners in creativity. Some comments on Steam described it as a “calm rage game,” which I think is a perfect description. As usual, the game is totally free and even offers controller support, so it is worth checking out!

Continue ReadingMoonstuck is Literally Impossible, Stop Now

Octarina, A Game About an Octopus Trapped in a Sushi Factory

e of the octopus!) Using your squiggly limbs and momentum, propel yourself around the interior of the factory with the intention of escaping. You can use suction cups to climb structures and hurl objects at switches to reverse conveyor belts and such. There are three modes: speed mode, story mode, and “the floor is lava.” Despite the dire situation, the game is pretty pleasant and amusing. The graphics and art style are spot on, making use of mid-range graphics cards, which I confirmed on my desktop build. It’s best played with a controller in my opinion. The story is short and sweet, but this is a free game that rewards you for wanting straight-to-the-point gameplay to appreciate its concept. The game is from an academic dev at FH Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, which has some other projects out too.

Continue ReadingOctarina, A Game About an Octopus Trapped in a Sushi Factory

With You is a co-op game For couples

With You is from Carol Mertz and Insatiable Cycle, the same publisher of “We should talk.” It’s a simple co-op puzzle platformer that can be played with a keyboard. It can also be played as one player using the respective sides of their keyboard to control the two main characters. Solve puzzles by figuring out geometric obstacles, flipping around your square and half circle buddies so that they can fit into the floating sections on the two-dimensional plane behind them, unlocking the next levels. The game features a cute style, with a pleasant soundtrack, and is described on the Steam page as a game “that hopes to inspire couples to connect, communicate, and collaborate.” I think it succeeds, and that’s why it is my free game this today, which has also got me back on the hunt for more free Steam games!

Continue ReadingWith You is a co-op game For couples

Exoblast is Basically Cyberpunk Pong

Exoblast is basically a very extreme version of pong. Made by the French developer DreamIRL Games, it hit Steam last month and is free as of version 1.0. You control a machine slider in charge of one side of the screen playing against either an AI or another player (there seems to be functionality for online mode too.) The original style of this type of game is expanded upon with the ability to shoot plasma at the other side of the screen, distracting or even disabling the enemy player. It’s loaded with all sorts of cyberpunk aesthetics and is quite fun actually. It is also capable of full controller support. Find it here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/725100/Exoblast/

Continue ReadingExoblast is Basically Cyberpunk Pong

Village Monsters: A Pleasant Town Sim Borrowing From Made Up Myths

Village Monsters is a solo dev project from Josh Bosser. It's a pixel art town sim that departs from conventional titles with an alternative community of friendly monsters. The game plays on similar genre themes as Stardew Valley but the content goes into the outsider/quirk genre of games with its monster acceptance communicated in each character's unconventional friendliness. It departs from too much comparison by offering a vast amount of exclusive unique story concepts in each characters' backstory and dialogue. Players can also enjoy activities like treasure hunting, fishing, exploring, working, and contributing to the town itself. Village Monsters is pleasantly surprising and the subject of this indie game collective showcase/review post. So, let's see what's inside!

Continue ReadingVillage Monsters: A Pleasant Town Sim Borrowing From Made Up Myths

Pompom is A Challenging, Colorful Hamster Platformer

The recently released pixel platformer Pompom: The Great Space Rescue ran across my desk as a showcase opportunity through my friends at Indie Game Collective. It's a precision platformer, sort of, with a feature I've never seen before this involving time slowing AND improvised platform placement. You can play with a controller, or you can play it with a mouse (or hamster actually, since that is Pompom's main character you play as.) The game balances innovative gameplay, a moderate learning curve, and generous leniency to keep your gameplay flowing. I'm thoroughly enjoying it, at the level of some other top precision platformers like Celeste. From the pleasant pixel art to the rewarding gameplay, this game earns every slice in the Mr. Dave Pizza pie. So, let me do my duty and share with you some information about this excellent game. Also, I made a cam appearance for the first time on this game's video--with my favorite hat! Not sure why, just felt like doing it.

Continue ReadingPompom is A Challenging, Colorful Hamster Platformer

End of content

No more pages to load