AUSRETROGAMER

The Pop-Culture E-Zine

You are here: Home / Archives for Modern Gaming

Modern Gaming

Thimbleweed Park Physical Version Coming to PS4 and Switch

By

Calling all physical game collectors! On March 30 — the one-year anniversary of Thimbleweed Park’s digital download debut — you’ll be able to pick up physical PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions courtesy of our friends at Limited Run Games.

For both PS4 and Nintendo Switch, Limited Run Games will offer a USD$34.99 standard version and a USD$64.99 collector’s edition that comes with exclusive “feelies” — just like the good old days. These releases will be region-free. Quantities will be limited and once they’re gone, they’re gone, so start saving your nickels, dimes, and arcade tokens!

You can find more details on Limited Run Games’ website: http://www.limitedrungames.com

Just in case you don’t know what all this Thimblweed Park business is about, here is the 101, but first, how it all started…

Thimbleweed Park began its life on Kickstarter, created by the co-creator of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, Ron Gilbert. Thimbleweed Park is definitely a homage to the aforementioned games, which is a pretty good thing we reckon.

Anyway, on with the Thimbleweed Park 101:

October 15, 1987 – A dead body is rotting under the bridge, but the 81 (sorry, make that 80) inhabitants of the once proud town of Thimbleweed Park have bigger concerns. The town’s founder recently died under mysterious circumstances. The hotel appears to be haunted. A giant slice of pizza roams the streets. And something sinister is going on behind the locked gate of the burned-out pillow factory at the edge of town — something that could consume us all.

Five people with nothing in common have been drawn to this weird, rundown place. They don’t know it yet, but they’re deeply connected. And they’re being watched.

  • Who is Agent Ray really working for?
  • What does Junior Agent Reyes know about the pillow factory fire?
  • Will the ghost, Franklin, get to speak to his daughter again?
  • Will Ransome the *Beeping* Clown ever become a decent human being?
  • Will aspiring game developer Delores choose her family over her dreams?
  • And most importantly: how come no one cares about that dead body?

By the end of a long, strange night, these questions will be answered — and you’ll understand why in a town like Thimbleweed Park, a dead body is the least of your problems.

Developer / Publisher: Terrible Toybox (based in Seattle)
Platforms: Mac, Windows, Linux, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android

image source: Thimbleweed Park

 

Sega Mega Drive Classics coming to PlayStation 4 and XBox One

By

HOLD ME CLOSER SHADOW DANCER! SEGA MEGA DRIVE CLASSICS COMING TO PLAYSTATION 4 AND XBOX ONE

SEGA® Europe Ltd. has an Altered Beast™ of an announcement certain to create an Alien Storm™ amongst the Shining Force™ of retro SEGA fans out there, as SEGA® Mega Drive Classics™ is set to release for PlayStation® 4 and Xbox® One on 29th May, 2018.

The collection has over 50 retro classics to experience across every genre; arcade action, shooters, beat ‘em ups, puzzlers, old favourites and hidden gems, with a raft of modern features. These include online multiplayer, achievements, mirror modes, rewind and save states meaning players old and new should find revisiting these great games an absolute Sonic 3D Blast. Visit the Sega Mega Drive Classics product page for more details.


source: SEGA Europe

SEGA Mega Drive Classics is available to pre-order now. It comes complete with a double sided Golden Axe™ and Streets of Rage™ poster, identical to the ones you would have seen in the game’s 90s inspired retro gamer’s bedroom, the hub through which players can access the entire collection!

To Gain Ground™ on all the latest information about SEGA and the SEGA Mega Drive Classics visit www.sega.co.uk.

Go now, be the Light Crusader™ you always dreamed you could be…

PS: Oh how we wish Sega Mega Drive Classics would somehow materialise on the Switch 😉

image source: SEGA Europe

[PRESS RELEASE supplied by Five Star Games]

How Video Games Save Lives

By

Next time someone tells you that video games are a complete waste of time tell them about Ryan “Chinglish” Dingle!

The Feed’s Marc Fennell spoke with him at Blizzard’s Blizzcon, about how video games changed his life – from a homeless teenager to becoming a professional gamer.


source: The Feed

 

DIY Nintendo Switch Pinball Controller

By

Who needs Nintendo Labo when you can create your own custom Nintendo Switch pinball controller for less than a meal for two at Nando’s!

Stemage was nice enough to provide a bill of material and schematics to make this cool DIY Switch Controller for USD$26!


source: Stemage

 

Good Game Spawn Point Returns For 2018

By

You youngsters (and us old timers) have been patiently waiting for this news! What news you ask? Good Game Spawn Point series 9 returns on ABC ME on March 10 at 9:00am!

Here is the official ABC TV press release for those of you that may have missed it:

GOOD GAME: SPAWN POINT (GGSP) is the show for younger gamers, by gamers – and it’s back for another huge year of gaming in 2018 with an exciting new look, brand new presenter, Gem, and online-first focus!

Hosted by Rad, Goose, and Gem, with assistance from D.A.R.R.E.N. (the Digital Assistant for the Research and Regulation of Endless Noobery), GGSP will be younger gamers’ number one daily destination for the latest video game reviews and news, let’s plays, live stream playthroughs, and stories on gaming culture, coding, and the hottest tech. Plus, the hosts will continue to attempt to solve any-and-all videogame dilemmas the audience throws at them in the regular e-mailbag segment, Ask SP!

With its new online first focus, GGSP will deliver fun gaming content for Australian families first on the ABC ME app and on YouTube each weekday, Monday through to Friday. Full episodes will continue to screen on ABC ME each Saturday at 9:00am.

With 97% of Australian homes with children having video games, and 60% of Parents actively playing games with their children, GGSP is proud to offer something for everyone in the ever-growing landscape of Australian gamer families. (*igea Digital Australia 2018 report)

Video games are changing the world, so let us be your guide!

Cast Biographies:

Gemma ‘Gem’ Driscoll

A new face will be joining the presenting line-up, with 20-year-old Gemma ‘Gem’ Driscoll jumping into the GGSP team alongside show regulars Angus ‘Goose’ Ronald and Angharad ‘Rad’ Yeo.

“It’s a dream come true to have the chance to share my passion for gaming with Australian families everywhere each-and-every week,” says Gem.

“When I was younger, I wasn’t really into gaming – not the way I am now anyway! But I’ve always been obsessed with fantasy and sci-fi. When I was in high school I started experimenting with games that let me create my own characters in these incredible worlds – and needless-to-say, I fell in love! These days, not a day goes by when I’m not thinking about games. I’m not the best at fighting games, but I adore big open worlds where I can explore at my own pace. That’s what I love most about gaming, there’s something for everyone!”

Obsessed with Doctor Who, Harry Potter and Star Wars from a very young age, 20-year-old Gemma ‘Gem’ Driscoll has always been a natural storyteller. A discovery of video games in her teens came via the realisation that she didn’t have to only write and

dream about fantastical worlds, but that she could actually ‘be’ in them – exploring epic, open worlds full of colourful characters, and setting forth on imaginative adventures.

Since then, video games have changed her life, inspiring her to create a YouTube channel to explore her thoughts on the medium; getting involved with the cosplay community and immersing herself in the culture that surrounds games; and now, joining ABC ME’s Good Game: Spawn Point, where she can share her passion for games daily, and inform kids of all ages on the wonderful experiences that are held within.

Angharad ‘Rad’ Yeo

“Hi! I’m Rad. I started playing games with my family when I was a kid, and ever since then games have been one of my favourite social activities! I love having puzzles to solve and goals to achieve, and I enjoy how games let you experience a whole different world. Some of my favourites include Portal 2, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Sim City, Just Dance, Monument Valley, and Tricky Towers. I’m also lucky enough to have the world’s most wonderful, perfect, special, beautiful dog – Boatmeal!”

Gus ‘Goose’ Ronald

“Because I was born in the very same year that Mario got his own game on the NES, there’s never really been a time in my life without videogames! If I wasn’t renting, borrowing, or saving up for the latest releases I’d be over at my mate’s house sharing the couch in furious bouts of multiplayer madness! These days I enjoy mixing up my interests in new and advancing tech with my nostalgic love for all things old school & retro! In between gaming sessions I’m usually at the beach hunting the perfect wave, or curled up on the couch with a good book and my beloved cat overlord, Lando!”

image source: ABC Australia

 

Review: Pan-Dimensional Conga Combat

By

By: Kevin Tilley (Unkle K)

Being an old timer harking from the days of the Atari VCS and Commodore 64, the complexities of modern gaming sometimes get the better of me. Not only that, but with a large family and demanding job, spending hours gaming each day is an impossibility. Short, sharp bursts of gaming not only fit into the small amount of free time I actually have, it also suits my rather limited attention span as well. Cue RGCD, who have been bringing us pick up and play Commodore 64 games for years now, and in 2016 released Pan-Dimensional Conga Combat on the Windows platform via the RGCD itch.io store.

After nearly two years since the original itch.io release, and a rather quiet Greenlight campaign, Pan was released on Steam on February 16.

Self-described as “a rhythm-synchronised, old-school, score-chasing arcade game that plays like some alien coin-op from another dimension”, Pan is a mash of the old and new. I can only describe it as the love child of Volfied and Robotron, with a hint of Geometry Wars thrown in – an impressive pedigree indeed, and fortunately for us, it all gels together perfectly.

Set in a rather confined arena, Pan has you navigating the screen and obliterating everything that moves with your bullet tail. The tail follows you around at a distance that is proportional to your speed – the faster you move the longer your tail gets. You can also charge your on board laser cannon whenever the free roaming purploids drift into your tail. Once charged, you have a short burst mega destructive cannon at your disposal, which is essential when the action hits a certain level of franticness. To complete each level you must make a predetermined set of kills. There are also various score chains you can achieve and an assortment of enemy types to get your head around – with most of them homing straight in on you Robotron style, in various speeds and patterns. Enemy portals are destroyed by looping your tail around them, and levels are completed by entering the warp which opens up as soon as you reach the kill quota.

Pan is a frantic and compulsive score chaser that will have you pulling your hair out in disgust and immediately pressing the button for another go. Controls are simple and the game is immediately accessible. There are enough game modes present to keep you more than interested for a good while (include arcade and a survival mode) and the Steam release introduces online leader boards and achievements. For a game like Pan, these simple additions really add to the games longevity.

Graphics are solid without being outstanding, with the limited palette of colours supported by attractive pixel art and various visual effects, that don’t reach ‘Minter’ levels of trippyness but do their job regardless. The soundtrack is perfectly suitable, with various beats and breaks complimenting the gameplay and adding to the overall experience.

Pan-Dimensional Conga Combat deserves to be played. It’s an honest and fun score chaser that will test your (probably aging) reflexes and reward persistence. Old school gamers looking for a quick blast will love it, and younger gamers should give it a go and prove their superiority on the online leader boards – c’mon, I dare you! Highly recommended.


source: James Monkman

Footnote: A special package is still available on itch.io which contains the game (the itch.io download and a Steam key) as well as a set of two matte-finish A2 RGCD posters.

 

JB Hi-Fi Staff Have Done It Again!

By

We love our video game reviews and descriptions to be short, sharp and most importantly, witty!

Luckily for us JB Hi-Fi staff have a knack to nail their game reviews and descriptions. Who needs to read pages full of text when you can just rock up at a JB Hi-Fi and get informed on the spot.

Here are (quite) a few JB staff write-ups that caught our eye today:

 

Get Your Flippin Fix via Pinball FX3 on the Switch

By

We have been playing pinball video games for over 3 decades and we still get a kick out of playing them. From Video Pinball on the 2600 to the awesome 21st Century Entertainment published pinball games (Pinball Dreams, Pinball Fantasies and Pinball Illusions) on the Amiga, this genre and its talented designers keep upping the ante on the realism. Granted, you can never replicate the real deal, but you can get close, very close!

With Zen Studios’ latest release on the Switch, Pinball FX3 (PinFX3), you get awesome realistic pinball gaming that can be played on your TV or in handheld mode. But wait, it gets better – the killer feature of PinFX3 on the Switch is that it can be vertically oriented to get the best vantage of the pinball machine being played. Unlike Pinball Arcade’s Stern Pinball, Zen Studios ensured that their game would take advantage of the Switch’s flexibility in screen orientation, thus making it the pinball game of choice to play on Nintendo’s premier console.

Horizontal vs Vertical!

There will be future tweaks to bring Pinball FX3 up to 60fps (it’s actually already quite quick, especially in handheld mode), things can only get better to what is already a solid package. With great licensed themes that are very reasonably priced (you can buy tables individually or in packs), it is a win win for the gamer craving their pinball fix.

So, how does the game play you ask? Well, again, the Switch is the perfect platform for a pinball game – shoulder buttons act as flippers, which are very responsive without any notable lag (in handheld mode). The ball physics are as close to mimicking real life pinball as you can get, and that is a good thing! The table design/layouts and the variations are so good, that we hope Zen Studios end up making some of these as real world machines!

Wishful thinking aside, each table is packed with modes and challenges to level up and customise your machine. This ensures that PinFX3’s replay value and longevity is guaranteed. Oh yeah, for those that love online play, you are in luck, PinFX3’s online features are awesome for some multiplayer pinball frenzy allowing you to get on high score leaderboards and participating in tournaments.

If you are into pinball, then we implore you to hit the eShop right now and download Pinball FX3. For those that want to try before they buy, you can download Pinball FX3 for free and try it out before you make decisions on purchasing additional themed pinball tables. Grab your Switch and get flippin!

Pinball FX 3 pinball table packs were kindly supplied by Zen Studios for this review

 

Zero Gunner 2- Omnidirectional Mayhem On The Nintendo Switch

By

Zerodiv are on a roll with their Psikyo arcade conversions for the Switch. Their last effort, Gunbird proved so popular in the ausretrogamer office, we had to ban it during work hours! And it looks like Zero Gunner 2- is no exception to this rule – it is another classic shoot’em up that we will have to limit play time so work can be done around here.

Zero Gunner 2- (ZG2-) is a mouth-watering shmup that tests your flight and shooting mettle with a twist. What twist are we referring to? Well, ZG2- bucks the trend of being either a vertical or horizontal shooter by being best described as an omnidirectional shmup! This may put some noses out of joint with shmup traditionalists, but once you get the hang of it, it is damn cool. We found that this game suits the Switch’s handheld or tabletop mode perfectly. Actually, the game is awesome to play on a big widesceen TV too, but don’t expect the graphics to blow you away – they are functional, but you have to remember that this was a turn of the century shoot’em up that has now been spruced up for 2018.

Zero Gunner 2-’s gameplay is fast and furious. Since it is an omnidirectional shmup, enemies fly out from all over the screen at a rapid pace which ramps up the challenge considerably. Thankfully, you can decrease the difficulty to child-like, which we did. The control mechanic may also throw players off as you change directions you must also change direction of your firing. Unlike a twin-stick shooter, in ZG2- you must use the Y or A buttons to adjust your facing / firing direction, which can be disorienting until you get used to it. Having said that, the ZG2- control mechanic of changing your facing and firing direction is the hook, a point of difference for this game if you will. To survive and get further in this game, you must get to grips with changing directions quickly to dispatch all enemies coming at you. Some may think this as a gimmick, but we say it is a cool feature that sets Zero Gunner 2- apart from your traditional shooters.

Just like other shooters, you get a choice of gunships (three to be exact) which have standard auto-fire shots that are complimented by a special attack-shot which packs some punch! Your chosen gunship’s firepower can also be upgraded by collecting P-lettered tetrahedrons (P for Power!) which greatly help in dispatching enemies than the puny single-shot, thus ensuring steady progress.

The longevity of this game, which has 7 stages, is dictated by what you want out of it. If you want to play through each difficulty level (Very Hard is insane!) or if you are into chasing high scores or you just love having a blast with a mate in two player co-op mode, then this game is for you! If none of these interest you, look elsewhere, for everyone else starved of old school shmup action, GET TO DA CHOPPA NOW!

Price: AUD $9.99 – Nintendo Australia eShop
Available: January 25 2018

image source: Nintendo

Zero Gunner 2- was kindly provided by Zerodiv for this review.

 

Is the ‘Alien’ Universe So Beloved?

By

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Another multiplayer shooter title set in the “Alien” cinematic universe for consoles and PCs is in the works at game developer Cold Iron Studios. The developer was just acquired by FoxNext Games, part of 21st Century Fox.

Aaron Loeb, FoxNext Games president of studios, said in announcing the deal, “…all of us at FoxNext Games are thrilled to be working with them (Cold Iron) as they create an action-packed persistent world, steeped in the mysteries of this beloved ‘Alien’ universe.”

Loeb’s quote got me thinking: Is the “Alien” universe still “beloved”?

“Alien: Covenant” was a big disappointment at the box office. It doesn’t seem like the best time to invest in making a new “Alien” game. There needs to be a break from the “Alien” franchise for a while. I’m an “Alien” universe fan. “Alien 3” for Super Nintendo and “Aliens: Colonial Marines” for Xbox 360 are two of my all-time favourite video games. And James Cameron’s “Aliens” is one of the greatest action movies ever made.

When it comes to first-person shooter games, it’ll be hard to top “Aliens: Colonial Marines.” If FoxNext Games and the creative team at Cold Iron can create something as entertaining as “Colonial Marines” it’ll be a surprising accomplishment, but fans of the “Alien” universe are not demanding a new game. But if they make something fun and original, I’ll probably be buying it on the day of its release.

Lately, with the films “Prometheus” and “Aliens: Covenant,” I’ve felt a little burned by the franchise. I did find the third act of “Covenant” entertaining, but overall, it felt like forced storytelling by the legendary Ridley Scott.

Game play is key; although, could a new game set in the “Alien” universe tell a better story than some of the recent films? As an “Alien” fan, I’ll keep my hopes up that FoxNext Games can produce something distinctive.

 

image source: jonvilma.com