Blogger's Note

Howdy!

Soon I'm going to preview another indie game. What is it? I will never tell...
Anywho, I failed to mention some other bit of news from my last update; for those who don't know, there has been an expansion to the popular "Impossible Game" titled "The Impossible Game Level Pack". This pack features two new levels, two new tunes, and one twist. I don't want to give anything away, but here's a hint: the square's a ninja now!

Plus, since my preview for "Decay", there have been two new additions, labeled "Decay- Part II" and "Decay- Part III". If you loved the sequenced-based horror game before, two new episodes are now available on the Xbox Live Arcade.

Don't know much about the availability of "The Impossible Game Level Pack", except it's out now for the XBLA. Knowing that the original game was for purchase in the iTunes store as well, more than likely it's there too.

Also, there's an indie game competition going on right now, and Playdead's "Limbo" is part of it. The competition is sponsered by GameStop & G4. There are 12 indie games total who are in the finals right now, and you get to vote for the winner. Just go to the link following this paragraph for more information. By participating, you can get a chance to win a trip to the G4 studios in LA! Seriously!

Anywho, that's all I have today. Keep reading for an upcoming preview to an indie game. Also, for more info on that competition, here's the link: indiegamechallenge.com/finalists/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_content=01202011&utm_campaign=igc_exclusive&cid=soc_10000001.

-Manny

Blogger's Note: Back in Action!

I've been delayed for far too long!
It's been awhile since my last update, so allow me to explain: AT&T internet sucks.
That's the whole reason why I haven't been posting in awhile because AT&T is garbage. But while I'm still typing, let's go over what happened in the world of indies while I was gone:

-Limbo won "Best Indipendent Game" at last year's VGA's
-PETA attacked Team Meat's "Super Meat Boy"... and failed at doing so
-Doritos released the final two games in their "Build A Game" contest, Harm's Way & Doritos' Crash Course
-Ska Studios unveiled their next project, "The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile"
-And the latest one, Capcom rips off 'Splosion Man from Twisted Pixel

Damn, that's a lot of news in two months... for indie games anyways. Well anywho, keep reading, and I promise to update with a new game preview soon!

-Manny

A Meaty Treat: Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy is the game that really makes your blood boil. Never has a game made me want to tear my console into two, and slap my grandmother (not literally). This game is not for the casual gamer, and it’s simple, yet challenging gameplay, will strain even the hardest of veteran gamers. The “meat” of the game, pun intended, is about a protagonist named Meat Boy, who is a walking wad of raw meat. You will leap, run, and get slaughtered thought the game as you will embark on a quest to save Meat Boy’s kidnapped girlfriend, who’s named Band-Aid Girl, who happens to be a wad of Band-Aids. The kidnapper is Dr. Fetus, who is a fetus in a far, in which the jar is dressed in a black suit… if this is not making you want to purchase the game yet, than you must be insane. The gameplay is simple to master, but the challenge comes from the levels within Super Meat Boy. I cannot stress enough how hard the game is, it’s just (insert profound word here) hard! And worse yet, this game has what some call “branching difficulty”, meaning that each stage/level gets harder the further you go on. In order master the hellish levels, you will need to develop skill. For example, if you hold the jump button, Meat Boy will perform a higher jump, whereas if you just barely tap the button, he will just do a small hop. Furthermore, if you press the run button while jumping, our raw hero will be able to leap across wider gaps. The buttons you press, determine by what you press, the order that you press them, and how long you press/hold them as well, will determine the difference between winning… and being turned into little bits, as the game is extremely sensitive by your button presses, so time your button presses wisely. Plus, if you happen to find yourself on the wrong end of a buzz saw, the main game offers infinite lives, and instant respawn, so you never have to wait another second for you next attempt. Once you beaten a level, a replay appears where it displays your successful fun and your past attempts as well, making the 1,000 times you died look like an small army of Meat Boys getting splattered. Retro nostalgia is instantly presented in SMB. Some of the most memorable games and hardware from yester-years are presented here in both art form and in parody form. Even the commercials for Super Meat Boy look like it was created in the 80s. But when the game is not parodying past games, the story of the game unfolds in cute, yet bloody/gory, and extremely hilarious, animated flash-style cutsences. The soundtrack to the game is like nothing that I have ever heard of in a platformer like this; it’s like my ears are having an orgasm as I continue to tackle each grueling level. There’s also some hidden stuff to unlock, like playable characters from other retro games (examples include Alien Hominid, Tim from Braid, and The Kid from I Wanna Be The Guy), more levels, and a place called “Teh Internets”, where you can download additional levels, via Internet, for FREE. There's also hidden levels scattered throught each world called "Warp Zones", where Meat Boy is given three lives per level to take on stages that'll bring you back to the original days of the Game Boy, SNES, Atari, or any other classic console you may be reminded of. Super Meat Boy has received a tremendous amount of high critical raves, and was even one of the Top 10 Indie Games of PAX 2010. With a colorful art style, funny humor, awesome characters, a great soundtrack, break-neck difficulty, a retro flair, and a twist on an outdated genre, SMB may be perhaps one of the best platformers to date. It may have the same initials as Super Mario Bros., but it looks like the red plumber just got served. This game is currently out now for the Xbox Live Arcade and will release soon for PC via Internet, and WiiWare.

For more info, head to supermeatboy.com/.

 

 

Screenshots were taken from:

marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Games?xr=shellnav&Genre=3002

Blogger's Note: Happy Halloween!

I just wanted to take this time to wish everyone a Happy Halloween! Be safe out tonight, and keep gaming!
Btw, here are some great games to play during this time of the year:

• Resident Evil 5
• Plants vs. Zombies
• Limbo
• Costume Quest
• Dead Space
• Alan Wake
• F.E.A.R. 2
• Left 4 Dead 2

I should also mention the undead dlc pack for Red Dead Redemption, as well as the "Nazi Zombies" in Call of Duty: World At War.

Of course, let's not forget about those indie games too! My highest recomends are Decay, Soul, and of course, I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1.

Well anyway, those are my picks for Halloween. Be sure to check out my blog again soon for "Super Meat Boy", as well as "Yet Another Zombie Defense".

Again,

Happy Halloween!

-Manny

Halloween Preview: Five Games Worth Your Scares

Well Halloween is around the corner, and no doubt gamers everywhere are going to want a cheap thrill, and a scare to go with it. Well today I decided to list five indie horror games that are worthy of you money this Halloween weekend.

Decay-Part 1

Decay is a point-and-click puzzle/mystery in the style of Silent Hill. The story starts off in the bathroom of your character’s apartment after she had committed suicide. After you wake up from the attempt, you have no memory of it whatsoever, and soon you'll find yourself in a building that’s creepy and upside down in some parts, literally. Everything is a clue, and requires a lot of thinking. You have to pay attention to your surroundings, especially to every sound and letter you might hear or find. The most challenging part of Decay is whenever you find yourself playing tic-tac-toe against a picture (literally), and you will be rewarded with something that is of huge importance after you have conquered it… which I won’t give away. But the downside is that this game is really short, as it is only one chapter. The developer behind this game promises more chapters in the future, but if your looking to challenge your cerebral smarts, all while pissing in your pants, this game is incredibly cheap on the Xbox Live Marketplace under indie games.

For more information, head to: marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Decay-Part-1/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585504d0.

Soul

Soul is much like a previous game I previewed called “Aagh!” (for more info, go to “blog archive”, “2010”, “October”, and look up “Double Feature”), where you move a ball through passageways while avoiding the walls and obstacles. Soul starts off after a person dies in a hospital bed. You’re playing as that person’s soul, who is trying to get to heaven. But as you progress, beasts who will try to devour you (which I will dub, “The Soul Eaters”, my name, not theirs), and other objects/obstacles, will do the best they can to thwart your progress. Another "small" thing I have to mention is the appearance of some ghoulish looking woman (who I will dub as, “The Freaky Bitch”, my name, not theirs). She appears randomly when you die, and she does the same thing every time she appears on your screen: surprise the crap out of you with her creepy face. It’s actually because of her that many gamers have been turned off by this game, as they don’t want to possibly see “The Freaky Bitch” (again my name, not theirs) when they die. But despite that, the game is pretty solid itself, and the art style is very dark and gritty. This game is also in the Xbox Live Marketplace under indie games, and it’s also a cheap buy.

For more information head to: marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Soul/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550426.

The Penumbra Series

Penumbra is a series of fps games set in Greenland. A man named Philip has been emotionally distraught ever since the passing of his mother. Soon after, he finds a letter from a man once thought dead, which will then lead him into a series of clues, which will then lead him to Greenland. Once there, Philip will find a perculiar door, where inside lies a dark place full of mystery and danger. As you lead Philip further inside the dark coridoors of this suspenseful place, you will solve puzzles and find clues that will bring you a step closer into solving the game's mystery. Although this is a first person shooter, don’t be fooled. There’s no shooting involved… as in matter of fact, you’re unarmed through the whole game, leaving you defenseless against dangers. To fight back without fighting, dark areas and other obstacles will help you hide from danger. The reason why this game gives you no weapons is also the reason why this game is so thrilling; The developers wanted to have the player only focus on the story aspect of the game, and less about combat. And the fact that you can’t arm yourself gives you more reason to be terrified of your surroundings. The Penumbra Series features dark environments, a suspenseful atmosphere, and three games. This indie game is also one of the few indies to have an ESRB rating, which means it’s rated M. So if you’re under 17, I’d advise you not to buy it. Otherwise, it’s a $10 buy, and it’s only available at it’s website.

For more information, head to: www.penumbragame.com/.

Dead Strike

Dead Strike pretty much looks like what would happen if the first Resident Evil had the third person gameplay as Resident Evil 4 & 5. You got your zombies, a virus, a lone survivor in a city, and more zombies. True, this may sound like a knockoff, but that shouldn’t keep you from playing it. It plays smoothly, and laying waste to zombies is always a thrill, despite the fact that you have to conserve your ammo. And just ignore the story, this game is basically just surviving wave after wave of the brain-hungry undead hordes. This game offers nine different weapons, including a chainsaw, and four playable characters. Graphics are okay for an indie shooter, and the background music adds to the grittiness of the game. If you own anything with a lowercase “i” in front of it's name (except an iPod Shuffle), you are able to download this as an app for free.

For more information, go to: www.psychozinteractive.com/index.php?p=1_2_Games.
Or go to: itunes.apple.com/us/app/dead-strike/id340702904?mt=8.

I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1

Of course, everybody in today's society can’t get enough zombies in their daily dose of horror. But not everything zombie-horror based has to be scary and full of puzzles. Hell, it can be quirky, and it can look like an acid trip too! “I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1” is a legend in the indie game universe, as this game has sold a total of 308,000 copies, it's gross income from sales is over $215,000, it was Xbox Live's 2009 most popular indie game, has won numerous awards, and it even had it's catchy song featured in Rock Band. This game has no story, and it only presents an aerial view of a lone protagonist against massive waves of zombies. As you defeat each wave, you find yourself against other enemies, such as purple blobs, an 8-bit worm that looks like it was taken from the classic arcade hit, Centipede, and floating, particle-like circles. Not only do the enemies change, but so does the background, as it goes from a grassy field, to a checker board-like field, to a field that will make you ask yourself if you’re high… then again, the game, period, will make you wonder if you’re high. If you thought the name was quirky enough, then you got another thing coming once you start playing. With good, 2-D graphics, awesome effects, different ammo/weapon types, simple controls, and offline multiplayer, this game is well worth the buy, especially if you‘re looking for a good party game. “I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1” is worth 80 Microsoft points, which is well under $1 in real money. This game is available in the Xbox Live Marketplace under indie games.

For more information, head to: marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/I-MAED-A-GAM3-W1TH-Z0MB1ES-1/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585502a6.

I’m pretty positive that with these games, you’ll never want to spend another Halloween trick-or-treating again… then again, if you’re too old to be trick-or-treating, then you shouldn’t be in the first place.

Anywho, just spend your night with an hour or two with these games, and I’m sure these games will be more of a treat, then a trick, during your holidays.



Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_MAED_A_GAM3_W1TH_Z0MB1ES!!!1

Screenshots were taken from:
www.psychozinteractive.com/index.php?p=1_17&p2=1
www.penumbragame.com/media.php
marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Soul/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550426
marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/I-MAED-A-GAM3-W1TH-Z0MB1ES-1/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585502a6
marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Decay-Part-1/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585504d0

Double Feature: Two "Nearly" Impossible Games

For today’s post, I decided to feature two crazy simple platformers that don’t really require much detail. Now don’t get the word “simple” fool you, they’re extremely challenging in their own right. I had the privilege to play these games recently and… well, I didn’t last long during my first play through with them… my gamer pride has now been shattered…

Aagh!

Now the reason why this game is called “Aagh!” is because of the theory that you’ll utter those same words while you play. This game features a small marble-like ball moving through a retro-like chamber that feature various shapes and obstacles on the walls. All you really need to use is the left thumbstick, and only the left thumbstick, to move your marble. While you play, the screen keeps moving right, so you’ll have to move with the screen. True, it may sound as simple as first grade math, but the catch is that you have to keep your ball away from the walls and obstacles. If you touch the walls, you start all over from the beginning. There’s really not much left about it, the game itself, the graphics, and it's music all give off an 8-bit retro vibe, but yet it’s challenging enough for you to keep playing again and again.

This Is Hard

“This Is Hard” is… well, hard. It features a little guy with a cube shaped-head, progressing through hellicious levels that seem nearly impossible. Rockets, zombies, bricks that look like they were taken from Super Mario, spikes, and more will be your demise if you’re not too careful. Keep in mind that the game’s zombies are super fast, so haul ass fast so you can get to the finish first before they get you. In order to make this game feel like a challenge, ‘This Is Hard’ counts the number of times you died in a level, instead of how many lives you have left, making you feel more enraged and determined to beat a level that you may found yourself stuck in. A blend of classical music, along with bright, crisp 2-D animations, and screenshots with a touch of sarcastic humor, keep this game all-the-more entertaining… just don’t let them catch you off-guard.

Both games are incredibly cheep, and can be found in the game section on Xbox Live under indie games. But a bit of a warning: be sure to buy lots of extra controllers, for these games will be sure to make you want to break your hunk of plastic.

For more information, head to marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/, and search through the list.



Screenshots were taken from:
marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/This-Is-Hard/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550576
marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Aagh/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d8025855068d

Blogger's Note

For those who regularly follow my blog, I will be doing minor changes to the blog’s screenshots. I feel as though with company's logos still on the pictures I have on my posts, my blog doesn’t feel as original, though I do show where I get them from as a source. However, this won’t affect my current posts, but in future posts the screenshots will be cropped. It came to my attention that cropping was important to my blog, and I’m still learning how to create a proper and effective blog… after all, I have only been blogging for some time now, I’m still a beginner at this...


Also, I still would like for anyone who knows of an indie game worth blog space, continue to e-mail me at mhipolito3@yahoo.com. There are literally thousands of independent games out there, and it’s easy to overlook the few gems worth noticing.

My next posts will feature the indie games “Aagh!” and “This Is Hard”, as well as “Super Meat Boy”, so stay locked for those when they come.

-Manny