Tomb Raider - A rather special action adventure classic gets a BIG review by DarkwyndPT!

Hello everyone and welcome back to Retro Freak Reviews. Today, we’ll look at an iconic and influential title that has been on my backlog for several years. I’m talking about the original Tomb Raider. Tomb Raider is an action/adventure game developed by Core Design and originally published by Eidos Interactive in 1996 for DOS, Sony Playstation, and the Sega Saturn. It was later released in 2002 for Windows Mobile, in 2003 for the N-Cage, in 2009 for the Playstation 3 and the PSP, and in 2012 for the PS Vita and Windows through the Steam store.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge - A new game play trailer featuring April O'Neil

We've just received another great heads up in our inbox, as if you've followed the previous announcement for the upcoming game of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge; an all new arcade brawler which reunites Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello in a beautifully realized pixel art world invoking the turtles’ classic 1987 design. You'll be pleased to know that the publisher Dotemu with Viacom International and Tribute Games has just launched a new trailer showing the fighting moves of April O'Neil.

Huntdown - A kick ass shooter by Easy Trigger Games appears on GOG and Steam

If you're looking for a new indie game that's got plenty of action, kick ass moves and retro-aesthetics throughout, then have we got just the game for you! Welcome to 'Huntdown'; a retro style shoot em up that not only takes place in a post-apocalyptic Cyberpunk setting, but it also draws its inspiration from old arcade shooters like Contra and Metal Slug, while adding tactical elements like taking cover behind walls and alleys and jumping up and down from platforms just like in the Rolling Thunder games. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge - A new game play trailer and coming to Switch in 2021!

We've just received another great heads up in our inbox, as if you've followed the previous announcement for the upcoming game of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge; an all new arcade brawler which reunites Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello in a beautifully realized pixel art world invoking the turtles’ classic 1987 design. You'll be pleased to know that the publisher Dotemu with Viacom International and Tribute Games has just launched not only a brand new gameplay trailer, but also that the game is coming to Switch in 2021!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge - Dotemu is kicking it back to the 80's invoking the turtles classic!

The news is spreading far and wide and that has come as no surprise to us, as just moments ago through our twitter page, we've found out that the publisher Dotemu with Viacom International and Tribute Games has announced the upcoming game of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge; an all new arcade brawler which reunites Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello to kick shell in a beautifully realized pixel art world invoking the turtles’ classic 1987 design.

Silent Hill - Playstation game of Horror reviewed by Cola Powered Gamer

Developed in 1999, near the end of the PS1 age, Silent Hill uses an established formula of survival horror and changes it to make something different. Silent Hill uses a psychological horror, rather than an action approach and visceral horror seen in games like Resident Evil.

PlayStation Classic 128GB Retro Console bonanza!

As someone who has an XBOX original stuffed full of awesome retro games, and an unbuilt Pi that I couldn't be bothered with, I was very excited today to hear form Aaron White that ArcadePunks has launched the big 128GB build for the PlayStation Classic. This little mini console based around the original Playstation, except with a poor game choice, subpar emulation, poor image quality, lack of enhancements and PAL. Can now be enjoyed to the max with a massive amount of supported emulation and a ton of games!

Oddword – Abe’s Oddysee (PS1 game, GT Interactive, 1997)

I have always had a soft spot for the odd and quirky, while at the same time being a big fan of platform games. On the face of it then, this was right up my street, a somewhat left-field puzzle-platform game released for the PS1 by GT Interactive in 1997, with quirkiness and cleverness by the bucket load!

Resident Evil (Capcom game, Sony PlayStation, 1996)

Our perception of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ is strange. Normally in our minds we have a set of arbitrarily defined tick boxes. Cross enough off and something is good. If you have lots of gaps then it is bad. But now and again you find flawed genius. Something that on the face of it has too much wrong to be good, but despite the many faults, greatness still shines through like a beacon. George Best, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Spike Milligan and Peter Sellers were all regarded as genius’ in their respective fields, even though they all suffered deep character defects.

Crash Bandicoot (Naughty Dog game, PS1, 1996) reviewed by AlanG

It is impossible to review a platform game without mentioning a certain Italian plumber or a blue hedgehog. They basically laid down the blueprint for the genre, setting the standards for the world to follow and every subsequent effort is measured against them. Their games demonstrated that there are some elements that are a prerequisite for such a game to be successful. It must be challenging. It must be fun. The levels need to offer variety. It shouldn’t be possible to be killed by something that was previously unseen. There should be a central character that is cute and appealing. It should be well drawn and the levels should be clear and well laid out. It needs that ‘one more go’ factor and, above all, it must be fun. Seemingly a straightforward list, but the halls of gaming history are littered with those that tried and completely failed to repeat the formula.

Animetic Story Game 1: Cardcaptor Sakura - A Fully Playable English Translated Release!

Bit of a late one this and one we had to give a shout out to, is PsionBolt and NoOneee's fully playable English translated release of the PlayStation game Animetic Story Game 1: Cardcaptor Sakura. Mentioned earlier today by our good friend @VizionGamer. This game was released in Japan by Arika in 1999 for the Playstation 1, it featured beautiful 2D graphics, full voice acting, animated cutscenes from the TV show, and actually retells the story of the first season of the popular Anime that many people are still a fan of to this day. As RomHacking puts it  "this game recreates the world of Cardcaptor Sakura more accurately than any other CCS game before or since (and there have been quite a few other attempts)!"

AllGen Gaming - Video gaming centre in Rochester was a launch success!

After all these months of shouting about the latest gaming centre to be launching in Rochester,UK for all things retro and modern gaming, last weekend it actually happened. On Sunday 28th August ' AllGen Gaming' had its first launch day with all the gaming systems you could hope to play on under one roof. But that is not all as Indie Retro News was there to support them all the way through to show off just how keen we were to be a part of this incredible experience. ( Lots of Photos to follow )

Monster Tactics - Complete overhaul of Final Fantasy Tactics for the PSX

It isn't very often we feature games for the original Playstation, so how about the recent announcement for the complete overhaul of Final Fantasy Tactics as ' Monster Tactics '. Originally released in Japan in 97 and then in USA in 98, Final Fantasy Tactics was a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) and combines elements of the original Final Fantasy games with a isometric, 3D, rotating battle system. This latest hack overhaul has almost changed the completely with not just the battles themselves, but also to the mechanics!

Fox n Forests - A nostalgic trip back to the 16bit platforming era

If you remember growing up playing 16bit platformers, either on the SNES or Sega Megadrive such as Mickey Mouse or even Ghouls 'n Ghosts, then have we got the game for you! This is 'Fox n Forests' developed by Bonus Level Entertainment, a gorgeous looking 16-bit inspired pixelated platformer, where you play as a Furry that can loot, upgrade, hack and slash and even change the very seasons of the game you're playing in! Yes that's right, this game lets you switch seasons to avoid obstacles or even beat enemies! What a lovely game indeed and not only does it have a teaser trailer but it's coming to PC, Linux, Mac (Steam and DRM free), PlayStation, Xbox and NX!

Shakedown Hawaii - From Retro City Rampage to this spectacular announcement

Vblank Entertainment, the developer behind the action-adventure 8bit styled Grand Theft Auto parody with 80's and 90's pop culture ' Retro City Rampage ', has just announced the next line up in the franchise as ' Shakedown Hawaii '. Oh yes indeed it's time to get excited, as the anti-hero is back and he's out of retirement to once again cause complete chaos on the streets in glorious 16bit detail powered up with destructible environments and an arsenal of kick ass weaponry!

Playstation: Game Changer - PS1 documentary kickstarter

It may not have escaped your notice that the original playstation turned 20 this month. That's right, in 1994 the PSX or simply Playstation as it was finally launched as, finally went on sale in Japan. Anyone who was a gamer at the time could barely move for news about Sony's imminent arrival in the gaming press and Edge magazine probably sold more copies of their first few issues solely on news of the upcoming console. Johnathan Beales is looking to raise funds to create the ultimate documentary of the birth of the biggest gaming brand of the last 20 years...

Console Saga - A good reason to find a long bus ride

Console Saga the new game by one of the most prolific developers on Playstation Mobile (PSM), Thomas Hopper. By my count Console Saga is his 10th release on PSM and also one of his most mature and polished releases to date. For those unfamiliar with PSM it's an app store for mainly Sony devices such as their phones and tablets but most importantly the Sony Vita. If you are a commuter/gamer like me and are constantly looking for the type of game that fits a good bus ride then this fits the bill perfectly.

Haunt the House: Terrortown - Spooky Action Puzzle game with Ghosts! (Steam Greenlight)

Game Type : Action, Puzzle
Developer : SFB Games
Game Info Quote : Leave the dusty halls of an abandoned clock tower to haunt your way through a town in the dead of night! Possess objects with your ghostly soul, to scare people away from a museum, a hospital, a theatre and a cruise ship. Will you be able to scare everyone out and reclaim what has been lost, before the night is over? A side-scrolling action puzzle game starring ghosts!
Release : Now(Website), Vote it up on Steam Greenlight!
Systems : PC, Mac ($5), Ps Vita

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - An Adventure from the makers of Ducktales Remastered (Kickstarter)

Game Type : Adventure, Platformer
Developer/Project By : WAYFORWARD
Kickstarter Goal : $400,000
Developer Quote : An all-new HD adventure from WayForward: makers of Ducktales Remastered, Adventure Time, & Contra 4!
Game Info Quote : Who is Shantae? Why, she's the star of the game! She’s a human/genie hybrid (a Half-Genie) who hair-whips monsters with her ponytail, and belly dances to transform into magical creatures. She explores Sequin Land, solves labyrinths, trashes epic bosses, and foils the busty buccaneer Risky Boots, always managing to save the day! She's been featured in three daring adventures, all designed exclusively for Nintendo handhelds. Now Shantae's headed for the living room, but her core gameplay elements will remain intact. As the player it's your job to find the source of this new evil power and banish it once and for all. The story is doled out in chapters, with each chapter introducing new subplots, friends & foes, a new Transformation to discover, puzzles to solve, hazards to overcome, and a Boss to conquer. Revisiting past chapters with newly acquired abilities will unlock the next set of paths, powers & plot-lines.
Release : Oct 2014
Systems : Wii U, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Steam (PC)

Galak-Z: The Dimensional - Crazy fast paced shoot em up!

Game Type : Shoot em up
Game Info Quote : Want some missiles in your face? Get ready for GALAK-Z, a modern, AI and physics-driven open-world action game, viewed through the lens of the classic 16-bit space shooter! Players will take control of a variety of classic spacecraft inspired by anime of the late 70s and early 80s, piloted by a cast of characters every bit as colorful as the rainbow-hued explosions erupting all around them. Newtonian physics take center stage as players experience finely-tuned control, blasting enemies, unleashing missile salvos, and tossing enemies into explosive obstacles.
Developer : 17BitGames
Release :  2014
Systems : PlayStation 4, Other(?)