Return of the Blogs / Summer of Arcade Series

It's been long. Perhaps too long. In case you were wondering, the past few weeks haven't been totally devoid of indie games, I just haven't had the motivation to write this blog. The main reason I started writing this in the first place was to connect to and meet other people who loved indie games. So far apart from the one comment, this hasn't really happened.

Although having said that, I couldn't resist the allure of it all. Turns out without writing about indie games to an audience of myself and my mum, life just isn't worth living!

I decided to start with a feature celebrating what got me into indie games in the first place - Xbox Live Arcade. A few years ago I was still playing generic, churned-out First Person shooter types (you probably know the one) but it was through Xbox Live Arcade that I found some absolutely brilliant games, from Trials HD to Geometry Wars and Castle Crashers. So to celebrate, I bring you a series devoted to the other three fantastic indie games in this year's Xbox Live Summer of Arcade.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet mixes the enigmatic and mysterious graphical style of Limbo with the alien landscapes of Metroid with well, some really rather unique side scrolling action. It is basically erm, an Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet.

And honestly, that's the best I can describe this game. It's such a complex, yet fun and simple mechanic and design that just leaves you wanting to play more and more. The only downside would be that after spending 4 years creating the game, Shadow Planet Productions' game is annoyingly short. 

However, the multiplayer looks to add some longevity to the game, with the Lantern Run mode. So far however, I've only managed to see videos of this online though, with no one to play this fantastic game with! That's where you come in. Leave a comment below or contact me on twitter @IndieGameTweet to play Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet with me this Sunday.

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You can buy Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet from the Xbox Live Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points. This blog is an indie game blog and is not payed for or in any way affiliated to Xbox Live.

Frozen Synapse

Today's game is somewhat of a blast from the past. Or the future. Depends which way you look at it.

The game itself is just over two months old - released on May 26th by Mode 7 Games. I was first drawn towards it by it's extremely unique visual style - a mix between the retro top-down games of the past with a uniquely cyberpunk-esque futuristic art style.

It was when I started playing however, that it struct me just how awesome the game is. It is basically a simultaneous, turn-based strategy game, but like no other I have played before. Simply put, you can simulate how your opponent's move before choosing your own. Although this sounds like a fairly minor innovation, it's effect on the gameplay is huge. It creates an element of second-guessing, which is not only intelligent but fun as hell.

It is for this reason that the multiplayer in particular, is where much of Frozen Synapse's depth lies. Ultimately, this is best playing an opponent, one versus one, over the internet and as such the competitive scene has flourished. Maps are created both randomly or via a seed and the game does incorporate a strong modding scene.

Although there is only so much one can write about a game like Frozen Synapse. You really have to play it to get a feel of it's brilliance. The beautiful graphic style, the unique gameplay mechanic and even the extremely awesome electronic music combine into one massive piece of awesome. But that's just my opinion. What do you think? Please leave a comment below.

Frozen Synapse is available for $25 or £19 at www.frozensynapse.com and you get a free copy for a friend!


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Why I love Indie Games

I've been away camping yesterday and today, which has left me far away from any new indie games, or indeed any technology at all. It did give me time to think about how I could possibly find a game that even compared to Bastion.

In the end I gave up and instead chose to write about the reason why I love indie games, as a bit more of an introduction to what this blog aims to celebrate. I love indie games because they are unique. Ever increasingly, big game companies are pumping out the same game, year on year, with only a slight repackaging or improvement. This is true of all the major video game series, from Call of Duty to Grand Theft Auto, the lack of originality is depressing.

Spot the difference: Call of Duty has releases a game every year with the same gameplay mechanics and gametypes.

The reason why I love indie games is because they are so varied, spanning all the genres and often with mechanics, storylines and graphics that vastly exceed expectations. Most importantly, unlike the big game developers, indie game producers are free to try something new.

And that is why, although Bastion was a high benchmark, I am extremely confident that I will go on to cover hundreds, nay thousands more games of this calibre.

I aim to start this by posting a review each day over the next week. And you can help! Write a comment about an indie game that you enjoy and I'll blog about it. Please help to spread the joy of indie gaming by sharing this blog via the links below. Additionally, you can subscribe or follow by email. 

The First Bastion

This is my first ever post to this blog and perhaps fittingly, it is about the game that has delayed this post for the past five days, since it's July 20th release.

And it is this preoccupation, nay addiction, that makes Bastion the fantastic game that it is. Everyone knows that an RPG, by it's very nature must be engrossing, an epic story, a protagonist coming of age.

But, with regret looking back, I was somewhat sceptical. In recent years, indie game developers have struggled to add as much to RPG as the big studios. This isn't through lack of creativity or intelligence, but simply a lack of resources. Without the intricate cut-scenes or High-definition first person graphics, recent indie RPG's have just felt, well, a little less real. 

Bastion not only overcomes this potential flaw, but sticks two metaphorical fingers up at practically every other attempt at an indie RPG. Overcoming the need for cut-scenes, is the fantastic and powerful vocal narration of Logan Cunningham. In fact, it is so powerful that writing this blog, I almost wish he was narrating my actions. Overcoming the need for the afore mentioned HD first person graphics, is an absolutely beautiful anime hand-drawn art style, which combined with the way the world gradually reveals itself, makes exploring an intensely gratifying experience.

Gratifying is perhaps the best way to describe Bastion. It is one of those games that takes you on a journey that once played, gamers will remember forever. Indeed, Bastion is also a reminder to the rest of the industry, that Indie Games and their fans still have the power to revolutionise the gaming experience. 


But that's just my opinion. A massive focus of this blog is community discussion. What do you think? Please leave a comment in the section below. Also, starting a community-based blog such as this one is extremely difficult in today's world. Please help by sharing it, via the links below. Additionally, you can subscribe or follow by email.

Bastion is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points